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)
A Life Shot in Black & White
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lays me down,
Takes to me where,
Words still fail me, yes!
A life shot in black and white,
Shames me now, as it takes us there,
Where nothing can break this.
Toiling back, I am still ashen,
On what I believe still matters.
I'm slamming on the brakes,
And like a haunted child, I was born to break.
A life shot in black and white,
Throws me down, then raises me,
With colours still bleeding... yes.
It's all there in black and white,
We've seen it now, seen it there,
And the moment's not leaving.
A life shot in black and white,
Stares me down, take me where,
And like doves we won't leave never.
We're still here in black and white,
This song is a reflective piece on life and its inherent contrasts. The repeated line "a life shot in black and white" suggests a life that is stark and without nuance, leaving the singer feeling as if he is unable to express himself. The line "Words still fail me, yes!" underscores this sense of frustration and the difficulty the singer has in communicating effectively. The line "shames me now" suggests that perhaps the starkness of life has led him to a place of regret, wishing things could have been different.
Despite this lack of color and nuance, the singer is still grappling with what he believes to be important. The line "On what I believe still matters" suggests that there are core values that he holds dear, even in the midst of the bleakness of life. The line "I'm slamming on the brakes" suggests that he is trying to take control, to stop the cycle of disappointment and lack of communication.
The final verse is more optimistic, suggesting that despite the starkness of life, there is still beauty to be found. The line "With colours still bleeding" suggests that despite the black and white, there are still moments of vividness and wonder. The final lines "And like doves we won't leave never. We're still here in black and white" suggest a resilience and determination to hold on and persevere in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
A life shot in black and white,
A life that lacks vibrancy and emotion, depicted in monotone shades.
Lays me down,
This dreary life has caused me to despair and feel defeated.
Takes to me where,
Transports me to a place where words fail to describe the bleakness that I feel.
Words still fail me, yes!
I struggle to articulate the despair that this life causes me.
A life shot in black and white,
The monotony of life continues to shame and disappoint me.
Shames me now, as it takes us there,
This life is so unfulfilling that it brings shame to myself and those around me.
Where nothing can break this.
There seems to be no escape from this dismal existence.
Toiling back, I am still ashen,
Despite my efforts to improve my life, I am still worn out and hopeless.
I keep falling back,
I continue to succumb to the despair rather than fighting it.
On what I believe still matters.
I hold onto my beliefs and values as a source of strength in this colorless life.
I'm slamming on the brakes,
I am finally realizing the need to stop the cycle of despair and make a change.
And like a haunted child, I was born to break.
I have lived in this desolate state for so long that it feels like I was destined for it since birth.
A life shot in black and white,
This desolate existence continues to knock me down with its lack of color and vitality.
Throws me down, then raises me,
Despite the constant knocks, there are moments where I feel uplifted and hopeful.
With colours still bleeding... yes.
However, the vibrancy in those moments is still tainted with the sadness and hopelessness of this life.
It's all there in black and white,
There is no sugarcoating or hiding from the bleak reality of this existence.
We've seen it now, seen it there,
We have accepted the dreariness of this life and come to terms with its complexities.
And the moment's not leaving.
Despite the acceptance, the feeling of despair still lingers.
A life shot in black and white,
Still trapped in this colorless existence...
Stares me down, take me where,
The hopelessness of this life is ever-present, taking me to a place of despair.
And like doves we won't leave never.
Much like doves, we are stuck in this colorless environment and cannot leave.
We're still here in black and white,
Continuing to exist in this dreary world, devoid of life and vitality.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JEZ COAD, JIM KERR, CHARLIE BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind