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)
Rivers Of Ice
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that I feel under the skies
Shadows were falling my heart beat inside
We walk through the fields to the rivers of ice
Days turn to color and darkness to light
She said I want you I need you I want you in my life
Love in the shadows the blood rushed inside
I get high for ever
Till the river runs dry for every
Ooh for ever
It's been so many years now I still can't forget
Love flew like an eagle in God's wilderness
Shadows were falling oh my heart beat inside
We kissed on the bridge above the river of ice
I get high for ever
The river runs dry for ever
I get high for ever
The river runs dry for ever
Ooh she tells me
Ooh she tells me
Tell the end of the line
Shadows were falling
On rivers of ice
The song "Rivers Of Ice" by Simple Minds talks about deep emotions that cannot be bought by money. The lyrics express the idea that the most valuable things in life are the emotions that a person feels, and how they are connected to the natural world. The songwriter paints a picture of walking through fields and experiencing the beauty of nature, and later, being with someone they love on a bridge above a river of ice.
The lyrics also describe a feeling of being elevated and at the same time grounded. The singer feels the rush of blood when he is with his beloved, and he is seemingly lifted higher every time they are together. He wants to hold onto this feeling forever, even until the river runs dry.
The song ends with a plea to continue the journey to the end of the line, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for completing the journey of life with loved ones by one's side. The overall theme of the song seems to be about appreciating the important aspects of life: love, nature, and the journey towards the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't need the money nothing can buy
The singer doesn't prioritize material wealth in life and finds it to be unimportant.
All that I feel under the skies
The singer's emotions are deeply influenced by the environment and nature around them.
Shadows were falling my heart beat inside
The singer was experiencing intense emotions that made their heart beat faster amidst the shadows of the surroundings.
We walk through the fields to the rivers of ice
The artist and another person are walking through fields towards a river that is frozen solid in ice.
Days turn to color and darkness to light
Time passing changes the artist's perception of things both positively and negatively.
She said I want you I need you I want you in my life
Another person is expressing their deep desire and affection for the singer.
Love in the shadows the blood rushed inside
The singer experiences a strong physical reaction to love when it is kept secret and hidden away.
Carry on little savior to the end of the line
The artist is encouraging someone to continue on and persevere in life until the end of their journey.
I get high for ever
The artist experiences euphoria or a 'high' that feels everlasting.
Till the river runs dry for every
The artist is expressing a wish that their euphoria lasts as long as the frozen river does.
Ooh for ever
The singer continues to express their desire for their euphoria to last indefinitely.
It's been so many years now I still can't forget
Despite the passage of time, the artist is still unable to forget a certain memory or experience.
Love flew like an eagle in God's wilderness
The singer describes a past love or relationship as something that was intense and free like an eagle soaring in the wilderness.
Shadows were falling oh my heart beat inside
The singer was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement as shadows started to fall around them.
We kissed on the bridge above the river of ice
The singer and another person shared an intimate moment on a bridge that overlooked the frozen river.
The river runs dry for ever
Despite the artist's desire for eternal euphoria, they understand that all good things must come to an end eventually.
Ooh she tells me
The artist is recalling something that another person told them.
Tell the end of the line
The singer is being reassured by another person that they will stick with them until the very end of their life's journey.
Shadows were falling
On rivers of ice
The singer describes an eerie and mysterious atmosphere as shadows start to fall on a frozen river.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, T.R.O. INC.
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL, IAIN MACLACHLAN, DAVID SILVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind