Sanctify Yourself

Album: Once Upon A Time (1986)
Charted: 10 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • To sanctify something is to make it holy. In this uplifting song, Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr is calling for personal empowerment, asking us to value the life we were given.

    Kerr often touches on religious themes in his lyrics, but he tends to clam up when asked about his beliefs. If you're looking for evidence of God in this song, you can find it in lines like, "A vision, sweet miracles and strange circumstances" and "I hope and I pray that maybe someday you'll come back down here and show me the way."
  • In a Songfacts interview with Jim Kerr, he credited Once Upon A Time producer Jimmy Iovine for developing this track, which started with a riff the band came up with.

    He also said the gospel feel on the song was inspired by the music of Sly & the Family Stone, which he called "quite an influence on that song."
  • Michael Been, lead singer of The Call, sang backing vocals on this track. The Call opened some tours for Simple Minds and proved very impressive. "You can hear him bellowing in the background, doing his gospel thing," Jim Kerr told Songfacts.

    Simple Minds later covered The Call song "Let The Day Begin."

Comments: 2

  • Tony from Olonkin CityThe concert footage in the music video was filmed in Belgium in mid December 1985. The song was in the charts January 1986.
  • Tony from Olonkin CityThis was the last song recorded for their album "Once upon a time."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."