My theme for this year’s A to Z Blogging Challenge is classic rock songs. Each day during the month (except for the first four Sundays, I will post a classic rock song: a video from YouTube, along with a brief bit of background about the song and the recording artist(s).
This is much more difficult than I thought it would be. For every letter of the alphabet there are dozens of fantastic classic rock songs to choose from and picking just one song for each letter is maddening. But this is what I signed up for.
My T song is “Take Me Home” from Phil Collins.
“Take Me Home” was written and performed by English drummer, singer, and songwriter Phil Collins. It was the tenth and final track on Collins’ third solo album, No Jacket Required. It was released it as a single in the UK in July 1985 and the U.S. in March 1986. It did moderately well in the UK, peaking at number 19. In the U.S.,it reached the top 10, peaking at number 7.
Often misconstrued to be about a man returning home, Collins stated that the song was actually inspired by the novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The song’s lyrics refer to a patient in a mental institution.
Sting and Collins’ ex-Genesis band mate Peter Gabriel sang backup vocals. Collins has said of “Take Me Home” that it is one of his favorite songs in his catalogue. It has been in his setlist since the No Jacket Required tour, and is typically the last song he plays.
Collins’ joined the British rock band Genesis in 1970 when he answered an ad they placed in Melody Maker magazine. When lead singer Peter Gabriel left Genesis, they auditioned a bunch of singers before giving the job to Collins, who was their drummer.
Here are the lyrics to “Take Me Home.”
Take that look of worry
I'm an ordinary man
They don't tell me nothing
So I find out all I can
There's a fire that's been burning
Right outside my door
I can't see but I feel it
And it helps to keep me warm
So I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Seems so long I've been waiting
Still don't know what for
There's no point in escaping
I don't worry anymore
I can't come out to find you
I don't like to go outside
They can turn off my feelings
Like they're turning off the light
But I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Oh, I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
So take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh Lord
'Cause I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
Take that look of worry
Mine's an ordinary life
Working when it's daylight
And sleeping when it's night
I've got no far horizons
I don't wish upon a star
They don't think that I listen
Oh, but I know who they are
And I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Oh, I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
So take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh Lord
Well, I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
But I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Previous 2023 A to Z posts: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
This, That, and the Other 
Sting and Peter Gabriel sang backup? I had no idea!
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Absolutely love this song – always have! 💜
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Me too, but I didn’t realize that it was about someone in a mental hospital.
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I was surprised to read that as well! 😱
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I like Phil collins!
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Not bad 🙂
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Not a ringing endorsement, but not bad.
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Meh, but it’s nice when musicians look out for each other. The rest of Genesis helped Peter Gabriel when he was in a tight spot after going solo. I don’t know (one way or the other) that Phil Collins was in a jam at this time, but friendships apparently remained. As for Sting, I suppose he/all of them was/were carrying on the tradition of musicians hanging out with each other professionally, at least, and boosting each other’s careers.
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Really? A mental patient? I hadn’t seen that coming. I have seen that movie (unfortunately not read the book) and I can see that as an influence I guess. Always interesting to read what you find out about these songs.
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I didn’t know that either, but if you read the lyrics, it make sense.
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