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)

One Step Closer
Simple Minds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's no other way
In the multitude
Population, neighborhood
I look for you
Do you look for me
Its the only way you're gonna
Get topography, typography, up off the feet?
Gotta settle down and watch the dust

Gonna read the book all the rules that must
Sets the time to set the pace
You took me closer
One step closer to that place
You take me one step closer
And now I know we're there
Its better now than ever
Now I know you'll stay
And another way

Its a different world
There's a shining light
And a darkened world
And it waited takes a path
To a different place, different time
Different vibe?

You take me one step closer
And now I know we're there
Its better now than ever
Now I know you're here

You take me one step closer
And now I know we're there
Much better now than ever
And now I know you'll stay
Found another way, another added trip, attitude?
There's a population, in the neighborhood
I'm lookin for you
You look for me

Its the only way to get
To where we want to be
You take me one step closer
And now I know we're there
Much better now than ever
And now I know you'll stay
You're taking me one step closer

And now I know we're there
Its better now than ever
And now I know you'll stay with me
You're taking me one step closer
And now I know you're there with me

Much better now than ever
And now I know you're here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Simple Minds' "One Step Closer" are about two individuals who are searching for each other in a crowded, complex world. The song describes the challenges that they face in finding one another, but ultimately they are brought together and the singer feels a sense of relief and happiness. The lyrics suggest that the path to finding love or companionship is not always easy, and that it can require patience, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks.

The opening lines of the song express the idea that there is "no other way" to find the person that the singer is searching for. This sense of inevitability continues throughout the rest of the song, as the singer describes their journey through a "multitude" of people and places. The lyrics suggest that the path to finding true love is not always straightforward or easy, but that it is still possible for those who are willing to take risks and to persevere.

Line by Line Meaning

There's no other way
There is no alternative

In the multitude Population, neighborhood
Amidst the numerous people around

I look for you Do you look for me
I seek your attention, do you feel the same?

Its the only way you're gonna Get topography, typography, up off the feet?
The only way to understand the land is to get a bird's eye view?

Gotta settle down and watch the dust
One needs to pause and observe

Gonna read the book all the rules that must Sets the time to set the pace
Reading the rules sets the timing and pace

You took me closer One step closer to that place
You helped me reach that place, one step at a time

Its a different world There's a shining light And a darkened world
The world is composed of both light and darkness

And it waited takes a path To a different place, different time Different vibe?
It requires to take a different path for a unique experience

Much better now than ever And now I know you'll stay
The present is better than ever, and I know you'll be around

Found another way, another added trip, attitude?
Discovered a new method, another change in perspective?

Its the only way to get To where we want to be
The only route to the destination

You're taking me one step closer And now I know you're there with me
You're helping me advance, and I feel your presence

And another way
There might be yet another option

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALESSANDRO NERI, DOMENICO CANU, JIM (GB 1) KERR, KERR JIM (GB 1), MARCO BARONI, MONICA SERGIO DELLA, SERGIO DELLA MONICA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS