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)
Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never turn your back
Great times attack
Inexpensive thrills
And I said belle
Of all the friends who care
Some should be seen
Colours fly and catherine wheels
Poor girls cry
In the beauty of both worlds
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Out of the sky
''belle''
When the pulses rise
Love will tranquilize
Just before it kills
And I said belle
You turn them on
With your reflection
I know so well
Colours fly and catherine wheels
Poor girls cry
In the beauty of both worlds
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Out of the sky
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Fall in love fell falling
Catch a boy fell falling
Out of the sky
Out of the sky
Colours fly and catherine wheels
Some girl cry
Over her boyfriend
When colours fly and catherine wheels
So when the colours fly
And when the catherine wheels
The lyrics to Simple Minds' song "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel" are both cryptic and abstract, but they seem to revolve around the idea of love and the various experiences and emotions that come with it. The song speaks of different images and symbols that evoke the different aspects of love, such as passion, thrill, pain, beauty, and even danger. The title of the song refers to these images, as colors represent the variety of emotions and experiences that come with love, while the catherine wheel is a type of firework that evokes both glittering beauty and chaotic energy.
The opening lines, "Never turn your back, great times attack, inexpensive thrills" suggest that the singer is advising someone to always be open to opportunities and experiences, particularly those that are exciting and fun. The name "belle" that is repeated throughout the song could be a reference to a woman, the French term for "beautiful." Here, the singer asks Belle to be seen as someone who turns heads, but is not to be heard. It could also suggest the idea of the singer being smitten by the woman's looks and fashion.
The second verse is more melancholic, speaking of how love can be both intoxicating and deadly, yet attractive in its allure. They describe how the sight of a woman's reflection can turn someone on, and adding how it's something the singer knows well. The ending references the chaotic beauty of fireworks, where emotions can explode like a Catherine wheel of sparks. It suggests how love can both lift someone up and bring them crashing down in a whirlwind of emotional chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
belle
A term of endearment, the singer is addressing someone they care for.
Never turn your back
Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, danger may be lurking.
Great times attack
Opportunities for fun and enjoyment are present and should be seized.
Inexpensive thrills
Simple pleasures can bring joy without costing a lot of money.
And I said belle
Continuing to address the person they care for.
Of all the friends who care
Among those who care about us, some should be visible and active in our lives, while others should remain behind the scenes.
Some should be seen
Certain friends should be present in our lives and involved with us.
But never heard
Other friends should remain quieter and not insert themselves into our affairs.
Colours fly and catherine wheels
A celebratory and joyous scene.
Poor girls cry
Some people are left out or excluded from the celebration.
In the beauty of both worlds
Despite hardship, there is still beauty and wonder to be experienced in life.
Catch a boy fell falling
Finding love unexpectedly.
Fall in love fell falling
Becoming deeply attached to someone.
Out of the sky
Love can come from unexpected places and times.
When the pulses rise
As emotions heat up.
Love will tranquilize
Feelings of love can calm and soothe one's soul.
Just before it kills
Love can be powerful and all-consuming, but also potentially dangerous if taken too far.
You turn them on
Attracting attention and admiration from others.
With your reflection
Using one's image or persona to gain attention and cause others to be intrigued.
I know so well
The singer has experience with using their own image to attract attention.
Some girl cry
Others may feel left out or excluded from the celebration.
Over her boyfriend
Possibly feeling left out because of a romantic partner.
So when the colours fly
During celebratory occasions when people are happy and expressing joy.
And when the catherine wheels
When lively and exciting activities are taking place.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, R. VILLARREAL RODOLFO MELENDEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Rooks
Absolutely superb,they were ahead of the game!!! The only band etched across my ❤️
Jackie I
LOVE this entire album
Christian Diaz
Jackie I great album;;))
Thelinesman
Me too!
Ed Bredin
Derek Forbes makes this song extra special with his slap bass, magnificent
Frank Wijffels
Best of the Simple Minds. Great band and great song
Rob Alston
Who else loves this song for the bass??
Nick Brylka-Mee
Sublime!
Piri Reis
Me!!!!! 😍
Sir Barrington Womble MBE
Me. I used to play bass in bands. I used to play this as a warm up/practice from the 1980s onwards. I also practised with Boomtown Rats Rat Trap/Pink Floyd Money/Japan Cantonese boy, & Visions of China/Level 42 Hot water/Led Zep Black Dog/etc!