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)
Happy Is The Man
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's growing hollow with age.
Makeshift heaven sins.
And he hopes you've been saved.
Yeah we hear him.
He makes no sense at all.
He's made a fool of everyone.
The cut short the inside out.
Before long he's something to shout about.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
No, he makes no sense at all.
Happy is the man who can't trust.
He's overcome return to just.
Lullaby look in your eye.
Yeah we hear him.
But he makes no sense.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
It came over me again I said, I said.
To see you eyeing around.
Lullaby high.
Lullaby high.
And he makes no sense at all.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
And he makes no sense at all.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
And he makes no sense at all.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
The lyrics of "Happy Is The Man" by Simple Minds are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song seems to describe a man who has gone through a transformation, possibly spiritual, and is now happy and fulfilled. He may have been born again, referring to a religious rebirth, and is growing hollow with age, meaning he is content and at peace with himself. He has made a fool of everyone and has cut himself short inside out, which could imply that he has shed his old self and is now reborn. The lines "Please start me bouncing off your wall" seem to suggest that the singer wants to experience the same happiness as the man.
However, there is a sense of ambiguity in the lyrics. The man makes no sense at all, according to the singer and those around him. Perhaps the man's newfound happiness is beyond their understanding, or he has become so detached from reality that he is deemed crazy. The lines "Yeah, we hear him. But he makes no sense" emphasize this point. The repeated phrase "lullaby look in your eye" and "lullaby high" towards the end of the song adds to the dreamlike quality of the lyrics.
It is possible that the song is about the search for meaning and fulfillment in life, and the difficulty in finding it. The man who is happy and reborn may have discovered this, but his happiness is elusive and incomprehensible to others. The singer may be longing for the same transformation and desires to be "bouncing off the wall" in the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy is the man born again.
The man is happy because he has been reborn.
He's growing hollow with age.
Despite getting older, he feels empty.
Makeshift heaven sins.
He committed sins in his temporary paradise.
And he hopes you've been saved.
He wishes that you've also found redemption.
Yeah we hear him.
We can hear him talking.
He makes no sense at all.
However, what he says doesn't make sense.
Happy is the man who has known,
The man is happy because he knows something.
He's made a fool of everyone.
He tricked everyone into believing something false.
The cut short the inside out.
He exposed the innermost secrets of others.
Before long he's something to shout about.
Soon, people will be talking and praising him.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
He wants to be energetic and excited.
No, he makes no sense at all.
Again, what he is saying is irrational.
Happy is the man who can't trust.
The man is content with not trusting others.
He's overcome return to just.
He has managed to escape from the idea of fairness.
Lullaby look in your eye.
He sees a peaceful expression in your eyes.
But he makes no sense.
Even though he observes your expression, he still talks nonsense.
It came over me again I said, I said.
He had a sudden realization.
To see you eyeing around.
He noticed you glancing around.
Lullaby high.
You appear to be in a state of tranquility.
And he makes no sense at all.
Although he notices your calm presence, he continues to be irrational.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
Again, he longs for enthusiasm and energy.
And he makes no sense at all.
Once more, his behavior leaves others perplexed.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
He is determined to feel alive and lively.
And he makes no sense at all.
Ultimately, what he says is nonsensical and confusing.
Please start me bouncing off your wall.
For the final time, he yearns to have boundless energy and excitement.
Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.