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)
Stand By Love
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've travelled round the world but they can't cure my desire
The city looks pretty tonight
Hold on now let's go till morning
Get up on love and stand by me
Stand by love, stand by me
I'm a shell shocked lover, under cover that's my game
I'm your long lost brother, little sister what's your name
I feel so alone
I'm stranded and so far from home I'm calling
Get up on love and stand by me
Stand by love, and stand by me
Stand by love
Love - stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by me
Give me one good reason why you don't come play with fire
'Cause when the earth starts moving you know I'm no liar
The city looks pretty tonight
Oh hold on now let's go till morning
Get up on love and stand by me
Stand by love, and stand by me
Stand by love stand by
Stand by love
Stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by me
Stand by love stand by love
Stand by love stand by love
Stand by me
The lyrics of Simple Minds’ song Stand By Love are about the deep desire for human connection and the toll that love can take on an individual. The opening lines, “You know my heart beats rhythm and my dreams still take me higher. I’ve travelled round the world but they can’t cure my desire,” express the endless yearning for something beyond material possessions or physical experiences. The allure of love is so strong that not even global exploration can satisfy it.
The following lines, “I’m a shell shocked lover, under cover that’s my game. I’m your long lost brother, little sister what's your name,” are indicative of the ways in which love can change a person. The image of a shell-shocked lover suggests the emotional trauma that can accompany love. The idea of being “under cover” emphasizes the secretive nature of love, while the “long lost brother” and “little sister” references suggest that the need for love can transcend traditional gender boundaries.
The repeated refrain of “Stand by love, stand by me” emphasizes the importance of having someone to rely on for emotional support. The expression “Get up on love” suggests a sense of proactive determination to find and hold onto love.
Line by Line Meaning
You know my heart beats rhythm and my dreams still take me higher
Despite my worldly travels, my heart beats with the same intense desire it always has, driving me towards my dreams.
I've travelled round the world but they can't cure my desire
My desire burns bright, and no amount of worldly experience can extinguish it.
The city looks pretty tonight
The city is visually appealing at this moment, drawing attention to its beauty.
Hold on now let's go till morning
Hang on to this moment and enjoy it to the fullest, until the dawn breaks.
Get up on love and stand by me
Embrace love and stand beside me, together.
Stand by love, stand by me
The message is simple- stand by me and our love, through all the ups and downs of life.
I'm a shell shocked lover, under cover that's my game
I'm a lover that's been through a lot, protecting my heart so it doesn't get hurt again.
I'm your long lost brother, little sister what's your name
I see us as family, long separated and now finding each other again, and wants to know the other person´s name.
I feel so alone
Despite my outward persona, I feel isolated and lonely.
I'm stranded and so far from home I'm calling
I feel lost and disconnected, like I'm far from where I belong and in need of connection.
Love - stand by love stand by me
Love is essential; we must stand by it and each other.
Give me one good reason why you don't come play with fire
I'm daring you to take a chance, to play with the fire of love that we share.
'Cause when the earth starts moving you know I'm no liar
My passion is authentic, and when things become intense and earth-shaking, it will be obvious.
Oh hold on now let's go till morning
This beautiful moment deserves to be stretched out and savored until the break of dawn.
Stand by love, and stand by me
Once again, the message is clear- stand by me and our love, now and always.
Stand by love stand by
Stay by our love, unwavering and strong.
Stand by love stand by me
Let nothing break our love or the bond that we share.
Stand by love stand by me
May our love and our commitment to each other stand the test of time.
Stand by love stand by me
Once again we implore each other to stand by our love, together.
Stand by love stand by love
Let the power of love guide and sustain us, always.
Stand by love stand by love
May love be our anchor, unchanging and constant in the ever-changing world around us.
Stand by me
We stand together in love, united in our commitment to one another.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind