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)
Banging on the Door
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These things that you say
But I'll be alright
Don't lose your faith
Just swallow your pride tonight
God only knows, this place is strange
Banging on the door again
Losing on a lover's game
Winning on the one side and losing forever
The air that we breathe hangs heavy tonight
Still I look for your face
I'm home all alone again
Some dreams grow old and then they just die
I'm banging on the door again
Still banging on the door that's locked forever
Losing on a lover's game
Winning on the one track and hurting forever
Oh your love is a symphony
All this love over all of me
Oh your love is a symphony
Oh sweet love I can feel it
Still banging on the door again
I'm banging on the door that's sealed forever
Losing on a lover's game
Winning on the one track hurting forever
The lyrics of Simple Minds's song Banging on the Door delve into feelings of hurt, loss, and longing in a relationship. The singer acknowledges that what their partner has said has caused them pain but promises to be alright and pleads for their partner to not lose faith in them. The lines "Just swallow your pride tonight/God only knows, this place is strange" suggest that there might be conflict or confusion between the two, and the partner's pride might be one of the contributing factors. The chorus "Banging on the door again/Banging on the door that's locked forever/Losing on a lover's game/Winning on the one side and losing forever" could be interpreted as the singer trying to regain their partner's love and affection but realizing that it might be futile since the door is locked forever. It reflects the frustration of being stuck in a relationship that is not fulfilling emotionally, and the struggle to break free from it. The line "Losing on a lover's game/Winning on the one track and hurting forever" highlights how the singer feels like they are losing in their love life, but also feels like they are winning in other aspects of their life.
The second verse reinforces the feeling of loneliness and the longing for a partner's presence. The line "The air that we breathe hangs heavy tonight" reflects the tension and heaviness of the atmosphere. The singer still looks for the partner's face even though they are alone, suggesting that they might be haunted by memories or the thought of the partner. The phrase "Some dreams grow old and then they just die" might mean that the singer's hopes for love and a fulfilling relationship are fading away. The repetition of the chorus shows the persistence of the singer's attempts to break free from the locked door, but to no avail. The end of the song brings a glimmer of hope in the form of "your love is a symphony", implying that love could be beautiful like music, but the singer is still stuck banging on the door.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that it hurts
You are aware that your words are hurtful
These things that you say
The words you say are causing pain
But I'll be alright
I will recover from this pain
Don't lose your faith
Keep believing in us and our relationship
Just swallow your pride tonight
Put aside your ego and let's work together to move forward
God only knows, this place is strange
This situation is uncertain and confusing
Banging on the door again
Trying to get back into the relationship
Banging on the door that's locked forever
Trying to get back into a relationship that is over
Losing on a lover's game
Feeling defeated in the game of love
Winning on the one side and losing forever
Achieving success in some aspects of life but losing in love permanently
The air that we breathe hangs heavy tonight
The atmosphere is tense and suffocating
Still I look for your face
I am still searching for a sign of your presence in my life
I'm home all alone again
Feeling lonely and isolated
Some dreams grow old and then they just die
Some aspirations fade away with time and never come to fruition
Oh your love is a symphony
Your love is a beautiful piece of music
All this love over all of me
Feeling overwhelmed with your love
Oh sweet love I can feel it
Your love is comforting and palpable
Still banging on the door again
Continuing to try to re-enter the relationship
I'm banging on the door that's sealed forever
Attempting to enter a relationship that is irrevocably over
Losing on a lover's game
Feeling defeated in love
Winning on the one track hurting forever
Experiencing long-lasting pain despite achieving success in other areas of life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind