About The Song
“One More Night” is the first single in the United States and second in the United Kingdom from Phil Collins’ third studio album, the Diamond-certified No Jacket Required. “One More Night” was Phil Collins’ second U.S. No. 1 single, following “Against All Odds”, and was his fourth single to reach the top ten in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 50 on the chart dated 9 February 1985. It hit number one seven weeks later and remained on top for two weeks. In the UK, the single was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. It was also his first No. 1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart.
The soft rock ballad remained for two weeks at the top in the U.S. in early 1985, until it was surpassed by “We Are the World” by USA for Africa on 13 April 1985. It has also been included on the compilation albums Hits (1998), The Platinum Collection (2004), Love Songs: A Compilation… Old and New (2004) and The Singles (2016).
It was also released on the 2008 EMI TV compilation album, 101 Love Songs, with Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now).
Collins was playing around with his drum machine (a Roland TR-808) when he started saying the chorus of the song. He later recalled that the writing of the song, which has no hook, was completed “very quickly.” Its B-side in the UK was “I Like the Way”, while the US received “The Man with the Horn”.
The song’s music video, directed by Jim Yukich, features Collins playing the piano in a downtown bar.
The bar (both the interior and the exterior shot as Collins leaves and walks away into the night as the song fades out), is The Princess Victoria, at 1 Becklow Road, Shepherd’s Bush in West London. At the time it was owned by Richard Branson (the same bar interior was used for the “Sussudio” video, but looking different because the bar is now closed and this clip is shot in sepia tone, while “Sussudio” was full-colored). This video is in fact a segue from the music video for “Sussudio”, the full version of both clips without a break was included in Phil Collins’ long-form music video release “The Singles Collection”. One inconsistency in the video is that Collins is depicted playing a Yamaha CP-70 electric piano, but the recording itself uses a Yamaha DX-7 synthesiser for the electric piano part, and Collins used either this or a Fender Rhodes for the early live performances of the song switching to the Yamaha CP-70 electric piano for the Seriously Live Tour and later performances.
Phil’s guitarist Daryl Stuermer makes an appearance, as does Phenix Horns member Don Myrick, who plays the sax solo which closes the tune.
Video
Lyrics
One more night
One more nightI’ve been trying, ooh, so long
To let you know, let you know how I feel
And if I stumble, if I fall, just help me back
So I can make you seePlease give me one more night
Give me one more night
One more night
‘Cause I can’t wait forever
Give me just one more night
Ooh, just one more night
Oh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait foreverI’ve been sitting here so long
Wasting time, just staring at the phone
And I was wondering should I call you
Then I thought maybe you’re not alonePlease give me one more night
Give me just one more night
Oh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait foreverPlease give me one more night
Ooh, just one more night
Oh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait forever
Give me one more night
Give me just one more night
Ooh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait foreverLike a river to the sea
I will always be with you
And if you sail away
I will follow youGive me one more night
Give me just one more night
Oh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait foreverI know there’ll never be a time you’ll ever feel the same
And I know it’s only words
But if you change your mind, you know that I’ll be here
And maybe we both can learnGive me just one more night
Give me just one more night
Ooh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait foreverGive me just one more night
Give me just one more night
Ooh, one more night
‘Cause I can’t wait forever