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.
Answers To Nothing
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A preacher tells a story to a crowd
He tells the same old story
A thousand times he's read that story loud
He wants to get the answers
But his words are only
Answers to nothing
A man comes on my TV. with a grin
He tells me to believe him
He said that I should put my faith in him
Says he has the answers
But his words are only
Answers to nothing
Believed for the last time
Deceived for the last time
They're the chosen leaders
Who say we can't stay sitting on the fence
They leave us stuff
They're buying guns and bombs
For our defense
The think this is the answer
But their thoughts are only
Answers to nothing
Where is all the friend ship?
How can all the comradeship be done?
What of all the teachings?
What of things we learned when we where young?
It doesn't bear the asking ‘cause the answer's given where
Answers to nothing
Lied for the last time
Died for the last time
Cried for the last time
The last time
Believed for the last time
Deceived for the last time
Believed for the last time
This time
High upon a hillside
A preacher tells a story to a crowd
He tells the same old story
A thousand times he's read that story loud
He wants to get the answers
But his words are only
Answers to nothing
Lying in my bedroom
A man comes on my TV. with a grin
He tells me to believe him
He said that I should put my faith in him
Said he has the answers
But his words are only
Answers to nothing
Lied for the last time
Cried for the last time
Died for the last time
Deceived for the last time
Believed for the last time
This time
Midge Ure's song "Answers To Nothing" talks about the frustration brought about by people who claim to have all the answers but in reality, their speeches are only empty platitudes. The song starts by describing a preacher standing high on a hill, sharing the same story he's read a thousand times, hoping that by doing so, he could find the answers he and his listeners are looking for. However, his words only end up being answers to nothing. The second verse then follows the singer lying in his bedroom watching a man on the television promising answers, telling the singer to believe him and entrust his faith in him. Though the man assures the singer he has the answers, all his words become answers to nothing.
Towards the end, the song starts asking questions pertaining to the lack of common ground and friendship between people. The chorus repeats itself to emphasize how tired the singer has become of people deceiving him with false promises of answers. The last line, "believed for the last time, deceived for the last time, believed for the last time this time", is almost a lamentation on the part of the singer, finally coming to terms that perhaps there is nothing to believe in anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
High upon a hillside
A person is standing up high, looking at everything below them.
A preacher tells a story to a crowd
A religious figure speaks a narrative to a group of people.
He tells the same old story
The singer repeats a story that they've shared many times before.
A thousand times he's read that story loud
The artist has repeated the tale loudly around a thousand times.
He wants to get the answers
The preacher is seeking clarity and understanding.
But his words are only Answers to nothing
Despite his words, the religious speaker can't provide any answers.
Lying in my bedroom
The singer is alone, in their personal space.
A man comes on my TV. with a grin
A man appears on television, smiling.
He tells me to believe him
The television speaker asks the listener to trust him.
He said that I should put my faith in him
The man on TV suggests to put one's trust in him.
Says he has the answers
The television speaker claims to possess the solutions.
But his words are only Answers to nothing
Despite his words, the TV speaker can't provide any answers.
Believed for the last time
The singer states they won't believe again.
Deceived for the last time
The person won't be fooled again.
They're the chosen leaders
These people are assumed to be the leaders.
Who say we can't stay sitting on the fence
The chosen leaders believe that one must pick a side.
They leave us stuff
The leaders give or leave behind possessions.
They're buying guns and bombs For our defense
The leaders are buying weapons for protection purposes.
The think this is the answer
The leaders believe that this course of action is the solution.
But their thoughts are only Answers to nothing
Regardless of what they think, the leaders can't provide any proper solution.
Where is all the friend ship?
The artist wonders where all the friendship has gone.
How can all the comradeship be done?
The artist is trying to understand how friendship can disappear.
What of all the teachings?
The singer questions what happened to all the lessons learned.
What of things we learned when we where young?
The artist is reflecting on what they learned as a youth.
It doesn't bear the asking ‘cause the answer's given where
Asking the questions won't help, as the answer still isn't clear.
Answers to nothing
Once again, no answers are provided.
Lied for the last time
The singer won't lie again.
Died for the last time
The person won't die again.
Cried for the last time
The person won't cry again.
Believed for the last time
The person won't believe again.
Deceived for the last time
The person won't be deceived again.
Believed for the last time
Once again, the artist won't put their faith into something again.
This time
This is the end of the cycle for this person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: M. URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark C
Awesome song with a meaning that is as relevant as it was then. Excellent musicianship too.
D N
Sadly more so now
jswi2374
Love is the answer to nothing. Faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.
Wojciech Lesniowski
Great Voice of 80thies my teenage
Bacopa68
Thank you for taking me back to when I heard on WHFS in the late eighties.
jagatiello
believed for the last time, deceived for the last time...very much like the current situation i'm afraid
Michael Puglia
Very Underrated Artist
Lady Margolotta
Wie aktuell... How near to nowadays...
Henrique Gomes
😁😁😁
Lee Churchill
Cuts off abruptly.