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)
Let It All Come Down
Simple Minds Lyrics
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Let it all come, let it all come down
Sweet tears roll like a river from your eyes
Get close, let's sleep tonight
When you wake there's a new day dawning
When you wake there's a cold wind blowing
When day breaks there's a light shines through
I'm still here with you when the morning comes
I need you with me when the day begins
Oh let it all come, let it all come down
Why don't you let it all come, let it all come down
All is in control, love is on the open road
Make me want to live, you make me want to die
When you wake there's a new day dawning
When you wake there's a cold wind blowing
When day breaks there's a light shining through
Oh let it all come, let it all come down
The lyrics of Simple Minds' "Let It All Come Down" is an expression about finding comfort and solace amidst chaos and turmoil. The lines "Sweet tears roll like a river from your eyes, Get close, let's sleep tonight" suggests a need for temporary escape and emotional release. It is as if the singer is speaking to someone who is struggling to keep it together and he's offering himself as a support system, a reassurance that everything will be alright. The verse "When day breaks there's a light shines through. I'm still here with you when the morning comes" further emphasizes the idea that there's hope and strength that comes with each new day. The chorus repeats the phrase "Let it all come down" which could be interpreted as an invitation to surrender to the chaos that is causing pain, trusting that it will pave way for the light to shine through.
The song's climax is found in the lines, "All is in control, love is on the open road. Make me want to live, you make me want to die." The words give a sense of surrendering to fate and trusting that whatever happens, love will guide the way. The idea of love guiding the way is further emphasized in the section, "Why don't you let it all come down, all is in control love is on the open road/Make me want to live, you make me want to die."
Overall, "Let It All Come Down" is a song that resonates with anyone who has been through a trying time and is seeking a way forward. It's a song that encourages letting go, trusting the process, and embracing the healing that comes after a breakdown.
Line by Line Meaning
So let it all come, let it all come down
By expressing this refrain twice, the artist urges the listener to let go and allow everything to happen.
Sweet tears roll like a river from your eyes
The sadness that the person feels is depicted through the lines, and the tears that flow down the cheeks signify that sadness.
Get close, let's sleep tonight
The artist advises that, instead of being upset, the listener should draw close and rest, perhaps even forget about their worries for the night.
When you wake there's a new day dawning
The artist implies that every new day brings new hope and a chance for a fresh start.
When you wake there's a cold wind blowing
The breeze in the morning can be cool, signifying that everything that occurred in the previous day is long gone.
When day breaks there's a light shines through
With the advent of a new day, the light from the sun rises, signaling that it's time to begin something new.
I'm still here with you when the morning comes
The statement implies that the artist is there for the listener regardless of what happens, particularly during tough times.
I need you with me when the day begins
The artist expresses his desire to have the listener with him at the start of every day, as it will help him to cope with the challenges that arise.
All is in control, love is on the open road
The phrase serves as a reminder that everything is in order, love is available, and the individual should maintain an open mind ready to accept love.
Make me want to live, you make me want to die
The line evocatively highlighting the intensity of the feelings involved, from the desire to live life to the fullest to the urge to end up passing on from this world, with the said intensity inspired by the people around the listener.
Why don't you let it all come, let it all come down
The artist repeats the refrain, encouraging the listener to let everything come down, to let go and let things happen as they may.
Oh let it all come, let it all come down
The last line of the lyrics reinforces the message of the song, encouraging the listener to release any hold they may have, let go, and allow things to progress and occur in their own time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, JOHN GIBLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Julian Heywood
I think simple minds are one of the best bands of all time. They get snagged of so much. There not political. Like U2, they deserve better. They've wrote fabulous songs such as let it all come down. And Belfast child. Great ballad songs
Faizal Popat
Yes the best band
Paul Mcloughlin
They are one of the best if not the best x
Glenn Douglas
Simple minds are one of the MOST POLITICAL bands out there. Do you know anything about them 😂🤣
Susan Lewis
They did get political. Street fighting years. They are Scottish. But the Belfast child era was perhaps one of their best. Mandela day was on that album. It was a very turbulent time. I love them because they made wonderful music.
Gastón Corti
Maravillosa canción, la guitarra y la voz en una comunicación única !
Paul Mcloughlin
One of the most amazing bands of all time massive respect x
Michael Butler
This was the last time I saw them live, at Wembley stadium, before I left England for good and moved to Sydney. Lisa Germano, Mick and Charlie were on stage doing the acoustic celtic stuff and it was fabulous. Derek Forbes had just left the band, but they were still turning out good stuff. Prior to that, I saw them live about 30x, incl the Live at Verona concert, when a group of uni friends followed them around Europe. The first concert was when they were a support act for Peter Gabriel aorund the Empires and Dance era (think Sons and Fascination had just come out) at some festival near Hampshire.
I always thought they were a brilliant band, both live and recorded. The music they wrote was a cut above anything else around at the time, with the exception of U2 and probably Talk Talk. This song especially takes me back - good music is always about memories, periods in your life when you remember people especially. Saying farewell to London and a whole life of friends where I had grown up, family left behind. I always thought I would be back, but never made it. Sydney was just too good.
Fernando L. Cunha
What a masterpiece, omg.
Erick Uribe Candelas
Esta canción es sublime!!