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)
Don't You
Simple Minds Lyrics
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Ooh, woah
Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving everything inside and out and
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby
Don't you, forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't you, forget about me
Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down
Will you recognize me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooh, woah
Don't you try and pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security, ah
Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby
Don't you, forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't you, forget about me
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away
Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on, call my name
Will you call my name?
I say
La, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
When you walk on by
And you call my name
When you walk on by
The lyrics of Simple Mind’s “Don’t You” speak about the fear of separation and the risk of being forgotten. The song is addressed to someone who is considered special but unsure about the future of their relationship. The lead singer invites this special person to come and see him when they feel alone, indicating that he is always available for support. He acknowledges that relationships have difficulties and asks his partner to share their problems with him, so they can face them together. The singer calls love “strange” and “real in the dark,” hinting that even at the edge of separation, love can continue to thrive, especially if both partners recall the good times they shared. He tells his partner not to forget about him, as he will always be there, continuing to care for them even when things look bleak.
The song’s lyrics also touch on the fear of being rejected by someone who was once close. The singer asks if his partner will recognize him if they bump into each other on the street or if they’ll walk past him without acknowledging his existence. He talks about how rain keeps falling down, symbolizing the sadness and loneliness that come with a broken relationship. He implores his partner to remember him, even if they choose to go their separate ways.
In summary, the song’s lyrics are about the fear of separation and being forgotten by someone you love. The singer invites his partner to share their troubles with him and asks not to be forgotten, despite the challenges they may face in their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Casual greeting
Ooh, woah
Expressing emotion
Won't you come see about me?
Can you please check in on me?
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
I'll be alone, but dancing to keep myself company
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Please confide in me with your problems and uncertainties
Giving everything inside and out and
I'm offering all of myself to you
Love's strange, so real in the dark
Love can be a mystery, but is palpable in intimate moments
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Let's reminisce on the sweet moments we shared
Slow change may pull us apart
As time passes, we could grow apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby
When you feel full of hope and optimism
Don't you, forget about me
Please don't forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Reiterating the previous line
Will you stand above me?
Will you be there to support me?
Look my way, never love me
Acknowledge me, but don't necessarily love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Metaphor for difficulty and hardship persisting
Down, down, down
Unsettling feeling conveyed through repetition
Will you recognize me?
Will you remember me?
Call my name or walk on by
Acknowledge me or ignore me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Casual greeting
Ooh, woah
Expressing emotion
Don't you try and pretend
Don't act like everything is okay
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I believe our love will triumph in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
I won't cause you harm or invade your personal boundaries
Vanity and security, ah
Reference to the fleeting nature of superficialities and self-protection
Going to take you apart
Going to deconstruct our problems
I'll put us back together at heart, baby
I'll work to put us back together with love and care
Don't you, forget about me
Please don't forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Reiterating the previous line
As you walk on by
As you pass me by
Will you call my name?
Will you remember me by calling my name?
When you walk away
When you leave me behind
Or will you walk away?
Are you going to leave me behind?
Will you walk on by?
Will you ignore me and walk past me?
Come on, call my name
Urging the listener to remember and acknowledge them
I say
Adding emphasis
La, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Nonsense syllables added for effect
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Continuation of previous line
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Continuation of previous line
When you walk on by
When you pass me by
And you call my name
When you remember me by calling my name
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Keith Forsey, Steve W. Schiff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind