Don't You

Written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, Simple Minds' “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” was released as a single February 20, 1985 and was featured as the main theme of the classic 1985 teen film The Breakfast Club. Originally offered to The Fixx, Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol but all declined (Idol did however record his own version years later). Forsey then asked Simple Minds, who initially refused but eventually agreed per suggestion of their label, A&M. It’s said that the band rearranged and recorded the song in three hours and “promptly forgot about it,” considering it just another song they recorded for somebody. The song would go on to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it Simple Minds' biggest hit (in the U.S.) to date. And so to this week, where we are soon to be making our way to the Nevada Desert, and above all to that mecca of gambling and many other ritzy pastimes – Las Vegas. Lady Luck certainly happened our way when producer Keith Forsey and movie director, John Hughes came banging on our door in November ’84. The Breakfast Club movie had recently finished shooting and they were adamant that they wanted Simple Minds to record the main song for the soundtrack – Don’t You (Forget About Me). Plenty of others have claimed that they wanted them too, but I don’t believe a word of it. In any case, the success of that song/movie fast-tracked Simple Minds onto a level of success that may or may not already have been coming our way. But it also alienated some of our until then loyal followers who had perceived Simple Minds as, a cool Euro thing only, and certainly not something to be splattered all over MTV. They were of course entitled to their opinion. It is not my favourite Minds track either. But I don’t have one to begin with! (For your info, Alive And Kicking – the follow up to Don’t You – reached No. 2 on the Billboard Charts). I am however eternally grateful to be associated with a record that has given so much pleasure to so many. Plus, it is always a blast to perform. Our gratitude will hopefully be evident when we walk on at the MGM Grand in Vegas this coming Sunday. That apart I must admit that I also like the notion of having sung on a record that once sat at the No. 1 position on the American Billboard Charts. Forgive the victory lap, but come on! Not too many can say that! Jim Kerr

[Intro] You don't wanna see my Flesh (Flesh, Flesh...) [Chorus] It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me [Verse 1] Feel thug shit pumpin' out of Cleveland All up in your system, hittin' it, and everybody move No matter where you're from, come one and get with this Here to make you party, body, so groove over to the Glock The spot, we got it poppin' all day to get through the night Swisha, fill 'em on up with the icky, sticky, sippin' liquor got you nice Whip out the lighter, flame on up It be to completely ? me up Everyone, have a nice time, get along with your people Don't wanna hear people fuss or cuss If they do, then I crush 'em Break every bone off in his body Cause all my people came here to have a wonderful time, niggas Everybody crashed the party Once in a while we can get a little wild And ever now and then, I comin' out to show you how In the Land, my city, the way we put it down You know what it is, how to get to my town Listen to the rhythm Hear this sound: (sirens) Put you deep into a motion that just don't stop Feel them coppers come knockin' on your door Get you ass on the floor We jack 'til we drop Props, sendin' out shots to my trues Been down with that nigga Flesh at the beginning and Niggas together 'til the very ending And I'm hit after hit, and I'm still winnin' And you wonder what it is in me that you really wanna roll Then see Flesh gettin' busy with niggas that it be my thang Nothin' but the Bone in me [Chorus] It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me [Verse 2] I grip me a pipe with my heater Call upon it, when I need her Feedin' bullets to spit on ya corner Think to test me? Baby, you's a goner, loner Somebody shouda been done warned, now When ya on the thug show, nigga flex Check out the Flesh, put it down When you're in the C-Town don't fuck those You simple-minded Don't you find it complicated? Checkin' the best style So I'm out get ? tryin' to clear a ? Start none, nigga want my forty Get a light, my sud's froze cold So off to economies, hit up the store And I'd love to thank for keepin' the drink I see for me Get me Ides, get surprised, (copper stops .38) and mo' cheese Get the with the Gs, set a destination, we're facin' Finally I'm here (I'm here) Hit me as I go pissy-drunk, breath stunk, puff spliff after spliff Chinese - eyes sunk shut, near me pass my beeron to the next man Goin' up to meet a pretty lady to get my boogie on for the next dance No ?, her intentions was to get money, and let's face it, shame on you, honey Bitch made it known she wanna fuck me because I'm a Bone No threat, better yet I'm a pass up the ass and keep my cash Leavin' women alone, and go stack up my bankroll Flip paper, dollar, grab the dollar Make me holler, feel it in me, nothin' but the Bone [Chorus] It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see me It's nothin' but the Bone in me You don't wanna see my Flesh Bone It's nothin' but the Bone in me