Take Me Home

Album: No Jacket Required (1985)
Charted: 19 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Often misconstrued to be about a man returning home, Collins stated on VH1 Storytellers that the song's lyrics refer to a patient in a mental institution, and that he was inspired by the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
  • Sting and ex-Genesis band mate Peter Gabriel sang backup vocals. Also featured is former Culture Club backing singer Helen Terry.
  • This is one of Collins' 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.
  • The video features Phil Collins singing a couple of lines from the song in various cities around the world, including London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney.
  • In 2003 the hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony heavily sampled the song for their single "Home." Their version reached #19 in the UK (the same as the original version), and Collins appeared in the video.

    Collins explained in Rolling Stone: "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony called me up and said, 'We've done a version of your song 'Take Me Home' and we'd like you to be in the video.' I said, 'No, I'm not in America.' They said, 'They can come wherever you are.' I said, 'Don't make me say, 'No, f--k off.'' But then I heard the song, and I quite liked it, and they agreed to come to Geneva. How could I disappoint these guys? They were nice lads."
  • This was originally released in the UK in 1985. It was released in the US in March 1986, only after Phil Collins appeared in the TV series Miami Vice. The song was also used in the series, appearing in the episode "The Prodigal Son" on September 27, 1985. Collins made his appearance on the show in the episode "Phil the Shill" on December 13, 1985.
  • The music of Genesis featured in the 2000 film American Psycho, which examines greed and insanity with the financial industry as a backdrop. This song found its way into a key scene of the season 2 premiere episode of the TV series Mr. Robot, which takes on these same issues. The lead character in the episode suffers from blackouts, so the refrain, "'Cause I don't remember," makes sense.

Comments: 10

  • Augustus Slyboots from Currently In The UsaOne of my top 5 ultra favorites songs
  • Mitchell from Liverpool, UkIn a 2019 Australian interview, Phil Collins named this song as one of two he enjoys performing live the most. The other was 1993's "Can't Turn Back The Years".
  • One Mind from EarthPosibly musically a response to Gabriel's Biko. Written from the marter's perspective. "I don't remember" his refusal to give up information. And "Take me home" his plea for death's release from torture.
  • Ywdod from ViewI think it’s about a guy who doesn’t mind this person.
  • Vie from Anywhere But Here I feel it's about a person who is being tormented electronic harassment mind control and has been beaten down from it he knows who they are and there's nothing you can do about it who has has to learn to not let it mine
  • Svobodan from Germany"Take me home" is one the finest songs from Phil Collins! Last year, I took the liberty of making a funny tribute! Hope you'll like it: https://youtu.be/PT0lu1YnX1s
  • Demetrios "meter" Pappas from Atlanta , GaThere's no point escaping, I don't KNOW ME anymore.
  • Patricia from Monroe, GaTHIS SONG REMINDS ME OF ME I DONT HAVE MY OWN HOME ANYMORE.
  • Aaron from Wichita, KsThis song is about mental illness and those who suffer from it. The lyrics to the song made a lot of sense once I learned this. "I've been a prisoner all my life" is the confinement which the illness imposes on those who are ill. Moreover, the song is about them releasing the mentally ill from state hospitals and institutions who wanted to go home.
  • Miles from Vancouver, CanadaA beautiful, moving song that is quite possibly Phil Collins's best track. The video is an excellent accompaniment.
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