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)
ALL TOMORROW
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To all tomorrow's parties
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
To all tomorrow's parties
And where will she go and what shall she do
When midnight comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown
And cry behind the door
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
Why silks and linens of yesterday's gowns
To all tomorrow's parties
And what will she do with Thursday's rags
When Monday comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown
And cry behind the door
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
For whom none will go mourning
A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow's parties
The lyrics to Simple Minds's song All Tomorrow's Parties describe the predicament of a poor girl who is forced to wear second-hand clothing to attend a social event. The song paints a vivid picture of her situation, describing her as being dressed in "hand-me-down dress from who knows where," "silk and linens of yesterday's gowns," and "Thursday's rags." The repetition of the line "she'll turn once more to Sunday's clown and cry behind the door" emphasizes the girl's sense of helplessness and despair.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on social inequality and the limitations that poverty places on individuals. The girl's inability to dress herself in something new and fashionable for the party reflects her lack of agency and opportunities. The lyrics suggest that she is resigned to her fate as a social outcast, represented by the line "Thursday's child is Sunday's clown for whom none will go mourning."
Overall, the lyrics to All Tomorrow's Parties are a poignant reminder of the impact of poverty on individuals and society. It is a classic example of how a piece of music can convey a powerful message with only a few simple words.
Line by Line Meaning
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
The singer questions the outfit of the poor girl who will attend tomorrow's parties
To all tomorrow's parties
At all the upcoming celebrations
Why silks and linens of yesterday's gowns
The poor girl might wear luxurious fabrics from old dresses discarded by someone else
And what will she do with Thursday's rags
The singer ponders how the poor girl will handle the ordinary clothes on Thursday after wearing luxury clothes on Wednesday
When Monday comes around
The singer wants to understand what the poor girl will do on the next week's Monday
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown
On Monday, the poor girl will return to pretending to be happy as she does on Sundays
And cry behind the door
Despite the outward appearance, the poor girl would cry secretly
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
The poor girl was always unhappy and pretending to be happy on Sundays like a clown
For whom none will go mourning
Nobody will grieve for her when she finally dies, given her current state of misery
A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown
The poor girl might wear a dingy, black dress borrowed from someone
Of rags and silks, a costume
The poor girl's attire consists of a mix of poor quality clothes and old luxurious ones
Fit for one who sits and cries
The worn out outfit suits someone who does nothing but cry all day
For all tomorrow's parties
She will wear the same dress for all the upcoming events where she will pretend to be happy
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind