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)

Kick It In
Simple Minds Lyrics

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Love gives me poetry
Stays up all night and puts a curse on me
Oh anything you want
Turn around and I'll take you there
I know it's going to be
Take your shackles off o' me
This city's gone, I'm gone over there

Kick it in, kick it in
Build it up and burn it down again
Kick it in, kick it in
Burn down to the ground
Kick it in, kick it in
Tell me about this place you've been
I don't want it there's a fever going around

Take a walk down town
See what's going on
If you want to find a hidden key
There's nothing here on me
Any city, anywhere
Any colour I don't care
You belong to me
And that's the way it's gonna be

Kick it in, kick it in

Yeah kick it in, kick it in
Raise it up and let it live again
Feel your body shake and take off
You can lie but keep it in
Keep me down here wondering
So what's it going to be
Come on in
I like the shape you're in
You keep me wondering, wondering, wondering

Eyes upon you black and brown
Spread your love all over town
Give me fire, body heat
Say hello to me
I want to go anywhere
Any colour, I don't care
Don't believe in all you see
And don't get caught

Kick it in, kick it in
Tell me about this love you've been
Kick it in, kick it in
Turn this life around
Kick it in, kick it in
Shake the ghosts from deep within
Close the door down
Don't let the demons in

Kick it in, kick it in
I only want to be your friend
Put your hands in my hand
And take off with me

Listen baby, I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
Come on walk with me

Cause I know what I see
Kick it in
Kick it in, kick it in
Tell me 'bout the place you're in
I've got a new gold dream
I'm moving on, I'm moving on
You're moving on, you're moving on
You're moving on, yeah

Kick it in, kick it in
I'm moving on

Overall Meaning

In Simple Minds' song Kick It In, the lyrics explore the depth of love that can be so intense that it becomes blinding and all-consuming. The singer talks about how love gives him poetry and keeps him up all night, and he is willing to do anything for it, even if it means putting his own life in danger. The chorus of the song emphasizes the intensity of the emotion, urging the listener to kick it in, build it up, and burn it down again. The singer wants to take their relationship to the next level and is ready to move on to a new place where they can be free from the shackles that bind them. He is looking for a partner who will walk with him to a new destination, where he can start afresh.

The lyrics of Kick It In are an exploration of the intensity of love. The tone of the song is romantic, but the lyrics themselves have a sense of urgency to them. The singer is in a hurry, always looking to move forward, and take their relationship to the next level. The chorus of the song urges the listener to take action, urging them to kick it in, and burn it down. The song is about rebirth and starting anew. The singer knows that where he's going, there's a new gold dream waiting for him, and he's moving on to claim it.

Line by Line Meaning

Love gives me poetry
Love inspires me to write poetry

Stays up all night and puts a curse on me
Love keeps me up all night and makes me feel enchanted

Oh anything you want
I'm willing to do anything for you

Turn around and I'll take you there
I'll take you wherever you want to go

I know it's going to be
I know that whatever it is, it will be great

Take your shackles off o' me
Free me from my constraints

This city's gone, I'm gone over there
I'm leaving this city and going somewhere else

Kick it in, kick it in
Let's go for it!

Build it up and burn it down again
We can create something and then destroy it if we want to

Burn down to the ground
Destroy everything completely

Tell me about this place you've been
Let me hear about the exciting places you've visited

I don't want it there's a fever going around
I don't want to catch the same virus as everyone else

Take a walk down town
Let's go explore the city

See what's going on
Let's observe what's happening here

If you want to find a hidden key
If you want to unlock a secret

There's nothing here on me
I don't have anything hidden with me

Any city, anywhere
I'm open to discovering new places

Any colour I don't care
I don't have any prejudices

You belong to me
You are mine

And that's the way it's gonna be
Our relationship is going to stay this way

Raise it up and let it live again
Revive a lost cause and make it successful

Feel your body shake and take off
Become energized, excited and start moving

You can lie but keep it in
You can deceive but don't let the truth be revealed

Keep me down here wondering
Leave me curious and intrigued about something

So what's it going to be
Let's decide what to do next

Come on in
Join me

I like the shape you're in
I find you attractive

Eyes upon you black and brown
I notice people looking at you

Spread your love all over town
Show your affection to everyone

Give me fire, body heat
Passion and romance

Say hello to me
Acknowledge my presence

Don't believe in all you see
Be cautious of what you trust and who you believe

And don't get caught
Be careful not to get in trouble

Shake the ghosts from deep within
Get rid of your inner demons

Close the door down
Put an end to something

Don't let the demons in
Protect yourself from anything evil

I only want to be your friend
I only seek friendship

Put your hands in my hand
Let's hold hands

Cause I know what I see
I know what I want

I've got a new gold dream
I have a new creative vision for myself

I'm moving on
I'm leaving the past and looking forward

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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