Simple Minds

Released: April 8, 1991

Songwriter: Charlie Burchill James Kerr

Producer: Stephen Lipson

[Verse 1]
Shots ring out in Paris, the bells ring out in Rome
Photos in the papers, boy, you're gettin' old
Footsteps in the carpark, he's the governor of the night
The omens say crime don't pay, but each dog has his price

[Chorus]
When two worlds collide
The tears well inside
When two worlds collide

[Verse 2]
A boy is found in Naples, body's in the ditch
His young life counts for nothin' when somebody's getting rich
There's flowers on the table, he sips water, she drinks wine
I don't think that mercy is the language of our time

[Chorus]
When two worlds collide
The teardrops inside
When two worlds collide
You break me up inside

[Verse 3]
Backstreet of Chicago, a black man plays the gold
There's a man on every corner, says he'd like to buy your soul
Bhuddists in the temple, bullets in the night
Steppin' out of their world into your world, into mine
In the jet-black night

[Chorus]
Tears well inside
When two worlds collide
Break me up inside
Two worlds collide

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band that formed in Glasgow in 1977. The most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s, they have achieved five UK number one albums during their career and have sold over 70 million records worldwide. Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour.

The core of the band is the two remaining founding members – Jim Kerr (vocals, songwriting) and Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards after 1990, other instruments, songwriting). The other current band members are Andy Gillespie (keyboards), drummer Mel Gaynor (who first joined the band in 1982) and Ged Grimes (bass guitar). Former members include bass guitarist Derek Forbes, drummer Brian McGee, and keyboardist Mick MacNeil.

more tracks from the album

Real Life

From the album

Real Life (1991)

Simple Minds popular songs

When Two Worlds CollideSimple Minds

Simple Minds

Real Life