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)
This Fear of Gods
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone singing in the shower
Singing singing singing
Singing shower
Someone's singing in the shower
I hear a voice and hear no angel
I hear a voice and hear no angel
Hero see no
Hear and see no
Hear a voice and see no angel
Violence and vivisection
Violence and vivisection
Lust lust lust
Lust lust lust
Violence and vivisection
Gods
Gods
This fear of Gods
Some boys are calling
Boys are crying
Some boys are calling
Boys are crying
Calling calling calling
Crying
Calling calling calling
Crying
Fear is fast
I'm turning white now
Fear is fast
I'm turning white now
Faster faster faster
Faster faster faster
Fear is fast
I'm turning white now
Gods
Gods
This fear of Gods
I'm back on black
Fear of Gods
Back on black
The lyrics of Simple Minds' "This Fear of Gods" are somewhat cryptic, however, there seems to be a theme of a fear of something incredibly powerful and violent, possibly Gods. The opening lines, "Someone singing in the shower" are both innocuous and mundane, which perhaps lull the listener into a false sense of security before the other, more ominous lyrics take over. The repetition and emphasis on the word "singing" create a sense of unease and anxiety, as if someone is trying to distract themselves from something terrifying.
The line "I hear a voice and hear no angel, Hear and see no angel" suggests a religious context, but one that is far from peaceful and comforting. The voice isn't that of an angel, which suggests that it could be a darker, more malevolent power. The line "Violence and Vivisection" suggests an environment of pain and brutality. Taken together, these lyrics may suggest a confrontation with a darker, more destructive power which then leads to the fear that is the focus of the song's chorus.
The repetition of the lines "Gods, Gods, this fear of Gods" intensifies the terror and anxiety surrounding the idea of these powerful beings. There is a hint of urgency and desperation in the lines "Faster faster faster, I'm turning white now" which suggests a situation that is rapidly spiraling out of control. The "back on black" line at the end of the song could be interpreted as the singer having returned to a place of darkness and danger, a place where that fear of Gods continues to reign.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone singing in the shower
There is someone who is singing while showering
I hear a voice and hear no angel
I can hear a voice, but it does not sound angelic
Violence and vivisection
The presence of a strong sexual desire combined with brutal imagery
Lust lust lust
Intense sexual desire
Gods
Powerful beings worshipped by humans
This fear of Gods
The unsettling feeling of fearing and being aware of the power of Gods
Some boys are calling
There are boys who are making some noise
Boys are crying
The boys are expressing their sadness through crying
Fear is fast
The feeling of fear intensifies quickly
I'm turning white now
The fear is so intense that one's complexion is changing
I'm back on black
Returning to a state of darkness and negativity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MCGEE, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind