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the american


composers
Lyrics: Kerr
Music: Simple Minds


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing


background
One of a batch of songs written in a flat in Edinburgh at the start of 1981, The American was first tried out live during the mini-tour of the USA and Canada. It was inspired by the bright colours of an exhibition of modern American art that Jim had visited.

Selected as the first single from the forthcoming album, The American was the first song completed during the Sons And Fascination sessions.




lyrics
Here comes the shake,
The speed-decade wake.
I see you wake,
Shake,
Fit on those overalls,
What do you know about this world anyway?

I see a man,
With an airfield plan.
I caught a boy fall out of the sky.
What do you know about this world anyway?

Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
In collective fame.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
Nassau club day.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
Across a curved earth,
In collective fame.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
The eventful work-outs,
Nassau club days.

Here comes the flag,
I'm walking in the black.

Every time you touch this place,
It feels like sin.
Every time the handshake starts,
The face draws thin.
What do you know about this world anyway?

Here comes the sun,
The american sun,
In here the sun shines so bright,
Eyes blind.
What do you know about this world anyway?

Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
The eventful workouts,
Nassau club days.

Here comes the flag.
Hand-shake.
This world.....



discography
Edit (3:32)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

The Amercian 7" single Promised You A Miracle US 7" single Don't You (Forget About Me) US 3" CD single Don't You (Forget About Me) US 5" CD single Glittering Prize 81/92 Instore CD Glittering Prize 81/92 LP Glittering Prize 81/92 MC Glittering Prize 81/92 CD Glittering Prize 81/92 DCC Glittering Prize 81/92 Australian MC The Promised CD The Best Of Simple Minds CD1 Promo The Best Of The Best Of SACD The Best Of Night Of The Proms Special Remastered Edition Early Gold Promo CD Early Gold CD Black And White 050505 Russian CD Early Gold US Promo CD Gift Pack Limited Edition

Album Version (3:49)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call Limited Edition LP Sister Feelings Call LP Sons And Fascination MC Sons And Fascination Canadian LP Themes For Great Cities Promo LP Themes For Great Cities LP Themes For Great Cities MC All The Things... Canadian Promo MC Sister Feelings Call MC Sons And Fascination CD Sons And Fascination MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sons And Fascination Remaster Promo CD Sons And Fascination Remaster Limited Edition CD Sons And Fascination Remaster CD X5 Sister Feelings Call Promo CD X5

Extended (6:55)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

The Amercian 12" single Promised You A Miracle US 12" promotional single #1 Promised You A Miracle US 12" single Themes Volume One Theme Two: The American CD Theme Two: The American MC The Platinum Collection CD Themes 1-4 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five X5 Sister Feelings Call Promo CD X5

Interference Mix (7:19)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones
Remixed by: Interference

War Babies - All Tracks CDR Remixes - Disc Two CDR War Babies European CD single War Babies European CD single

Interference Dub Mix (6:03)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones
Remixed by: Interference

3 Remixes

Demo (4:03)
Producer: Mick MacNeil
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Silver Box Promo CDR #2 Silver Box

Live Version (3rd November 2009) (5:05)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (5th November 2009) (5:09)
Recorded: Saschall, Florence, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (6th November 2009) (5:06)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (7th November 2009) (5:04)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (8th November 2009) (4:54)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (18th November 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (30th November 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (2nd December 2009) (5:03)
Recorded: NEC, Birmingham, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (7th December 2009) (5:00)
Recorded: Arena, Wembley, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (9th December 2009) (4:57)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (10th December 2009) (4:59)
Recorded: Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (11th December 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (12th December 2009) (5:00)
Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (17th December 2009) (5:01)
Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (16th July 2011) (5:19)
Recorded: City Rocks, Inverness, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Simple Minds Live Triple CD




videography
Live Version (20th Nov 1982) (5:50)
Recorded: Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, UK
Live Engineer: Pete Walsh


Seen The Lights - A Visual History Promo DVD Seen The Lights - A Visual History DVD Seen The Lights - Live In Verona Promo DVD Seen The Lights - Live In Verona DVD




downloads
Live Version (3rd November 2009) (5:05)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (5th November 2009) (5:09)
Recorded: Saschall, Florence, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (6th November 2009) (5:06)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th November 2009) (5:04)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (8th November 2009) (4:54)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (18th November 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (30th November 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (2nd December 2009) (5:03)
Recorded: NEC, Birmingham, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th December 2009) (5:00)
Recorded: Arena, Wembley, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (9th December 2009) (4:57)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (10th December 2009) (4:59)
Recorded: Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (11th December 2009) (4:58)
Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (12th December 2009) (5:00)
Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (17th December 2009) (5:01)
Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download




demo discography
Demo Version (4:03)
Producer: Mick MacNeil



live history
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1981
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1982
New Gold Tour: 1982-1983
Tour Du Monde: 1983-1984
Barrowlands: 1985
Once Upon A Time Tour: 1985-1986
Cash For Kids: 1987
Good News From The Next World Tour: 1995
The Floating World Tour: 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour: 2003
Festival Tour: 2004
Celebrate 30 Years Live Tour: 2008
Graffiti Soul Tour: 2009
Australian Tour: 2010
Greatest Hits Forest Tour: 2011
5X5 Tour: 2012