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)
The American
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The speed-decade shake
I see you wake, shake
Fit on those overalls
What do you know about this world anyway?
I see a man
With an airfield plan
What do you know about this world anyway?
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Every time you touch this place
It feels like sin
Every time the handshake starts
The face draws thin
What do you know about this world anyway?
Here comes the sun
I see the sun
In here the sun shines so bright
My eyes go blind
What do you know about this world anyway?
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The lyrics of Simple Minds's song "The American" describe the confusion, disillusionment, and disorientation of a protagonist who appears to be a newcomer to America. The song paints a picture of an unfamiliar world where everything moves too fast and feels like sin to him. The first verse introduces the idea of the speed-decade shake, which seems to be a significant cultural shift the singer cannot understand. The second verse references a man with an airfield plan and a boy who falls out of the sky, further emphasizing the singer's sense of incomprehension of the world around him.
The refrain of the song, repeating the word "Ameri" and "American" several times at the end of each stanza, adds to the sense of confusion and disorientation of the singer. The singer's apparent lack of understanding of this new world is highlighted in the repeated questions, "What do you know about this world anyway?"
The final verse invokes the imagery of the sun, which can both blind and illuminate, further adding to the theme of confusion and disorientation. Overall, "The American" is a commentary on the often-overpowering chaos and confusion inherent in the New World.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the wake
The beginning of a new era is approaching
The speed-decade shake
The rapid changes that will occur during this new era
I see you wake, shake
I see that you are aware of the changes and are trying to adapt
Fit on those overalls
Get ready to work hard
What do you know about this world anyway?
How much experience do you really have to handle these changes?
I see a man
I see someone with a plan
With an airfield plan
A plan that involves transportation and travel
I caught a boy fall out of the sky
Someone who tried to fly without any knowledge or experience, resulting in failure
Every time you touch this place
Every time you interact with this world
It feels like sin
It feels like something you shouldn't be doing
Every time the handshake starts
Every time an agreement or partnership is initiated
The face draws thin
The other party becomes less trustworthy as the agreement progresses
Here comes the sun
New opportunities and hope are approaching
I see the sun
I see the possibilities that this new era can bring
In here the sun shines so bright
This particular place is full of hope and opportunity
My eyes go blind
I am overwhelmed by the brightness of these possibilities
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The idea of America and what it represents
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The hope and opportunity that America represents
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The challenges and difficulties of living in America
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The diversity and complexity that makes America unique
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The ongoing journey of living in America and striving for success
Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, Ameri, American
The idea of America being a beacon of hope for the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MC GEE, CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, NORMAN MICHAEL MC NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spizzenergi2292
Anyone still listening to this great track ?
@frankgilligan3555
All the time. This and Love Song.
@ramankalasouski1686
Ameri Ameri Ameri Ameri Americaaan
@clairduffy60
Yeeeup
@stephaniemurria5534
Me❤
@CaptainMainwaring101
Oh yeah
@tracybarrett7465
Seen them at the Hollywood palladium in 1984 seen the Cure and Echo and the bunnymen there that year also. Growing up in L.A was great for music lovers.
@cambranson
This track kicks ass. These guys absolutely blew me away in the 80s! Their earlier stuff was the best - way ahead of their time!
@mikewright8304
This song and New Gold Dream are my favorites. This band is heavily underrated
@galenperras4821
I saw Simple Minds perform this song in a University bar in Canada in 1980. I bought all their albums the next day.