The tragic 1979 death of 31-year-old Riperton silenced one of soul music's most unique and unforgettable voices - blessed with an angelic five-octave vocal range, she scored her greatest commercial success with the chart-topping pop ballad, "Lovin' You". Riperton was born in Chicago on November 8, 1947. As a young girl, she studied music, drama, and dance at the city's Lincoln Center and later contemplated a career in opera. Her pop career began in 1963 when she joined the local girl group called The Gems (not to be confused with the 60s New York-based girl group Gems, led by Louise Bethune), who were also known at times as The Starlets (1963-1966), signing to the famed Chess label to release a handful of singles as well as lend backing vocals to acts including Fontella Bass, The Dells, and Etta James. After graduating from high school, Riperton went to work at Chess as a receptionist. A year before The Gems' dissolution in 1967, she also signed with the label as a solo act, releasing a single, Lonely Girl, under the alias Andrea Davis (a pseudonym she used in honor of Billy Davis, her mentor at Chess who wrote the song for her).
In 1967, Riperton was installed as the lead vocalist of the psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection, which debuted that year with a self-titled LP on Cadet Concepts. The singles "Amen" and "Lady Jane" found a home on underground FM radio, but the group failed to make much of an impression on mainstream outlets. While still a Connection member, Riperton mounted a solo career. Teaming up with producer/arranger Charles Stepney and her husband/composer Richard Rudolph, she issued her brilliant 1970 debut, Come to My Garden, but again commercial success eluded her. After Rotary Connection dissolved in the wake of 1971's Hey Love, she and Rudolph took a two-year sabbatical in Florida before relocating to Los Angeles, where she sang on Stevie Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale and toured as a member of his backing unit Wonderlove.
Wonder agreed to co-produce Riperton's 1974 album Perfect Angel, which included the international blockbuster "Lovin' You". The record made her a household name, although subsequent LPs like 1975's Adventures in Paradise and 1977's Stay in Love failed to repeat its success. By this time, however, commercial woes were the least of Riperton's concerns - diagnosed with breast cancer, she underwent a mastectomy in 1976, later becoming a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and earning a Society Courage Award from then-President Jimmy Carter. Riperton continued performing despite her declining condition, with 1979's Minnie, the final record completed during her lifetime - but died in Los Angeles on July 12 of that year. Unreleased vocal tracks with new instrumental backing constituted 1980's posthumous collection, Love Lives Forever. - Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
genres: Soul, Pop-Soul, Chicago Soul, Smooth Soul, AM Pop, Uptown Soul.
Simple Things
Minnie Riperton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I surely do what simon say
And if youl like to see me smile
Then you're in luck cause that's my style
My pretty bird up in the tree
I hear the song you sing for me
The sky's fantastic blue or grey
Hey
The simple things
The lovely simple things
The sunset and the dawn
The simple things
The lovely simple things
I could go on and on and on
For the simple pleasures
Are worth more than treasures
That your paper money ever bring
This song is old, this song is new
This song is me, this song is you
I like to play out in the rain
I like the sun to shine again
And again and again
Each day so many things to see
And I'm so glad I am me
And you, my friends, are pretty too
And I'm so glad that you are you
The lyrics of Minnie Riperton's "Simple Things" exude a strong sense of positivity and contentment. The singer of the song is happy to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like beautiful skies and birdsong, and encourages others to do the same. In the first verse, the singer mentions following Simon's instructions to be glad, suggesting a willingness to find joy in life's everyday moments. The second verse continues with a juxtaposition of rain and sunshine, expressing the singer's enjoyment of nature's changes.
The chorus repeats the title phrase, emphasizing the song's message of cherishing the things that truly matter in life. The line "the simple pleasures are worth more than treasures" reinforces this idea, suggesting that true happiness cannot be bought with material goods. The final verse brings the message back to the unity of the singer and their friends, all of whom are unique and beautiful in their own way.
Overall, the lyrics of "Simple Things" celebrate the beauty and joy that can be found in the world around us, urging listeners to appreciate those moments and cherish their own individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
If simon says be glad today
If someone tells me to be happy, I'll listen.
I surely do what simon say
I always follow what someone tells me to do.
And if youl like to see me smile
If you want to see me happy,
Then you're in luck cause that's my style
you're in luck because that's just how I am.
My pretty bird up in the tree
To the bird up in the tree,
I hear the song you sing for me
I'm listening to your sweet song.
The sky's fantastic blue or grey
I appreciate the beauty of the sky, whether it's blue or grey.
And here we are alive today
We are fortunate to be alive today.
The simple things
The small things in life,
The lovely simple things
are often the most beautiful.
The sunset and the dawn
Like watching the sunset and the dawn.
I could go on and on and on
I could list simple things that I appreciate for a long time.
For the simple pleasures
Because the little things
Are worth more than treasures
are worth more than any valuable item money can buy.
That your paper money ever bring
They bring more happiness than money can buy.
This song is old, this song is new
This song has been around for a while, and it doesn't matter if it's old or new.
This song is me, this song is you
This song is about all of us.
I like to play out in the rain
I enjoy playing in the rain.
I like the sun to shine again
I enjoy when the sun comes back out after the rain.
And again and again
Over and over.
Each day so many things to see
There's always something new to see every day.
And I'm so glad I am me
I'm happy to be myself.
And you, my friends, are pretty too
And you, my friends, are also beautiful.
And I'm so glad that you are you
I'm happy that you are who you are.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg McIntyre
What a voice. A gift from God!!!
Chandice Wallace
Timeless music. I first heard this as a child. I'm 46 yrs old now and I still appreciate the beauty in Minnie Riperton's voice.
Ashm
Me too me as 10! Now I'm 35 I knew of her vocal abilities before mariah carey I love them both but minnie has some extra special!
Fran hightower
She is not to be compared to ...A One and Only Artist woman
Tanya Wright
Oh the days when I would sing this to Mrs Minnie and would just be consumed by chills as I sensed she was singin' it right with me!!! Rest in harmonious peace, Mrs Minnie 💜💜💜
Nigel Seaton
Music creates the love and memories in our consciousness, and unconscious mind. This is a perfect example of touching those feelings of a simple love, who wouldn't want that. Thank you Minnie Ripperton.
Super Saturn
I'm 30 years old thanks mom for introducing me to this amazing woman as a child! RIP to Minnie Riperton great talent so young :(
Deborah Steele
"This is such a real divine classic, of a great song" ... " My heart music, indeed" .. Blessings always, Deborah Steele - 10/28/21
Michael Maqua
I’m so happy because I have found out about the fact that I have a daughter that sings like a angel and she will sing this song after I rewrite it because it’s a better version of it and my beautiful daughter that almighty god is bringing home to me is going to blow it out this world 🌎 and I’m gonna be playing the drums, just like I did for Minnie
Cheri Perkins
I always loved this song. My lovely sister had this album when I was in 8th grade the year 81? I played the "Simple Things" , over and over. How could you NOT love this song. Mya, Mya, Mya. My heart goes out to Mya, her brother and her husband. I watch SNL and when I see Mya it seems as if I meet her before.