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)
Capital City
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This coastline swerves
To a city that they live on
I walk on by
Animals cry
To a city that they live on
To a city that they walk on
To a city that they live on
This train is late
I hesitate
To a city that they live on
Dance the dance of violence
To a city that they live on
To a city that they crawl on
To a city that they live on
Pulse Feel Pulse
City that they live on
Feel
To a city that they crawl on
To a city live on
Feel
City that they crawl on
The lyrics to Simple Minds' song Capital City are quite abstract and vague, but they elicit a sense of tension and chaos in a bustling urban landscape. The recurring theme of "nerve" suggests a heightened state of awareness or anxiety. The opening line "This coastline swerves" hints at the unpredictability of the city's terrain, with the singer walking past crying animals, perhaps implying a sense of despair and hopelessness. The repetition of "pulse feel pulse" echoes the rhythm of a beating heart, further emphasizing the underlying tension in the song.
The mention of a late train and hesitation to enter the city further adds to the feeling of unease. The line "dance the dance of violence" is particularly striking, suggesting a level of aggression that permeates the city's culture. The repeated reference to the city that "they live on" and "crawl on" implies a sense of being trapped, unable to escape the town's grip on their lives.
Overall, Capital City paints a fairly bleak picture of modern urban life, where the constant hustle and bustle of the city can create an overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Nerve and nerve
The citizens of this capital city are tense and on edge
This coastline swerves
The physical landscape of the area leading up to the city is curvy and unpredictable
To a city that they live on
This city is the place that these individuals call home
I walk on by
The artist is simply passing through this city
Animals cry
The atmosphere in this city is stressful and tense enough to make the local animals distressed and vocalize their discomfort
Pulse Feel Pulse
The heartbeat of the city is fast and intense
This train is late
Public transportation is unreliable and inconsistent in this city
I hesitate
The artist is unsure about something ahead in their travels
Dance the dance of violence
The citizens of this city often resort to violent behaviors to solve their problems or express themselves
To a city that they crawl on
The individuals living here are weighed down and struggling to get by in this city
City that they live on
This city is the only place these people have ever lived and they are somewhat trapped here
Feel
The emotions of those living in this city run high
To a city that they crawl on
The struggles and hardships faced by individuals in this city are significant and life-altering
To a city live on
The citizens of this city are resigned to a challenging way of life
Feel
Despite the difficulties, these people feel a deep connection to their city
City that they crawl on
This city is a burden on the people who live here, but they have no choice but to keep going
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MCGEE, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind