Another Day in Paradise

"Another Day in Paradise" is a song with a powerful social conscience, directly addressing the issue of homelessness and the widespread societal apathy towards it. The lyrics tell a simple, narrative story of a woman in distress being ignored by a man on the street. This interaction serves as a microcosm for a larger social problem. The man, who represents the privileged majority, pretends not to see or hear the woman's plea for help, feeling "embarrassed to be there." The song's core message is an indictment of this indifference.

The title itself, "Another Day in Paradise," is deeply ironic. While for the man walking by—and by extension, the listener—it may be just another ordinary day in their comfortable lives, for the homeless woman, it is a day of struggle and suffering. The "paradise" is the bubble of comfort and ignorance that allows people to overlook the harsh realities faced by others. Collins uses this phrase to create a stark contrast and force listeners to question their own complacency.

The song is a call to empathy and action. By repeatedly urging the listener to "think twice," Collins is not just telling a story; he is issuing a moral challenge. The lines, "Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do? Oh Lord, there must be something you can say," express a deep frustration with inaction and a plea for intervention, whether divine or human. It's a critique of a society that can see suffering—the woman has clearly "been crying" and has "blisters on the soles of her feet"—yet chooses to walk away. Ultimately, the song argues that ignoring poverty and homelessness is a moral failure and urges a shift from apathy to awareness and compassion.

The narrative opens with a direct and desperate plea from a woman on the street to a passing man. She is cold, has nowhere to sleep, and is asking for simple information: "Sir, can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep. Is there somewhere you can tell me?" Her request hangs in the air, a raw appeal for basic human compassion. However, the man's reaction is one of deliberate avoidance. He continues walking without looking back, pretending he didn't hear her. To mask his discomfort and create distance, he starts to whistle as he crosses the street, appearing embarrassed by the encounter. This interaction immediately establishes the central theme of the song: the casual and often uncomfortable dismissal of the homeless and their suffering by mainstream society.

The chorus serves as a powerful, recurring commentary on this scene. It sarcastically and tragically frames this moment of neglect as "another day for you and me in paradise." The repetition of "Oh think twice" is a direct command to the listener, urging a moment of reflection on this disparity. The paradise mentioned is not a literal one, but the insulated, privileged reality of those who can afford to ignore such desperate pleas. For the man walking by, and for many in the audience, it is just another ordinary day, a stark contrast to the crisis the woman is facing. The song forces an uncomfortable juxtaposition between these two realities coexisting on the same street.

The second verse deepens the portrayal of the woman's plight. The man on the street can visibly see that she has been crying, and her physical suffering is evident through the "blisters on the soles of her feet," which make it impossible for her to walk, though she continues to try. This imagery intensifies the sense of her pain and desperation, making the act of ignoring her even more profound. The song then moves from a specific narrative to a broader, more existential plea. It questions a higher power and society at large: "Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do? Oh Lord, there must be something you can say." This serves as the song's emotional and moral climax, a cry of frustration against the perceived helplessness and inaction in the face of such visible suffering.

The final verse offers a glimpse into the woman's history and the societal judgment she has likely endured. The "lines on her face" tell a story of hardship, suggesting she has been in this situation for a long time. The lyric speculates that she has "probably been moved on from everyplace / 'Cause she didn't fit in there," pointing to the systemic nature of homelessness and how individuals are often marginalized and excluded. The song concludes with the haunting repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the central message. The final, lingering thought is the call to "think about it," ensuring the listener is left contemplating their own role and perspective within this "paradise" built on ignoring the suffering just across the street.

"Another Day in Paradise" was released on October 23, 1989, as the lead single from Phil Collins' fourth solo album, ...But Seriously. The album's title itself signaled a shift towards more socially conscious themes compared to his previous, more pop-oriented work like No Jacket Required. The song was written by Collins and co-produced with Hugh Padgham.

The inspiration for the song came from a real-life experience Collins had. While visiting Washington, D.C., he was struck by the pervasive homelessness in the city and how people, including himself, would often ignore those in need. He recounted one specific incident where he was approached by a homeless woman with children and felt awkward and unsure how to react. He said the lyrics came to him spontaneously while improvising at a piano. He started singing the line, "She calls out to the man on thestreet," and the rest of the narrative flowed from there without a preconceived plan to write about homelessness.

The recording featured notable backing vocals from David Crosby of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Leland Sklar played bass and Daryl Stuermer played guitar, both frequent collaborators with Collins. Despite its serious subject matter, the song was a massive commercial success, becoming Collins' seventh and final #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the last #1 single of the 1980s and the first of the 1990s in the US. The song's success was met with some controversy, as critics accused the wealthy Collins of being hypocritical and capitalizing on a social issue. Collins defended the song, stating, "When I drive down the street, I see the same things everyone else sees. It's a misconception that if you have a lot of money you're somehow out of touch with reality." He also used his concerts to raise money for homeless charities, often matching the donations himself.

"Another Day in Paradise" follows a relatively simple and consistent structure, which makes its lyrical message clear and impactful. The rhyme scheme in the verses is straightforward, generally following an AABB pattern, which lends it a narrative, almost ballad-like quality. For example: "She calls out to the man on the street (A) / Sir can you help me? (B) / It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep (A) / Is there somewhere you can tell me? (B)" This simple scheme makes the lyrics easy to follow and digest.

