Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. They have … Read Full Bio ↴Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. They have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985), which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Other commercially successful singles include "Glittering Prize" (1982), "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (1982), "Waterfront" (1983) and "Alive and Kicking" (1985), as well as the UK number one single "Belfast Child" (1989).

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)

Concrete And Cherry Blossom
Simple Minds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm on the rooftop

People circle round the atomical sun
Mid the concrete shapes and the cherry blossom
Walking up and down over Moonacre Square
It was years ago, still I feel there

I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah

I got my sunshades on, I'm feelin' fine
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah,
I'm in a sun-spot, thinkin' I won't be left behind

Sometimes I am there in the cool morning mist
In the tower block dreams that I cannot resist
Feel like heading back where the magic begun
Mid the concrete squares and the cherry blossom

I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I got my sunscreen on, I'm feelin' fine
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I'm in the sun-spot, thinkin' I won't be left behind

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la lo

High above the clouds where I have no cares
With the rainbow curls and the smoky air
When I settle down to the deepest sleep
I'm back in Tokyo, in a neon street

Back on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I got my sunshades on, I'm feelin' fine
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I'm in a sun-spot, thinkin' I won't be left behind

Back on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah

I'm in the sun, yeah yeah
I'm in the sun, yeah yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Simple Minds's "Concrete And Cherry Blossom" describe a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place from the past. The singer is on a rooftop, reminiscing about a location called Moonacre Square, where there were concrete buildings and cherry blossoms. The imagery suggests that the place is an urban environment, but one that is still capable of offering beauty and wonder. The singer feels a sense of belonging there and wants to return to that place. Later in the song, the lyrics mention Tokyo, and the singer seems to be suggesting that the feeling of belonging isn't necessarily tied to a specific location, but rather a sense of being "in the sun" and feeling good about oneself.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of yearning and an acknowledgement that while a specific physical place may hold significance, the most important thing is to find one's own sense of contentment and belonging.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm on the rooftop
I am physically on the rooftop of a building.

People circle round the atomical sun
People are moving around, going about their daily lives, under the bright sun in the sky.

Mid the concrete shapes and the cherry blossom
Amidst the gray, uniform buildings and blooming cherry blossom trees.

Walking up and down over Moonacre Square
Strolling across Moonacre Square, situated below rooftop level.

It was years ago, still I feel there
Despite a significant amount of time passing, the memories of being there are still vivid and present.

I got my sunshades on, I'm feelin' fine
I am wearing sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun and feel content in my current state.

I'm in a sun-spot, thinkin' I won't be left behind
I am standing in a spot of sunlight and am comforted by the thought that I will not be left behind in life.

Sometimes I am there in the cool morning mist
Occasionally, I am in that same location within the morning fog.

In the tower block dreams that I cannot resist
While in that location, I am caught up in daydreams of living in towering apartment buildings.

Feel like heading back where the magic begun
I have a desire to return to the place where I felt most enchanted.

High above the clouds where I have no cares
In a location above the clouds, free from the worries of life.

With the rainbow curls and the smoky air
Amidst rainbow-colored curls and hazy atmosphere.

When I settle down to the deepest sleep
As I begin to feel relaxed and fall into a deep sleep.

I'm back in Tokyo, in a neon street
I am transported back to Tokyo and its brightly lit streets.

I'm on the rooftop, yeah yeah
I am still on the rooftop.

I'm in the sun-spot, thinkin' I won't be left behind
In the same spot of sunlight, reflecting on the thought that I won't be left behind.

La la la la la la
A nonsensical vocalization, adding to the song's melody.

La la la la la lo
Another nonsensical vocalization, concluding the song's melody.

Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.