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 Man Who Sold the World
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone, a long long time ago
Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
I laughed and shook his hand, and made my way back home
I searched for form and land, for years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazely stare at all the millions here
We must have died along, a long long time ago
Who knows? Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the Man who Sold the World
The lyrics to the song "The Man Who Sold the World" by Simple Minds tell the story of a chance encounter between two old friends. The singer passes by his old friend on the stairs and they begin to reminisce about the past. The friend tells the singer that he considers him a friend even though he was not present. The singer is surprised by this and looks into his old friend's eyes, remarking that he thought the friend had died alone a long time ago. The friend laughs and shakes the singer's hand before he continues on his way home. The singer spends the rest of the song reflecting on the past and the millions of people who must have died along with him.
The lyrics to this song are often interpreted as being about death and the afterlife. The exchange between the two friends is seen as a conversation between the living and the dead. The phrase "the man who sold the world" has been interpreted in a number of ways, with some seeing it as a reference to the devil or other malevolent forces.
The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Nirvana and David Bowie. Nirvana's cover of the song helped to introduce the band to a wider audience and is credited with helping to popularize grunge music in the early 1990s.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and when
We walked by each other and reminisced about the past.
Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend
Even though I wasn't present then, he regarded me as a friend.
Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes
This revelation shocked me and I looked directly into his eyes.
I thought you died alone, a long long time ago
I believed you had passed away a long time ago and you were alone when it happened.
Oh no, not me
No, I'm not like that.
I never lost control
I have always had a firm grip on my life.
You're face to face
You're in a direct confrontation.
With The Man Who Sold The World
You're encountering the person who has profited from manipulating reality.
I laughed and shook his hand, and made my way back home
I laughed and shook his hand before leaving and returning home.
I searched for form and land, for years and years I roamed
For years, I wandered in search of a sense of purpose and a place to call home.
I gazed a gazely stare at all the millions here
I looked out into the world with a blank, unfocused expression at the countless people around me.
We must have died along, a long long time ago
It's possible that we have already passed away a very long time ago.
Who knows? Not me
I don't know for sure, and I don't pretend to have all the answers.
We never lost control
Despite the uncertainty of the situation, we have always maintained our sanity and composure.
You're face to face
Once again, you're in a direct confrontation.
With the Man who Sold the World
This person has manipulated perception and profited from it, and you're encountering them once again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roberta fernanda de souza
a guitarra eh sensacional...............amei.......... eos vocais.......... <3
Ethan Hill
This is a good version. SIMPLE MINDS has history with song's author.
HE died a short time ago. RIP.
Lady Stardust
I only just learned of this cover, it's good, not as good as Bowie's but still good.
fromadirtyneedle yeamoite
Midge ure's cover is my favourite version of this song so for me this is a close second for best version
You Got Stitched
@child endangerment Bowie's Version is the original one
child endangerment
bowie's version is also a cover
Neal Lyons
good tribute. there's so many of them for this great song! :)
CallmeToddy
Pretty good job !
nosuchthing8
this song is so addictive...
Monii Godd
I agree I listen to it all the time