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)
Street Hassle
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sexy one smiled in dismay
She pulled out four twenties
'Cause she liked round figures
Everybody stayed for a day
I think I'm on fire and you know I admire you
Buy it, why don't we slip away
Although I'm sure you're certain
Sha la la la lay, come on
Sha la la la la, sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Come on and slip away, sha la la
Cascading lowly he entered her slowly
And showed her where he coming from
And sha la la la la. Made love to her gently
Just like she had never come
And sha la la la la.
Sha la la la
When the sun rose and she made to leave
And sha la la la la.
Sha la la la you know
Neither one regretted a thing
Say sha la la la la, sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Come on and slip away
Say sha la la la la, sha la la la la, sha la la la la
We need your loving so badly
We need your loving so
Slip away, come on, slip away
Sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Love has gone away
She took the ring from my finger
And there's nothing left to say
We need your loving so badly
We need your loving so
Come on, slip away
The lyrics of Simple Minds' "Street Hassle" seem to describe an encounter between two people, likely strangers, who have a sexual liaison that is brief but intense. The first few lines suggest that the woman, whose name is Waltzing Matilda, has a more affluent lifestyle than the man - though this doesn't seem to matter to either of them. The man seems to express his interest in her, saying that he thinks he's on fire and admires her, and suggests they slip away.
The rest of the song seems to describe the sexual encounter that ensues between them, with the recurring "sha la la la la" seeming to represent the sounds that the man and woman make together as they become intimate. The lyrics talk about how the man enters her "slowly" and "gently", making love "just like she had never come" before. The song ends with the woman leaving, taking the man's ring with her, but there seems to be a sense that both parties are happy with what happened in their brief encounter.
Overall, the lyrics of "Street Hassle" seem to be about the fleeting nature of physical desire, and how two people can find temporary happiness and pleasure in each other, without necessarily needing anything more.
Line by Line Meaning
Waltzing Matilda, looked at her wallet
She checked her wallet with care and caution
The sexy one smiled in dismay
The attractive individual showed displeasure in their expression
She pulled out four twenties
She withdrew eighty dollars in cash
'Cause she liked round figures
She preferred even numbers
Everybody stayed for a day
Everyone remained for twenty-four hours
I think I'm on fire and you know I admire you
I feel passionate and strongly attracted to you
Buy it, why don't we slip away
Purchase this and let's leave discreetly
Although I'm sure you're certain
I recognize you are doubtless confident
It's a rarity me flirting
It doesn't occur often that I flirt
Sha la la la lay, come on
Let's go, come on
Sha la la la la, sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Vocalizations conveying enthusiasm
Come on and slip away, sha la la
Let's go secretly, vocalizations conveying enthusiasm
Cascading lowly he entered her slowly
He permeated her quietly as he moved gradually
And showed her where he coming from
He demonstrated what made him unique
And sha la la la la. Made love to her gently
And vocalizations of enthusiasm. He expressed his affections tenderly
Just like she had never come
Just like she had never had an orgasm
When the sun rose and she made to leave
At daybreak when she prepared to depart
And sha la la la la. Sha la la la you know
And vocalizations of enthusiasm. You know what I mean
Neither one regretted a thing
Both parties felt no remorse for their actions
Say sha la la la la, sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Vocalizations conveying enthusiasm
We need your loving so badly
We crave your affection immensely
She took the ring from my finger
She removed the ring from my finger
And there's nothing left to say
There is nothing more to communicate
Come on, slip away
Let's leave secretly
Sha la la la la, sha la la la la
Vocalizations conveying enthusiasm
We need your loving so badly
We crave your affection immensely
Come on, slip away
Let's leave discreetly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind