Separate Lives

by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

You (Bb)called me from the (C7)room in your ho (Fsus2)tel

(Dm7)all full of ro mance for some one you had (Fsus2)met,

and (Bb)tell ing me how (C7sus)sor ry you were (F)leav ing so soon,

and that you (Bb)miss me some times

when you’re a (Gm7)lone in your room.

(C7)Do (Gm7)I feel lone ly too?

You (C7)have no (F)right

to ask me how I (F)feel.

You have no (F)right

to speak to me so (Bb)kind.

I can’t go (F)on

(C7)hold ing on to (Am7)ties

now that we’re (Gm)liv ing

sep ’rate (F)lives.

Well, I held (F)right

to ask me how I (F)feel.

You have no (F)right

to speak to me so (Bb)kind.

I can’t go (F)on

(C7)hold ing on to (Am7)ties

now that we’re (Gm)liv ing

sep ’rate (F)lives.

Well, I held (F)lives.

(Bb)Oh, it’s so (Am)typ i cal; love (Gm)leads to (F)i so (Bb)la tion.

(F)So you (Gm7)build that wall,

(F)so you (Bb)build that wall,

and make it (Bb)strong er.

You have no (Bb)might find my self (C7)look ing in your (F)eyes.

But for (Gm)now we’ll go on (Bb)liv ing sep ’rate (F)lives.

Yes, for (Gm7)now we’ll (Dm7)go on (A)liv ing (C7sus)sep (C7)’rate (F)lives.

Separate Lives — Classic Piano Sheet Music

4 people have learned this song

Read "Separate Lives" by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of F. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 72 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Separate Lives”

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Separate Lives"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature F. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Separate Lives" by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin played in?
Separate Lives is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Separate Lives"?
The arrangement plays at 72 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Separate Lives" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Separate Lives"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Separate Lives"?
"Separate Lives" was originally performed by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Separate Lives" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature F, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 72 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.