Despite liking the song himself, and despite the band's previous success, he has claimed he wasn't certain the song would be a hit. Collins said that "large chunks" of the lyrics are about his first wife Andrea Bertorelli, to whom he was married from 1975 to 1980.
Despite enjoying the song himself, and considering the band's prior success, he has stated that he wasn't sure if it would be a hit. Collins said that "large portions" of the lyrics are about his first wife Andrea Bertorelli, to whom he was married from 1975 to 1980.