The song's rhythm is defined by a slow, deliberate tempo and a prominent, steady beat from a drum machine, characteristic of Collins' solo work. This measured pace contributes to the song's somber and reflective mood, giving weight to the unfolding story. The vocal melody and its phrasing work in tandem with this rhythm, with Collins delivering the lines in a conversational yet heartfelt manner. The rhythm of the chorus is slightly more anthemic, lifting in dynamics and melody to emphasize its ironic and thought-provoking message. The interplay between the steady, almost placid musical rhythm and the urgent, desperate lyrical content creates a powerful tension that mirrors the song's theme of overlooking chaos from a place of calm.

Musically, "Another Day in Paradise" employs a somber and atmospheric arrangement that enhances its serious theme. It is built around a distinctive, hypnotic keyboard riff and programmed drum machines, creating a sound that was contemporary for the late 1980s but also subdued. The production, handled by Collins and Hugh Padgham, is polished and clean, featuring smooth basslines by Leland Sklar and atmospheric guitar work from Daryl Stuermer. Collins' vocal delivery is earnest and emotive, avoiding theatrics in favor of a direct, storytelling tone that builds in intensity. The inclusion of David Crosby's harmony vocals adds a layer of richness and a touch of folk-rock gravity to the chorus.

Lyrically, the song uses a direct, narrative third-person perspective, making the story feel like an observation the listener is sharing with Collins. The primary literary device is situational irony, most evident in the title and chorus, which juxtaposes the word "paradise" with a scene of suffering. Collins uses vivid and simple imagery to create an emotional connection (e.g., "she's been crying," "blisters on the soles of her feet"). The use of repetition in the chorus, particularly the phrase "Oh think twice," functions as a direct appeal to the listener's conscience, reinforcing the song's central message. The song also employs rhetorical questions directed at a higher power ("Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do?") to express frustration and a sense of moral urgency.

"Another Day in Paradise" had a massive cultural impact upon its release, becoming one of Phil Collins' most successful and recognizable songs. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and topped charts in numerous other countries, including Germany, Canada, and Italy. Its success brought the issue of homelessness to the forefront of popular culture at the end of the 1980s, a decade often associated with wealth and excess.

The song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1991 and the Brit Award for British Single in 1990, cementing its critical and commercial legacy. However, it also sparked considerable debate, with some critics accusing Collins, a wealthy musician, of being patronizing or insincere. This controversy itself became part of the song's story, highlighting the complex relationship between art, social commentary, and celebrity.

Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists, most notably a 2001 version by R&B duo Brandy and Ray J, which became a top-five hit in the UK and introduced the song to a new generation. More recently, in 2025, DJ Snake released a modern electronic reinterpretation featuring vocalist Bipolar Sunshine. The song's enduring relevance is a testament to its powerful message, and it remains a staple of classic rock and adult contemporary radio. In 2009, Billboard ranked it as the 86th greatest song of all time.

The central metaphor of the song is the title phrase, "another day in paradise." This is a deeply ironic statement that contrasts the comfortable, carefree lives of the privileged with the harsh reality of the homeless. Paradise symbolizes a state of blissful ignorance and comfort, a world where one can afford to walk past suffering without it disrupting their day. The song suggests this "paradise" is a fragile illusion maintained by actively ignoring the hellish reality that exists simultaneously, often just a few feet away.

The "man on the street" is a symbol for society at large. He is not portrayed as overtly malicious, but rather as someone who is uncomfortable and embarrassed, choosing avoidance over engagement. His act of whistling as he crosses the street symbolizes the small, everyday actions people take to distract themselves and create emotional distance from uncomfortable truths.

The "lines on her face" and "blisters on the soles of her feet" are powerful symbols of the woman's long-term suffering and struggle. They are not just physical descriptors but evidence of a life of hardship, making the apathy she faces even more poignant. These details transform her from an abstract concept of "the homeless" into a tangible, suffering human being.

The plea, "Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do?" functions as a rhetorical question and a symbol of collective helplessness and moral frustration. It represents the moment when the observer's feigned ignorance breaks down, acknowledging the problem but feeling powerless or unsure of the solution, thus passing the responsibility to a higher power or society in general.

The most significant recurring motif in the song is the lyrical phrase "Oh think twice, 'cause it's another day for you and me in paradise." This line, which forms the core of the chorus, is the song's central hook and thematic statement. Its repetition serves to drill the ironic message into the listener's mind. The command "think twice" is a direct call to action, urging self-reflection and a reconsideration of one's own privileged position. The repetition of "paradise" becomes increasingly sarcastic and poignant with each instance, highlighting the deep chasm between the lives of the comfortable and the destitute.

Another recurring phrase is the desperate plea, "She calls out to the man on the street." This line opens both the first and second verses, establishing a narrative loop that emphasizes the persistence of the woman's need and the repeated failure of society (represented by the man) to respond. It frames the story as a common, everyday occurrence rather than an isolated incident.

The musical motif of the main keyboard riff is also crucial. It is instantly recognizable and runs through most of the song, providing a somber, atmospheric bed for the lyrics. Its constant, looping presence creates a feeling of stasis and inevitability, mirroring the unending cycle of poverty and indifference described in the song.