Written by Sean Kelly (who also penned Spaceface), it was mentioned as a song title by Jim in one of his journals: "... an incredible song. We've made something of their own of it.". It was part of a batch of songs he played to them and was really no more than a loop. But Jim and Charlie immediately recognised its potential and started working on it.

"We've written another song, "Light Travels", which reminds me of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie" - Jim.

"Light Travels is one of the few tracks on the album which isn't written by Charlie and myself. The instigator of Light Travels is a fellow called Sean Kelly who is from the Stirling area. Way back in the day, in 1978 when we were just starting, when we thought we were the only mega-stadium-rock-stars in the village, we heard a bit by a band called Those French Girls and we thought "That's an intreguing name considering there are no lasses in the band and they're from Stirling." We did a couple of gigs with them and they were just amazing. Sean was a stunning front man and the songs were clever and catchy. They had it all. Don't ask me why it never panned out for them, but we've kept in contact with Sean throughout, we're always keen to hear what he's been up to, and he's never stopped writing. Four years ago he put together this idea for a song called Light Travels - the melody was there, the words were there, but it was a loop. It intregued us and we've wrestled with it ever since. And I think we've finally come up with an arrangement which suits Sean's idea" - Jim

"It's great! Just turn up the acoustic guitar!" - Trevor Horn

Light travels through the universe. It arrives. It remains. Things get better after things get worse. I feel the same. Nothing’s changed. Nothing’s changed. Words unravel out of all of us. They arise. They refrain. Things get better after things get worse. I feel the same. Nothing's changed. But there’s no need to worry. Hello, hello, is anybody home? But there’s no need to worry, Hello, hello, see them come, See them go, See them go! Light travels through the universe. It arrives. It remains. Things get better after things get worse. I feel the same. Nothing’s changed. But there’s no need to worry. Hello, hello, is anybody home? But there’s no need to worry. Hello, hello, see them come, see them go. But there’s no need to worry. Hello, hello, is anybody home? But there’s no need to worry. Hello, hello, oh! Hello, hello. Hello, hello. Hello, hello, oh! Hello, hello. Hello, hello. Hello, hello, oh! Light travels through the universe.

Sampler Edit (0:31) Produced by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds Engineers: Arjen Mesinga, Simon Dawson, Mark Bishop Assistant Engineer: Ben Cunningham Pre-Production: Gordy Goudie, Andy Gillespie, Kevin Burleigh Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Album Version (4:12) Produced by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds Engineers: Arjen Mesinga, Simon Dawson, Mark Bishop Assistant Engineer: Ben Cunningham Pre-Production: Gordy Goudie, Andy Gillespie, Kevin Burleigh Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Soundcheck (6th November 2009) (4:24) Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (7th November 2009) (5:14) Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (14th February 2014) (3:55) Recorded: Palladium, Köln, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (16th February 2014) (4:27) Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (18th February 2014) (4:35) Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (20th February 2014) (4:42) Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (21st February 2014) (4:43) Recorded: Stadthalle, Fürth, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (23rd February 2014) (4:41) Recorded: Stadthalle, Singen, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (25th February 2014) (4:38) Recorded: Alcatraz, Milan, Italy Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (26th February 2014) (4:39) Recorded: Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (28th February 2014) (4:38) Recorded: Incheba Arena, Prague, Czech Republic Mixed By Bleecker Street
Acoustic (4:32) Producer: Andy Wright, Gavin Goldberg and Simple Minds Recorded By: Gavin Goldberg Mixed By: Gavin Goldberg

Sampler Edit (0:31) Produced by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds Engineers: Arjen Mesinga, Simon Dawson, Mark Bishop Assistant Engineer: Ben Cunningham Pre-Production: Gordy Goudie, Andy Gillespie, Kevin Burleigh Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Album Version (4:12) Produced by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds Engineers: Arjen Mesinga, Simon Dawson, Mark Bishop Assistant Engineer: Ben Cunningham Pre-Production: Gordy Goudie, Andy Gillespie, Kevin Burleigh Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Soundcheck (6th November 2009) (4:24) Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (7th November 2009) (5:14) Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (14th February 2014) (3:55) Recorded: Palladium, Köln, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (16th February 2014) (4:27) Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (18th February 2014) (4:35) Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (20th February 2014) (4:42) Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (21st February 2014) (4:43) Recorded: Stadthalle, Fürth, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (23rd February 2014) (4:41) Recorded: Stadthalle, Singen, Germany Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (25th February 2014) (4:38) Recorded: Alcatraz, Milan, Italy Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (26th February 2014) (4:39) Recorded: Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland Mixed By Bleecker Street
Live Version (28th February 2014) (4:38) Recorded: Incheba Arena, Prague, Czech Republic Mixed By Bleecker Street