dream giver redux | songs | released

	news
	discography
	songs
	tours
	videos
	people
	family tree
	timeline
	press releases
	reviews
	faq
	mailing list
	fanzines
	site map
	links
	about
	contact

the american (demo)

composers

Written by: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
(Earlier sleeves simply state:- Lyrics: Kerr: Music: Simple Minds)

publisher

© EMI Music Publishing: (1981 - 2007)
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2008 - 2014)
© BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd / Sony-ATV Music Publishing Ltd / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2015 -)

background

The American was first committed to tape at CaVa Studios, Glasgow on the 14th February 1981. The two-track demo had all the elements of the polished final recording, including the double vocaling in the chorus, all the lyrics (although The American sun and Every time you touch this place verses would be swapped in the final version), and Charlie's distict guitar phrasing during the coda.

All the song really required was some production polish and a slight tweak to the start of the coda. (In the demo, the band broke into the choruses' melody again before Charlie's guitar work).

The demo was a guide to the first formal recording which took place a week later at The Manor with Steve Hillage.

This demo was heavily bootlegged on cassette during the 1980s (turning up on Simple Minds Rarities and the like) before being officially released on Silver Box in 2004.

lyrics

Here comes the shake,
The speed-decade wake.
I see you wake,
Fake,
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,
According to fame.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
The eventful work-outs,
Nassau club days.

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

Ah - the sun,
The American sun,
In here the sun shines so bright,
Eyes blind.
What do you know about this world anyway?

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?

Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
According to fame.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
Nassau club day.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
According to fame.
Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Ameri-Amer-American,
The eventful work-outs,
Nassau club days.

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

discography

Demo (4:03)
Producer: Simple Minds
Engineer: Brian Young
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth

demo discography

Demo Version (4:03)
Producer: Simple Minds
Engineer: Brian Young