Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds Lyrics Meaning – A Dive into the Anthem of Resilience

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Simple Minds's Alive and Kicking at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

You turn me on
You lift me up
Like the sweetest cup I’d share with you
You lift me up
Don’t you ever stop, I’m here with you
Now it’s all or nothing
‘Cause you say you’ll follow through
You follow me, and i, i, I follow you

What you gonna do when things go wrong?
What you gonna do when it all cracks up?
What you gonna do when the love burns down?
What you gonna do when the flames go up?
Who is gonna come and turn the tide?
What’s it gonna take to make a dream survive?
Who’s got the touch to calm the storm inside?
Who’s gonna save you?
Alive and kicking
Stay until your love is
Alive and kicking
Stay ’til your love is
Until your love is, alive

Oh
You lift me up
To the crucial top, so I can see
Oh you lead me on, till the feelings come
And the lights that shine on
But if that don’t mean nothing
Like if someday it should fall through
You’ll take me home where the magic’s from
And I’ll be with you

What you gonna do when things go wrong?
What you gonna do when it all cracks up?
What you gonna do when the love burns down?
What you gonna do when the flames go up?
Who is gonna come and turn the tide?
What’s it gonna take to make a dream survive?
Who’s got the touch to calm the storm inside?
Don’t say goodbye, don’t say goodbye
In the final seconds who’s gonna save you?

Ooh oh, oh oh
Alive and kicking
Oh stay until your love is
Love is
Alive and kicking
Ooh oh, oh oh
Alive and kicking
Oh stay until your love is, love is
Alive and kicking

Ooh oh
Alive and kicking
Stay until your love is
Alive and kicking, oh

Stay until your love is
Alive and kicking, oh
Stay until your love

In an era where the airwaves were dominated by synths and solemn declarations of love and life, Simple Minds emerged with ‘Alive and Kicking’ – a song that fused pulsating ’80s pop-rock sensibilities with a profound lyrical quest for endurance within love’s often tumultuous seas. This track, with its majestic production and uplifting chorus, has transcended its time, becoming an enduring anthem that resonates with the relentless spirit of human resilience.

But beneath the anthemic exterior, ‘Alive and Kicking’ is more than just a feel-good hit; it’s a rich tapestry embroidered with intricacies of emotion, determination, and the human condition. As we peel back the layers of this classic tune, we delve into the essence of what it means to stay ‘alive and kicking’ in the face of life’s challenges and the roller coaster of romantic attachment.

Behind the Beat: The Symphony of Support in Relationships

The song’s opening lines, ‘You turn me on, you lift me up’, aren’t merely romantic platitudes; they are powerful affirmations of the support that is the lifeblood of enduring relationships. The melody at these moments is as uplifting as the words, crafting an aural metaphor for being bolstered by a significant other’s unwavering belief and presence.

It’s a testament to the kind of transcendent love that ignites boldness within us, that energizes us to partake in the ‘sweetest cup’ of shared experience. And it’s this kind of backing, the song seems to attest, that not only gets us through the dark times but elevates the ordinary moments into the extraordinary.

Stacking the Odds: The Resolute Inquiries of a Relationship on the Brink

The compelling queries ‘What you gonna do when things go wrong?’ and ‘Who’s gonna save you?’ are rhetorical strikes at the heart of commitment. They challenge listeners to ponder the depths of their own tenacity within the arena of love, asking what substance lies beyond the honeymoon facade.

These beating drums of doubts not only create tension but also serve as a stark reminder that the nectar of love can sometimes be laced with the poison of pain and challenge – an unsettling thought that Simple Minds isn’t afraid to confront in an otherwise elevating track.

The Hidden Meaning: An Ode to Perseverance Beyond Passion

To distill ‘Alive and Kicking’ to a mere love song is to do a disservice to the layers it harbors beneath its surface. It’s a clarion call for resilience and the regenerative power of the human spirit. For every rise and fall in its musical journey, there exists a parallel in the real-life struggle to keep hope, dreams, and love from fading.

This is a song not just for lovers but for anyone who’s ever stood at the precipice of despair or defeat and rallied the courage to declare themselves not just surviving but thriving – truly ‘alive and kicking’ despite life’s efforts to quell their spirit.

Lyrical High Points: Memorable Lines That Echo Through Time

Lines like ‘Who’s got the touch to calm the storm inside?’ and ‘Stay until your love is, alive and kicking’ are etched into the listener’s mind, embodying the heart of the song’s message. They encapsulate the quest for inner peace amidst emotional turmoil and the stubborn insistence to maintain an embattled love against all adversities.

These are lyrics that don’t just resonate; they pulse with a vitality that mirrors our own heartbeat, urging us on when we’re on the ropes of life’s boxing ring, reminding us the fight isn’t over as long as we’re ‘alive and kicking.’

An Evergreen Anthem: ‘Alive and Kicking’ in Modern Context

As timeless as the soulful echoes of its own refrain, ‘Alive and Kicking’ endures because it speaks not only to a universal understanding but to an innate desire to overcome. In an age where collective anxiety and personal battles are fought daily, the song remains a beacon of hope – urging us onward, binding us in shared determination.

Simple Minds may not have known it at the time, but they gifted us a soundtrack for the ages – one that harmonizes with the enduring human quest for love and validation, that beats the drum for the strength we all seek when faced with the arduous task of simply being ‘alive and kicking.’