And The Band Played On
Simple Minds Lyrics

Sweetest angel came down
Someone kind and compassionate approached the singer

Took me by the hand
The singer was guided by this compassionate person

Said I've got things to offer you
This person gave the singer an offer or advice

Help you understand
The offer or advice was enlightening and helped the artist comprehend something

If the bombs don't get you
The danger of bombs or violence loomed over the artist

I'll roll with you tonight
The compassionate person would stay with the singer through difficult times

All these things inside your head
The singer had many internal struggles

You've got to get it right
The artist had to sort out their emotions and thoughts to find peace

And the band played on
Despite the turmoil, life goes on

Spirits of the city
The artist felt like the city had some sort of presence or personality

Were calling out my name
The city seemed to be reaching out to the singer

When jealous guys break down and cry
The artist had seen others feel inadequate or inferior

They got themselves to blame
Those who felt inadequate have no one to blame but themselves

Take courage in the night
Be brave in the face of danger and uncertainty

All those dreams inside your head
The singer had many aspirations and desires

You've got to get it right
The artist had to work hard to achieve their dreams

The room was getting hotter
The atmosphere was tense and intense

And someone hit the light
Someone turned off the light or caused a commotion

There was power in the darkness
Something important or transformative happened in the darkness

There was violence in the night
There was danger or aggression in the night

And the golden sons and daughters
People who were successful or promising were present

They were coming up for air
These successful people were experiencing various emotions or pressures

You were standing with your back to me
The singer couldn't see or understand someone they were close to

And a halo round your hair
This person seemed almost angelic or pure

And the questions there were many
The singer had many queries

Like how can you survive
One of the queries was about survival

When it's the moment
There was a significant or pivotal moment

You've been waiting for
This moment was highly anticipated

This is the moment of your life
This moment was a milestone or turning point for the artist

So every dreamer pass me by
The singer encountered many people with aspirations

With a fix me Jesus stare in his eyes
These people looked to the singer or a higher power for guidance or help

I was born to live
The artist felt like they had a purpose

I was born to die
Everyone has a finite amount of time on earth

With the queen of soul
Refers to Aretha Franklin, a widely respected singer

And the king of light
Refers to Elvis Presley, a legendary musician

All the power in the land
Those in positions of authority or influence

Pull me through to the shadowland
The singer was struggling or facing uncertainty

I was driven by some hidden hand
The singer felt like there was a greater force guiding their actions

It's the greatest gift of all
Being guided or influenced by something larger than oneself is a valuable gift

Shake the ghost within you
Confront the past or things that haunt you

Get up, meet up, the rising sun
Embrace a new day or opportunity

'cause the old days they're the dying days
The past is fading and less important

And the new day's just begun
The future holds great promise or potential

At the end of every party
After something enjoyable comes to an end

Hear the singer sing his song
The artist expresses their thoughts and emotions through art

May his heart stay young forever
May the artist maintain their passion and creativity

And the dream still lingers on
The inspiration or meaning behind the artist's work persists

I want to die
The artist feels like life is fleeting

I want to live again
At the same time, the singer wants to enjoy life to the fullest

I want to keep on keeping on
The singer wants to persevere despite challenges or hardships

They say a coward dies a thousand times
Those who are afraid or unwilling to take risks miss out on many opportunities

But the brave they die just once
Those who face challenges head-on often suffer less in the long run

So walk to me, talk to me
Engage with the artist and communicate openly

Hold me now spectre of love
The singer is seeking comfort or support from someone they love

There's a coolness under fire
Remain calm and composed in difficult situations

And a universal love
Compassion and understanding can be found in all people

Played on, played on
Despite everything, life and music continue