Remarkably, the haunting lyrics were almost entirely improvised . Collins has stated that he "just opened his mouth" and the words came out spontaneously during a recording session, capturing his raw anger and frustration .
Released in January 1981, "" is the debut solo single by British drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins . As the lead track for his first solo album, Face Value , the song transitioned Collins from the drummer/frontman of Genesis to a global solo superstar . The Origin: Heartbreak and Spontaneity
The song was born from a period of deep personal turmoil following Collins' divorce from his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, in 1980 . Devastated and alone, Collins began experimenting with new gear, including a Roland CR-78 drum machine and a Prophet-5 synthesizer .