Phil Collins: "Both Sides Of The Story" (1993)

"Both Sides of the Story" is a song performed by Phil Collins and released in 1993 as the lead single from the album Both Sides.

According to wikipedia, the video, mainly shot in New York, follows the lyrics of the song. The first section cuts between Collins singing and images of a gutter and homeless people. The second section shows Collins inside a house, sitting on the stairs. He watches a married couple arguing, while their children watch on. After the chorus, a military unit patrolling in a town while children spray-paint the walls. The final section portrays the story of a confrontation with a ghetto kid threatening another man with a gun. The video with shots of New York and the people, cutting like the first section again with Collins singing the closing lyrics. Due to the length of the video, it didn't receive much airplay on MTV.


- Lyrics:

'Though we might hate to admit it, there are always two sides to every story...'

Find yourself in the gutter in a lonely part of town
where death waits in the darkness with a weapon to cut some stranger down
sleeping with an empty bottle, he's a sad and an empty hearted man
all he needs is a job, and a little respect, so he can get out while he can

We always need to hear both sides of the story

A neighbourhood peace is shattered it's the middle of the night
young faces hide in the shadows, while they watch their mother and father fight
he says she's been unfaithful, she says her love for him has gone
and the brother shrugs to his sister and says "looks like it's just us from now on"

We always need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
people looking for truth, we must not fail them now
be sure, before we close our eyes
don't walk away from here
'til you hear both sides

Here we are all gathered in what seems to be the centre of the storm
neighbours once friendly now stand each side of the line that has been drawn
they've been fighting here for years, but now there's killing on the streets
while small coffins are lined up sadly, now united in defeat

We always need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
people looking for truth, we must not fail them now
be sure, before we close our eyes
don't walk away from here
'til you see both sides

White man turns the corner, finds himself within a different world
ghetto kid grabs his shoulder, throws him up against the wall
he says "would you respect me if I didn't have this gun
'cos without it, I don't get it, and that's why I carry one"

We always need to hear both sides of the story