Simple Minds have achieved 24 top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, including eight top 10 and one number one, and 26 albums on the UK Albums Chart, including 22 top 40 albums, 12 top 10 albums and five number one albums: Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a Time (1985), Live in the City of Light (1987), Street Fighting Years (1989), and Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992). They have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, and were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s. Simple Minds have also achieved considerable chart success in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New Zealand. Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour.
In 2014, Simple Minds were awarded the Q Inspiration Award for their contribution to the music industry and an Ivor Novello Award in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA). Other notable recognitions include nominations for both the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in 1985, nomination for the Brit Award for British Group in 1986 and for the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group in 1987. "Belfast Child" was nominated for the Song of the Year at the Brit Awards 1990.
The nucleus of Simple Minds consists of the two remaining original members, Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (electric and acoustic guitars, occasional keyboards after 1990, saxophone and violin). The other current band members are Ged Grimes (bass guitar), Cherisse Osei (drums), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (additional guitar and keyboards) and Berenice Scott (keyboards). Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass guitar), Brian McGee and Mel Gaynor (drums).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Minds
Discography
Life in a Day (1979)
Real to Real Cacophony (1979)
Empires and Dance (1980)
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981)
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)
Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
Once Upon a Time (1985)
Street Fighting Years (1989)
Real Life (1991)
Good News from the Next World (1995)
Néapolis (1998)
Our Secrets Are the Same (1999/2004)
Neon Lights (2001)
Cry (2002)
Black & White 050505 (2005)
Graffiti Soul (2009)
Big Music (2014)
Acoustic (2016)
Walk Between Worlds (2018)
Direction of the Heart (2022)
7 Deadly Sins
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ever felt you've cast aside and sheltered from the universal truth
Ever find when trouble calls you're first in line and stick your finger in
Everybody's talking about 7 deadly sins
Number one says drop the gun there's nothnig out there that's worth dying for
And number two, that's me and you, I'm green inside and jealous to the core
Number three fidelity, I've lost the path and I'd better start again
This thing's got the whole world beat, 7 deadly sins
I can hear them calling out, I can hear them screaming out
Blood is sweet like a deep river and where it goes I don't know
You make me sweat and you make me shiver, where it goes I don't know
If you've got sticky fingers, you got dreams that linger running through your
brain
Well vanity's the flying "V", desire is the one who gets the blame
If you're looking for a goldmine when all around you seems to be tin
I'm not superstitious about 7 deadly sins
I can hear them calling out, I can hear them screaming out
Blood is sweet like a deep river and where it goes I don't know
You make me sweat and you make me shiver, where it goes I don't know
Everybody's calling out 7 deadly sins
Everybody's dreaming about 7 deadly sins
Simple Minds's song 7 Deadly Sins explores the idea that even though humans may want to do good and follow a moral code, they are often overridden by their baser instincts and desires. The lyrics highlight the struggle with temptation and the internal battle one faces when trying to resist it. The chorus, "I can hear them calling out, I can hear them screaming out, Blood is sweet like a deep river and where it goes I don't know, You make me sweat and you make me shiver, where it goes I don't know," speaks to the allure of sin and how it can be hard to resist when it seems so enticing.
The song goes through each of the seven deadly sins, starting with greed and jealousy, then moving on to the loss of fidelity and the need to restart, and ending with the temptation of desire and vanity. These sins are universal and something that everyone can relate to, making the song both relatable and introspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever felt that you've been lied and somehow you just can't provide the proof
Have you ever been deceived but cannot provide evidence for your claims?
Ever felt you've cast aside and sheltered from the universal truth
Have you ever felt neglected and avoided from the fundamental truth?
Ever find when trouble calls you're first in line and stick your finger in
Have you found yourself being the first one to indulge in trouble?
Everybody's talking about 7 deadly sins
People are discussing the infamous '7 deadly sins.'
Number one says drop the gun there's nothing out there that's worth dying for
The first sin is about understanding that nothing in life is worth sacrificing one's life for.
And number two, that's me and you, I'm green inside and jealous to the core
The second sin is envy, a deep-rooted sense of jealousy that affects both you and me.
Number three fidelity, I've lost the path and I'd better start again
The third sin is losing one's loyalty and finding the right way again.
This thing's got a strange mystique, the 7 deadly sins
The 7 deadly sins have a mysterious aura surrounding them.
This thing's got the whole world beat, 7 deadly sins
The 7 deadly sins have a significant effect on the world.
I can hear them calling out, I can hear them screaming out
I can feel the sins calling out to me and screaming for my attention.
Blood is sweet like a deep river and where it goes I don't know
The temptation of sin is enticing like the sweetness of blood, and where it will lead is unknown.
You make me sweat and you make me shiver, where it goes I don't know
Indulging in sin causes physical reactions, leaving one apprehensive of its consequences.
If you've got sticky fingers, you got dreams that linger running through your brain
If one has a habit of stealing, it is accompanied by persistent, haunting dreams.
Well vanity's the flying 'V', desire is the one who gets the blame
Vanity is one of the sins that leads to other sins. Desire is to blame for such actions.
If you're looking for a goldmine when all around you seems to be tin
If you're searching for something worthwhile amidst the surrounding chaos and immaterialism.
I'm not superstitious about 7 deadly sins
I don't believe in superstitions surrounding the 7 deadly sins.
Everybody's calling out 7 deadly sins
Everyone is talking about the 7 deadly sins.
Everybody's dreaming about 7 deadly sins
People are attracted to the idea of committing the infamous 7 deadly sins.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind