The Eighties Archive
Released in early 1985, Don’t You (Forget About Me) stands as the defining anthem of a generation, forever linking the Scottish rock band Simple Minds with the golden era of American teenage cinema. Ironically, the song that would launch the band into global superstardom was initially rejected by them multiple times. Written by producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Schiff for the soundtrack of John Hughes’ seminal coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club, the track was offered to several high-profile artists, including Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol, before reaching Simple Minds. At the time, the band, fronted by Jim Kerr, was dedicated to a more experimental, post-punk, and new wave sound and was hesitant to record material written by outsiders.
However, after encouragement from their record label and a persuasive meeting with Forsey, the band agreed to record the track. They inflected the arrangement with their own arena-rock grandiosity, transforming a straightforward pop-rock song into an atmospheric, emotionally charged masterpiece driven by a propulsive bassline and sweeping synthesizer chords.
| A-Side | Don’t You (Forget About Me) (4:20) (K. Forsey, S. Chiff) Produced By Keith Forsey |
| B-Side | A Brass Band In Africa (5:10) (Simple Minds) Produced By Steve Lillywhite |
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [9 Weeks] – 20th April 1985 – 15th June 1985 |
Officially Released Versions
Don’t You (Forget About Me) (Single Version) (4:20)
Don’t You (Forget About Me) (Extended Version) (6:32)
See ALL releases of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ on Discogs.
Lyrics
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooh, woah
Won’t you come see about me?
I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out, and
Love’s strange, so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby
Don’t you forget about me
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t
Don’t you forget about me
Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down
Will you recognize me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooh, woah
Don’t you try and pretend
It’s my feeling we’ll win in the end
I won’t harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity, insecurity, ah
Don’t you forget about me
I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Goin’ to take you apart
I’ll put us back together at heart, baby
Don’t you forget about me
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t
Don’t you forget about me
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away
Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on, call my name
Will you call my name?
I say, la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la, la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la, la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la, la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la
When you walk on by (La-la-la-la)
And you call my name (La-la-la-la)
When you walk on by
Written By Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff
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Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
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About Eighties Archive
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