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)
Careful in Career
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take care
I take care
It's a shame
To go away
It's a shame to go away
It's a shame
To die already
Looking in through at me
Pouring X years of life
Pouring in ecstasy
Performance or ecstasy
I'm looking at you
Looking in through at me
I've come so far already
I've come so far already
So far
I've come so far
Careful In Career
Take care
I take care
I see the lodgers
They are walking
Hands over my eyes
I see you yawning
Shambling
Drugged up by the heat and so
Looking at you
Looking in through at me
Pouring X years of life
Pouring in ecstasy
In performance or in ecstasy
I'm looking at you
Looking in through at me
I've come so far already
I've come so far already
It's a shame
Looking at you
Looking in through at me
All in ecstasy
I've come so far already
All in ecstasy
I've come so far already
All in ecstasy
I've come so far already
I've come so far
I've come so far
It's a shame
It's a shame
Looking at you
Looking in through at me
The lyrics of Simple Minds’s song “Careful in Career” appear to be opening up a conversation about the dangers and anxieties of seeking success in one’s professional life. The chorus warns to “take care,” that it’s a “shame to go away” or “die already,” indicating the weight that the pressure to succeed has on the individual.
The line “Pouring X years of life” suggests that the character is dedicating an overwhelming amount of time and energy into their career. This is reflected in the repetition of the line “I’ve come so far already” and the persistent reminder to “take care,” perhaps suggesting that the singer is concerned about losing themselves, or their soul, in the pursuit of their ambition.
The last verse sees them encountering another person, who appears to be disengaged or tired, “drugged up by the heat,” as though to highlight how the push for productivity and attainment can be isolating and draining. The song seems to be urging its listeners to be cautious when pursuing their careers, and that, despite all the potential success, it could result in loneliness, misconnection, and emptiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Take care
I need to be cautious and watchful of my actions
I take care
I am mindful of my decisions and their outcomes
It's a shame
It is regrettable or unfortunate
To go away
To leave or depart
It's a shame to go away
It is regrettable to leave or depart
To die already
To cease living prematurely
Looking at you
Observing and analyzing you
Looking in through at me
Examining and scrutinizing oneself
Pouring X years of life
Investing a substantial amount of time and energy
Pouring in ecstasy
Channeling one's passion and enthusiasm into a task
Performance or ecstasy
The task at hand can be approached either as a means to achieve success or as a way to experience pure joy
I've come so far already
I have made significant progress and achieved much already
So far
Up to this point
I see the lodgers
I am aware of onlookers or spectators
They are walking
They are observing or exploring their surroundings
Hands over my eyes
A symbolic gesture of fear, surprise or realization
I see you yawning
I am aware of someone's boredom or lack of interest
Shambling
Walking awkwardly or unsteadily
Drugged up by the heat and so
Feeling disoriented or uncomfortable due to hot weather conditions
All in ecstasy
Fully committed to experiencing pure joy and delight
It's a shame looking at you
It is regrettable to witness your lack of passion or interest
I've come so far
I have progressed significantly from where I started
It's a shame looking in through at me
It is unfortunate to realize my lack of dedication or enthusiasm for something I am invested in
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, BRIAN MC GEE, NORMAN MICHAEL MC NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janfrans Zuidema
I am fascinated by this song. I believe it's a masterpiece.
RADADARA
Totally agree. Do I hear 'Star-seed'? Do I want to know? Such a sense of movement across space.
David Webster
What an album. Sons and facination got my pre owned copy delivered from ebay this morning looks more like new. I especially love this track with its dark edge haunting sounds
careful in career a total masterpiece. It's great to hear it again.
john downes
It's off Sister Feelings Call, side two.
Keith Rooks
The only band etched across my heart!!!
Melanie Jürgens
Maybe it's not their best tune but it's really fascinating 👍first time I've heard it, I was 14 and a lil emotional new romantic girl..that's 33 y ago..i loved it at that time..still love it today❤️especially Jim's voice.
Neil Stuarr
Stunning music .
Fel Sart
One of my favourites, along with Wonderful in young life, from this era
christopher harper
Yeah Wonderful In Young Life here also....When I was 16 the lyrics meant nothing but a 42 I understand and it brings a tear to my eyes sometimes,lol! "Whatever the weather the climate is perfect..." When you are young and in "love" or with good friends, it could be a blizzard or a heatwave. As long as you are with them it's good.
RADADARA
Those two tracks form a partnership against the rest of Sons and Sisters. They are less tort and rigid than most of the other tracks (though I like the rest of the tracks partly for those very reasons) and have a murky production that adds to their sense of mystery, of something unacknowledged.