Simply R… Read Full Bio ↴Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".
After the demise of the Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985 Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians and began to attract record company attention. Around this time the group adopted the name Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair color, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had moderate success, reaching the UK Top 20.
In 1986 the band re-recorded "Holding Back The Years", the Frantic Elevators' biggest hit, in a more accessible pop style with adjustments in lyrics and instrumentation. The tune became a major hit, peaking at #2 in Great Britain and later #1 in the United States, and established Simply Red as a household name. Their debut album, 'Picture Book', which had been released previously in 1985, began to sell more copies, and it became an international hit album, with multi-platinum certification.
Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women", saw the band adopting a more sober and professional image, with bowler hats and colorful suits replacing their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Around this time Hucknall became a tabloid personality, drawing attention and criticism for his alleged womanising, and gaining a reputation as "a lecherous loudmouth" and bien pensant. Despite Hucknall's bad reputation and the album's bad reviews, or perhaps as a result of them, Men and Women was a commercial success.
With their third album "A New Flame", Simply Red adopted a yet more mainstream populist sound aimed for commercial rather than critical success, typified by their cover of Harold Melvin's pop classic "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which became their second U.S. #1 hit and one of the biggest singles of the year internationally. Hucknall was by this time an international superstar, being photographed with models and Hollywood celebrities. This seemed to harm the band's coherence as a unit, with Hucknall declaring in 1991 that Simply Red was "essentially a solo project".
The band's popular career peaked later that year with the release of "Stars", which became the best-selling album for two years running in Europe and the UK (though notably had far less success in the US than their previous albums). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.
After touring and promoting "Stars" for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track featuring prominently a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band’s first British #1, amid critical panning. Its parent album 'Life' sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. The band followed this up with cover heavy 'Blue' in 1998 and 'Love and the Russian Winter'. After 'Love and the Russian Winter' they left EastWest and Hucknall set up his own record label simplyred.com where he released "Home" in 2003, a mixture of mostly original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". "Simplified" followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their Classic hits.
The single "Oh! What A Girl!" released in September 2006 from their album Stay, their 10th, released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single “So Not Over You”, released on 5 March 2007. The third single from the album was the title song "Stay", released on 28 May 2007. The fourth and the last single of Simply Red single , "The World And You Tonight", was released in November 2007.
Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2009, after a farewell tour.
"I've kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 will be the last Simply Red tour."
"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album."
Money In My Pocket
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
I'm praying for a girl to be my own
Soon you said she coming but I don't believe a word she say
'Cause she ran away and then left me one rainy day
And now I'm alone, so alone, so alone, yeah, yeah
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
The love I had in mind was very, very hard to find
It's hard for a man to live without a woman, yeah
And a woman need a man to cling to
You'll see what love can do after making me feel blue
Ain't that a shame, whoa, baby?
Ain't that a shame to make me feel blue?
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
The lyrics of Simply Red's "Money In My Pocket" reflects the struggle of a man who has all the means to provide for himself, but still cannot find love. The repetition of the line "Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love" in the chorus emphasizes the fact that despite his financial stability, the singer is still missing something crucial in his life - a meaningful relationship. The desperation in his voice when he sings "I'm praying for a girl to be my own" reinforces the idea that he is lonely and yearning for companionship.
The second verse suggests that the singer has been burned before by a woman who promised him love but ultimately left him. He is now hesitant to believe any promises of love that come his way, as he has been hurt in the past. The line "She made me have in mind that her love would never die" reveals that the singer was deeply invested in this previous relationship and had high hopes for its longevity.
The final verse highlights the importance of love in a person's life. It's clear that the singer recognizes the deep need for human connection and the devastation that can come when that connection is severed. The line "It's hard for a man to live without a woman" acknowledges the role that romantic relationships play in a person's life, while the line "You'll see what love can do after making me feel blue" suggests that the singer still has hope for finding love despite his current predicament.
Line by Line Meaning
Money in my pocket but I just can't get no love
Despite having money, I still cannot find someone to love me.
I'm praying for a girl to be my own
I am hoping to find a girl who will commit to being with me.
Soon you said she coming but I don't believe a word she say
Someone promised me a girl is coming, but I doubt it's true.
'Cause she ran away and then left me one rainy day
A girl I loved left me when it was raining outside.
She made me have in mind that her love would never die
She convinced me that she would always love me.
And now I'm alone, so alone, so alone, yeah, yeah
I am left all alone without anyone to love.
The love I had in mind was very, very hard to find
The kind of love I was looking for was difficult to come across.
It's hard for a man to live without a woman, yeah
It's challenging for a man to exist without a woman in his life.
And a woman needs a man to cling to
Women also need men for support and a sense of security.
You'll see what love can do after making me feel blue
Once someone experiences heartbreak, they will understand the power of love.
Ain't that a shame, whoa, baby?
Isn't it a pity that I cannot find love?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS EMANUEL BROWN, JOE GIBSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@simplysensibelle
Very good!!! Love it!
@alislo2450
Excelente👏👏👏👏
@chestchirecateyes
Nice and beautiful throwback. I remember when Dennis Brown did this in 1979. I was on the cusp of my teens and just came to the States from Jamaica. It was a frightening and wonderful time all at once. Funny how music can take you back to certain memories. Thanks for this.
@johnthomas1511
I could listen to this song all day
@rooms5932
H we are utilised co the same I do ok,,mx like, to zjp CV CVo,iooae
@wandaschmitz4775
marvelous!!
@BrOken166
Simply awesome
@lmhsfever
Mick's had plenty of love AND money in his pocket--lucky bloke!
@katesmith1534
I heard this for the first time today ....
And I thought 'WOW'!!
@tomahawkbellah-1cobra442
Number one Simply THE BEST