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)
Woman
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I brought her home its where she'd want to be
Picture of some strange tattooed bird on her thigh
Shine on, walk on, take a walk with me
Something going I can tell
The way you know its meant to be
There's something taking all your life
Spirit of the one I love walk in the room
It gets so hard when it's all too soon
Lover's lonely planet blue smoke in your eyes
Shine on get home, when are you gonna rise
Shook my life
Mercury
You don't live here any more
Shine on
Mercury
Walking the the sunlight to the old courtyard
Where the weather's warm and the air tastes sweet
In a world where words can say what's in her eyes,
She will epitomise, so let her rest in peace.
Something's going, I can tell
The way you know it's meant to be
Something taking all your life
And you're drifting far away from me
Something I can tell you
Mercury
Something I can tell you
Really want to tell you, I'd really love to tell you
The song "Woman" by Simple Minds appears to be a love song about a woman who the singer is passionately longing for. Throughout the lyrics, the singer is talking about someone he loves who he imagines to be a "spirit" that he brought home, where she wants to be. He speaks of the "picture of some strange tattooed bird" on her thigh and "something taking all your life," insinuating that the woman is not giving all of herself to him. The song has a melancholic feel, which is emphasized by lines like "Lover's lonely planet blue smoke in your eyes" and "in a world where words can't say what's in her eyes."
The chorus of the song explores the idea of Mercury as a symbol for change and transformation. The singer states that something is going on, and he can tell that things are meant to be different. He mentions that Mercury "shook my life," indicating that some event, person, or situation has significantly impacted him.
The bridge of the song is somewhat cryptic, with the singer saying, "Something I can tell you, Mercury, something I can tell you. Really want to tell you, I'd really love to tell you." This could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to suggest that the singer has something important to say to someone or something represented by Mercury.
Overall, the lyrics to "Woman" are somewhat vague and open to interpretation, but they convey a sense of desire, longing, and melancholy. The song appears to be about a relationship that is changing, perhaps ending, and the singer is struggling to come to terms with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Spirit of girl I know's in front of me
I see the familiar essence of a girl I know standing before me
I brought her home its where she'd want to be
I've taken her to my place, knowing it's where she'd choose to be
Picture of some strange tattooed bird on her thigh
I notice a curious image of a tattooed bird on her leg
Shine on, walk on, take a walk with me
Let's continue our journey and enjoy the path of life together
Something going I can tell
I sense that something is happening
The way you know its meant to be
I can feel that it's destiny
There's something taking all your life
I see that something is consuming your life
You're drifting far away from me
I see you moving away from me
Spirit of the one I love walk in the room
The unmistakable essence of my beloved enters the room
It gets so hard when it's all too soon
It's painful when things end too quickly
Lover's lonely planet blue smoke in your eyes
Your sad eyes reflect a world of loneliness for lovers
Shine on get home, when are you gonna rise
Come home and keep shining bright, when will you become successful?
Shook my life
My life has been jolted
Mercury
A reference to the element mercury, which symbolizes change
You don't live here any more
You're no longer a part of my life
Walking in the sunlight to the old courtyard
I'm walking with her in the sun towards a familiar courtyard
Where the weather's warm and the air tastes sweet
It's warm here and the air is pleasant
In a world where words can say what's in her eyes
In a world where words fail to describe what she's feeling
She will epitomise, so let her rest in peace
She'll embody her true self, so let her be at peace
Something I can tell you, Mercury
There's something I want to tell you, a message of change
Really want to tell you, I'd really love to tell you
I truly desire to share this with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL, STEPHEN LIPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind