Collins has stated the song "wrote itself"; while sitting at a piano, the lyrics just came to him naturally without a premeditated plan to write about homelessness. Chart Performance and Awards
Collins was inspired to write the track after witnessing people living in boxes and sleeping on outdoor heating grills in Washington D.C., notably within sight of Capitol Hill. He also cited a face-to-face encounter with a homeless woman and her two children in London that made him realize he often reacted with the same hesitation as everyone else. Musical Production Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise [Audio HQ] HD
Collins performed vocals, keyboards, and drums, supported by Leland Sklar on bass and Dominic Miller on guitars. Collins has stated the song "wrote itself"; while
It was the final #1 single of the 1980s and the first #1 single of the 1990s on the Billboard Hot 100, where it held the top spot for four consecutive weeks. The song significantly raised public awareness
The song uses a third-person narrative to describe a man crossing the street to ignore a homeless woman begging for help, illustrating the "awkwardness" and tendency of people to look away from suffering.
The song significantly raised public awareness; Collins famously used his following tour to raise thousands of dollars for various homelessness charities.