Things kicked into high gear when he replaced John Foxx as the singer of the famous electronic music group Ultravox in 1979. Shortly afterwards, the New Wave band had a huge U.K. hit with "Vienna", and it became one of Britain's most popular groups for several years. As well, later that year, Ure also formed the band Visage. In 1980, Ure and Thin Lizzy leader Phil Lynott co-wrote Lynott's biggest solo hit, titled "Yellow Pearl". A re-recording of the song done in 1981 was used as the theme for 'Top of the Pops', a music-centered television series.
In 1984, Ure co-wrote, with Bob Geldof, the Band Aid hit, "Do They Know It's Christmas?". He was one of the few featured stars who did not sing solo on the recording. The following year, Ure scored his one and only solo U.K. number one single with "If I Was", a wistful track that's since been considered his 'signature song'. This was followed by an album titled 'The Gift'. With Ure's mind clearly on other matters, Ultravox took second place and soon dissolved.
Ure's solo career continued into the 90s with sporadic success. However, "Breathe" was an international hit single, helped by its inclusion in a TV advertising campaign for Swatch watches. Ultravox songs with his work remained popular among many electronic music fans.
Ure more recently organized the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. In 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity.
Ure has been married twice: to actress and writer Annabel Giles (with whom he has one daughter, Molly) and to Sheridan Ure (with whom he has three daughters, Kitty, Ruby and Flossie).
His daughter Molly has followed her father into the music industry, as the guitarist and vocalist of all-girl group The Faders.
All Fall Down
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a dream that I had
That a war if was fought
Was for good against bad
And I woke up to find
That the world had gone mad
And we'd all fall down
And I feel like a child again
Sitting or turning
You're toying with power
Your fingers are burning
You're pushing so hard
That the worlds won't be turning
We'll all fall down
When you try to pretend
That you're a god upon high
With your party ideals
And your squeaky clean lies
When it comes to the crunch
You're no smarter than I
And we'll all fall down
If it's colour of creed or all time religion
Well fighting for that shows
A pure lack of vision
The fight that we strive
Is a fight to survive
And we'll all fall down
Well look in the mirror
And what do you see
An American, Russian
A soldier or me
When you all press the buttons
Just where will you be?
When we all fall down
Midge Ure's song "All Fall Down" is a poignant reflection on the destruction and chaos caused by war, and the ultimate consequences of humanity's obsession with power and control. The lyrics of the song describe the memories of a boy who dreamed of a conflict between good and evil, only to wake up and find that the reality of war was an unpredictable and devastating force that affected everyone. This realization fills him with a sense of childlike helplessness, as he recognizes the enormity of the power struggles that underlie most violent conflicts.
The second stanza of the song speaks to the danger of unchecked ambition and the corruptive nature of power. The imagery of someone "toying with power" and "pushing so hard that the worlds won't be turning" underscores the potentially catastrophic consequences of decisions made by those who wield political or military power. The lyrics also suggest that those who seek to control others often do so using a facade of idealism or moral superiority, when in fact their motivations are selfish and ethically compromised.
The final stanza of the song is a stark reminder of the fact that, regardless of our differences, we are all fundamentally human, fallible and vulnerable. Whether it is nationalism, religious dogma, or political ideology that drives us to the brink of conflict, the ultimate outcome is the same: destruction, loss, and chaos. The lyrics invite listeners to consider their own role in perpetuating or contributing to the dynamics that lead to violence, in the hope that a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of our shared humanity might help to prevent future wars.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was boy
As a young boy, I had a dream that wars were fought for a just cause, but when I grew up I found that the reality is different, the world has gone mad and everyone will eventually suffer the consequences.
And we'd all fall down
The result of the madness in the world is not sustainable and will ultimately lead to the downfall of everything.
And I feel like a child again
The situation is so dire that it makes me feel helpless and powerless, like a child.
Sitting or turning
The people in power are playing with their positions and responsibilities, not taking them seriously or using them wisely.
You're toying with power
The powerful individuals are not responsibly leading or using their authority, they are playing with it like a toy.
Your fingers are burning
Their actions will lead to their own downfall and destruction.
You're pushing so hard
The powerful people are pushing their agenda with such force that it will have disastrous, irreversible consequences.
That the worlds won't be turning
The upheaval and chaos caused by these people will halt progress and bring everything to a standstill.
When you try to pretend
The people in power are pretending to be something they're not, or to have more power than they really do.
That you're a god upon high
They believe they are infallible, untouchable and can do no wrong.
With your party ideals
The people in power are only concerned with their agenda and their party's interests, not the greater good.
And your squeaky clean lies
They are lying and covering up their true intentions under the guise of morality and righteousness.
When it comes to the crunch
When the situation becomes critical and decisions must be made, they're no better equipped than anyone else to make the right choices.
You're no smarter than I
They are not superior intellects, just people with a warped sense of entitlement and self-importance.
If it's colour of creed or all time religion
Fighting over differences like race, religious beliefs or political affiliations is foolish and ultimately pointless.
Well fighting for that shows
To fight over such differences only highlights a lack of understanding and insight.
A pure lack of vision
To be so narrow-minded as to fight for such things shows an absolute lack of foresight or imagination.
The fight that we strive
The battle we should be fighting is not against each other but for the survival of the planet and humanity.
Is a fight to survive
Our focus should be on ensuring our own survival and the health of the planet, not petty differences that only divide us further.
Well look in the mirror
Before criticizing others, we should first look at ourselves and examine our own flaws and shortcomings.
And what do you see
We should be asking ourselves what role we play in all of this mess and what we can do to improve the situation.
An American, Russian
We should not be defined by our nationality or political affiliations, but rather our actions and contributions to the world.
A soldier or me
Regardless of our profession or social status, we are all responsible for the state of the world and what we do to change it.
When you all press the buttons
When leaders in power push the buttons and make crucial decisions, what will they decide and what will be the consequences?
Just where will you be?
The choices made by those in power will ultimately have a ripple effect on everyone, so where will we all stand when everything falls apart?
When we all fall down
The song concludes that if we don't start being responsible for our actions and focusing on the bigger picture, we will all suffer the consequences of our mistakes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@silvanafloreschavez7996
Rest in peace Chris Cross
@mhomho1979
2023 and this hits as hard as it did in the 80's, beautiful song.
@chrisviking7807
It's also more relevant than ever.
@mhomho1979
@@chrisviking7807 💯
@yemahock
Even in 2024
@Marctull66
Not typical of Ultravox but I've loved it since the first time I listened to it... I can't listen only once to this track : I have to play it twice in a row, at least, every time I listen to it... Great melody, very moving and clever lyrics... Midge was going in another direction already ; something we would hear more on "Pure" and "Breathe"... and we have The Chieftains here !
@alaskatoburningmen4549
Exactly, not at all typical of Ultarvox.
@jorgecosta126
La bonne musique 🎶...et un..une irlandais ,irlandaise c'est toujours MON PAYS.
@michelledennett59
Just as relevant in 2022!
@brentpierce7585
This is one of my favorite songs from back in the day. The more things change the more they stay the same.