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)
Neon Cowboys
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need you to stay with me tonight.
Come on, what have you heard?
How desperate the word creeping me tonight.
Like Christians and the lions,
We'll lay down in the sand.
Drift across our land,
In their caravans.
Why and what can we learn?
Narcissus returns the child in me tonight.
Like Muslems in the car wash,
Like locators in our hands,
The neon city cowboys,
Never give our land,
With no plans.
Turn don't walk away,
Stay with me tonight.
Stay with me.
In the song "Neon Cowboys" by Simple Minds, the singer pleads with someone to stay with them for the night because of the desperation they feel. The lyrics compare their situation to that of Christians and lions laying in the sand, and how the neon city cowboys drift across the land in their caravans. The verses continue with references to Narcissus and the child in the singer, and how the neon city cowboys never give up their land. The singer ends by repeating their plea for the person to stay with them.
The lyrics of "Neon Cowboys" evoke a sense of loneliness and isolation, as the singer seems to be reaching out for connection and comfort. The comparison to Christians and lions suggests a struggle or battle, while the neon city cowboys could represent the fast-paced, flashy city life that the singer may feel disconnected from. The use of religious and cultural references adds to the depth of the lyrics, providing contrasting images that show the complexity of the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
No, don't walk away.
Please don't leave me.
I need you to stay with me tonight.
I want you to be with me tonight.
Come on, what have you heard?
Tell me what you've heard.
How desperate the word creeping me tonight.
I'm feeling very anxious tonight.
Like Christians and the lions,
Like the story of Christians and lions in ancient Rome,
We'll lay down in the sand.
We'll lie down on the ground.
While neon city cowboys,
While flashy city people,
Drift across our land,
Move through our society.
In their caravans.
In their groups or communities.
Why and what can we learn?
What can we gain from this situation?
Narcissus returns the child in me tonight.
I'm reminded of my past and my vulnerability tonight.
Like Muslims in the car wash,
Like Muslim people washing before prayer,
Like locators in our hands,
Like devices that can track our location,
The neon city cowboys,
The flashy city people,
Never give our land,
Never stop taking over our society.
With no plans.
Without any consideration for the future.
Turn don't walk away,
Please stay with me.
Stay with me tonight.
Be with me tonight.
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.