They came at night leaving fear behind
Shadows were on the ground
Well, nobody knew where to find him
No evidence was found
I'm never coming back
They heard him cry
And I believe him
Well he never meant to do anything wrong
It's gonna get worse if he waits too long

Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh no

Searching through the day and into the night
They wouldn't stop 'til they found him
They didn't know him and they didn't understand
They never asked him why
"Get out of my way"
They heard him shout
Then a blinding light
Ooh all I could see was him running down the street
Out of the shadows and into the night

Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Don't give up
Keep running, keep hiding
Don't give up
Billy, if you know you're right
Don't give up
You know that I am on your side
Don't give up
Oh Billy, you better, you better, you better run for your life

Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

They came at night leaving fear behind
Shadows were on the ground
Nobody knew where to find him
No evidence was found
"I'm never coming back"
They heard him cry
And I believe him
He never meant to do anything wrong
It's gonna get worse if he waits too long

Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Don't Lose My Number Lyrics as written by Phil Collins

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Don't Lose My Number song meanings
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    General Comment

    It makes me think of a young boy being kidnapped

    Boonechic_21on April 10, 2004   Link

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