Man on the Corner

"Man on the Corner"
Single by Genesis
from the album Abacab
B-side	Submarine
Released	5 March 1982
Format	7"
Recorded	1981
Genre	Rock
Length	4:27
Label	Charisma/Virgin (UK) Atlantic(US)
Producer	Genesis
Genesis singles chronology
"Keep It Dark" (1981) "Man on the Corner" (1982) "Paperlate" (1982)
Abacab track listing "Who Dunnit?" (6) "Man on the Corner" (7) "Like It or Not" (8)

"Man on the Corner" is a song by British band Genesis, released on March 5, 1982. The song was written by Phil Collins.

Lyrics

The lyrics describe a man who spends his days on a street corner, shouting at passersby. According to the radio show In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted the making of the Abacab album), the song was composer Collins' first song about the homeless epidemic and society's reluctance to help the homeless or find a resolution. Backed by a simple drum machine beat, the song takes a musically dark tone. Near the end of the 1980s, Collins would revisit the theme of homelessness in "Another Day in Paradise".

Music video

The music video used to promote the song features Collins, Banks, and Rutherford, along with Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson playing on stage together, using different colours to illuminate the band. It was filmed during a performance at the Savoy Theatre in New York City.