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)
See The Lights
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel the thunder storms inside
I wake every morning and the cold winds cover me
All I've got's a ghost of what could be
If you can see the lights shine in front of me
If you can see the lights, shout out where you'll be
I'm in a broken dream I stare out into space
You know I called you up cause nothing takes your place
I want to tell you love I'm too proud to cry
If you can see the lights shine in front of me
If you can see the lights, shout out where you'll be
Summer's gone and I can't tell you lies
Oh forgive me love I'm too proud to cry
If you can see the lights shine in front of me
If you can see the lights, shout out where you'll be
Summer's gone and I can't tell you lies
Forgive me love I'm too proud to cry
Too proud to cry
Too proud to cry
Too proud to cry
The lyrics to Simple Minds' "See the Lights" touch on themes of loss, loneliness, and regret. The first line, "Summer's gone, winter's in your eyes," sets the tone of the song by implying a sense of sadness and loss. The next line, "I can feel the thunder storms inside," introduces the idea that the main character is struggling with his emotions, possibly due to a recent breakup or other traumatic event.
The second verse reinforces this idea, with the lines "I'm in a broken dream I stare out into space / You know I called you up 'cause nothing takes your place." The singer is lost in his own thoughts and memories, unable to move on from a past relationship. The following line, "I've got a heart of stone and it's sinking deep inside," highlights the contradiction between his outward appearance and his inner turmoil.
Despite this, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope in the form of "the lights." The singer implores the listener to "shout out where you'll be" if they can see these lights, suggesting that there is a way out of his current situation. However, the repetition of the line "forgive me love I'm too proud to cry" at the end of each verse underscores the singer's reluctance to fully let go of his emotions and move forward with his life.
Overall, "See the Lights" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the feeling of being stuck in the past, unable to fully embrace the present or future.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer's gone winter's in your eyes
The singer believes that the season of joy and happiness has passed, and all they see in their lover's eyes is a cold, harsh winter.
I can feel the thunder storms inside
The singer senses the emotional turmoil inside themselves that they cannot control.
I wake every morning and the cold winds cover me
The singer wakes up every day with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and loneliness.
All I've got's a ghost of what could be
The artist only has a faint memory of the hope and possibilities they used to have in their relationship.
If you can see the lights shine in front of me
The artist is asking their lover if they too can see a glimmer of hope for their future together.
If you can see the lights, shout out where you'll be
The singer wants their lover to share their own vision of the future and where they see themselves in it.
I'm in a broken dream I stare out into space
The singer feels lost and disconnected from reality, trapped in a shattered illusion of what could have been.
You know I called you up cause nothing takes your place
The artist is desperately reaching out to their lover because they cannot imagine life without them.
I've got a heart of stone and it's sinking deep inside
The artist's heart feels heavy and unable to feel emotion, yet they are still deeply affected by their situation.
I want to tell you love I'm too proud to cry
The artist wants to confess to their lover that they are hurting, but cannot bring themselves to appear vulnerable.
Summer's gone and I can't tell you lies
The singer acknowledges that the happy times are over and they can no longer pretend that everything is okay.
Oh forgive me love I'm too proud to cry
The artist is asking for forgiveness for any pain they have caused, but still cannot bring themselves to show their emotions.
Too proud to cry
The repetition of this line emphasizes the singer's internal struggle to be vulnerable and express their emotions, even when it may be necessary.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amanda Conti
They never put a foot wrong, their music is just sublime.
Tracy Davidson
Yep. saw them a few weeks ago in Aberdeen. Amazing!
Amanda Conti
@Tracy Davidson I envy you. I hope they come back to Australia one day.
MR M
yep you could play there music to the sun goes down!!
John Gibson
@MR M their music I think you meant
Gary Carr
@Tracy Davidson Simple Minds
Micheal Kelliher
An absolutely superb band. Superb arrangement and production.
Dick Carlsson
Huge Simple Minds fan since I was 12 and this one goes in among the 3 best songs ever from SM!! Everybody who hears this one loves it from the first listening!!!!
Ivanildo pereira da silva
Que sincronia perfeita
Michael M.
Eternal classic from an eternal band. Rock on Simple Minds.