Do You Remember?

Album

Control

Label

Atlantic Records

Genre

Dance-pop

Composer(s)

Phil Collins

Entered Chart

Apr 28, 1990

Peak Date

Jun 30, 1990

Released

April 1990 26 November 1990 (live)

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Atlantic 87955

B-Side

I Wish It Would Rain Down (demo version)

This is a single from Phil Collins' fourth solo album, …But Seriously. The song was only a minor hit in Europe, but peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK a live version was released as a single. The song's original title was "Lionel." The song features backing vocals from American singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, whose biggest solo hit was "On and On." Bishop also wrote the US #1 "Separate Lives," which Collins recorded as a duet with Marilyn Martin. Collins recalled to The Mail on Sunday March 28, 2010: "When I wrote this, people were starting to tire of drum machines, but sometimes they create a hypnotic effect. Real drummers get bored and start getting fancy… and I should know!" Collins told The Mail on Sunday about the song's lyrical content: "It's about how you might meet an old flame in the street and start to reminisce, realising that the reasons for breaking up were maybe not what you remembered. We paint ourselves into corners, and pride doesn't allow us to see things any other way."

We never talked about it
But I hear the blame was mine
And I'd call you up to say I'm sorry
But I wouldn't wanna waste your time

'Cause I love you, but I can't take any more
There's a look I can't describe in your eyes
If we could try, like we tried before
Would you keep on tellin' me those lies? (Tellin' me lies)

Do you remember?
(Do you remember?)
Ooh, do you remember?
(Do you remember?)

There seemed no way to make up
'Cause it seemed your mind was set
Ooh, and the way you looked, it told me
It's a look I know I'll never forget

You could've come over to my side
You could've let me know
You could've tried to see the distance between us
But it seemed too far for you to go (so far to go)

Do you remember?
(Do you remember?)
Ooh, do you remember?
(Do you remember?)

Through all of my life
In spite of all the pain
You know, people are funny sometimes
They just can't wait to get hurt again

Tell me, do you remember?
(Do you remember?)

There are things we won't recall
And feelings we'll never find
It's taken so long to see it
'Cause we never seemed to have the time

There was always something more important to do
More important to say
But, "I love you" wasn't one of those things
And now it's too late (now it's too late) (now it's too late)

Do you remember? (Do you remember? Now it's over)
(Do you remember? Ooh, it's over)
Ooh, do you remember? (Do you remember? Now it's over)
(Do you remember? Ooh, it's over) ooh, yeah
Tell me, do you remember? (Do you remember? Now it's over)
Ooh, do you remember? (Do you remember? Ooh, it's over)
Tell me now, tell me now (Do you remember? Now it's over)
Tell me now, tell me now (Do you remember? Ooh, it's over)
Do you remember? (Do you remember? Now it's over)
(Do you remember? Ooh, it's over)