The waterfront in this song is the River Clyde in Glasgow, where the band is from. "The song itself is about the rebirth of our city," Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr told Songfacts. "It talks about the water, and anyone listening might think it's Biblical. A baptism or something." Glasgow was economically depressed at the time, but walking along the river, Kerr got a sense of hope.
The song is driven by a big bass pulse that was generated by a Dynacord amplifier and sampler. This was relatively new technology and the sound they got out of it was modern and anthemic, making it perfect for live performance. It became a concert favorite for the band.
Released as the first single from Sparkle In The Rain, "Waterfront" went over well in the UK, but got little attention in America, where the band didn't chart until 1985, when "Don't You (Forget About Me)," their contribution to the movie The Breakfast Club, went to #1.
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