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.
Breathe
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see what life has dealt to me
With every sadness I deny
I feel a chance inside me die
Give me a taste of something new
To touch, to hold, to pull me through
Send me a guiding light that shines
Across this darkened life of mine
Breathe some soul in me
Breathe your gift of love to me
Breathe life to lay 'fore me
Breathe to make me breathe
For every man who built a home
A paper promise for his own
He fights against an open flow
Of lies and failures, we all know
To those who have and who have not
How can you live with what you've got?
Give me a touch of something sure
I could be happy evermore
Breathe some soul in me
Breathe your gift of love to me
Breathe life to lay 'fore me
To see, to make me breathe
Breathe your honesty
Breathe your innocence to me
Breathe your word and set me free
Breathe to make me breathe
This life prepares the strangest things
The dreams we dream of what life brings
The highest highs can turn around
To sow love's seeds on stony ground
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe some soul in me
Breathe your gift of love to me
Breathe life to lay 'fore me
To see, to make me breathe
Breathe your honesty
Breathe your innocence to me
Breathe your word and set me free
Breathe to make me breathe
The lyrics of Midge Ure's "Breathe" describe an individual who is struggling with the disappointments and difficulties of life. The singer pleads for something new and inspiring to touch, hold, and guide him through his darkened and painful existence. He desires a taste of something sure, something that can give him hope, happiness, and a chance to breathe again.
The first verse of the song highlights the singer's awareness of how life has dealt with him. He has seen and experienced its sadness, and as a result, he denies his chance of happiness. The second verse speaks to a collective struggle that people have with their realities. The lyrics suggest that people fight against the open flow of lies and failures, and they all know the deception in the promises of paper.
The chorus of the song is a plea for something powerful and transformative to come into the singer's life. He desires honesty, innocence, and guidance to set him free from the pain of life's disappointments. The refrain of "breathe" repeats throughout the lyrics, signifying the need for the power of new life, new hope, and new beginnings.
Overall, the song "Breathe" highlights the human desire for something new in the face of life's disappointments. The singer longs for a touch of something sure to bring happiness and fulfillment to his life. The lyrics express the universal need for guidance and love to keep us breathing and moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
With every waking breath I breathe
Every time I wake up and take a breath, I am reminded of my existence.
I see what life has dealt to me
I realize the cards that life has dealt me and what I am going through.
With every sadness I deny
Whenever I try to suppress my sadness or deny it, it feels like a tiny part of me dies inside.
I feel a chance inside me die
Every time I ignore my emotions, I lose a part of my potential for growth and development.
Give me a taste of something new
I want to experience something different and exciting to break free from the monotony of my life.
To touch, to hold, to pull me through
Something that I can physically hold onto and accompany me through tough times.
Send me a guiding light that shines
I want someone or something to guide me through the darkness in my life.
Across this darkened life of mine
Through my current situation which seems to have no hope or future.
Breathe some soul in me
I need something to rejuvenate my soul or my core inner self.
Breathe your gift of love to me
A request for love or affection from another person.
Breathe life to lay 'fore me
Bring vitality and energy to my life by showing me a path to follow.
Breathe to make me breathe
I need something to help me breathe, figuratively and metaphorically speaking.
For every man who built a home
All the men who worked hard to build a better future for themselves and their families.
A paper promise for his own
Their lives were built around promises, fragile like paper, that they made to themselves and their loved ones.
He fights against an open flow
Despite his hard work, he struggles against the natural flow of life.
Of lies and failures, we all know
Everyone knows the lies and failures that make life difficult for everyone involved.
To those who have and who have not
This applies to all people, regardless of their social or economic status.
How can you live with what you've got?
Is it possible to be satisfied with what you have, or will there always be a desire for something more?
Give me a touch of something sure
I need some form of certainty in my life to give me direction.
I could be happy evermore
I can find happiness if I have direction and certainty in my life.
This life prepares the strangest things
Life is unpredictable, and it can surprise us in unexpected ways.
The dreams we dream of what life brings
We all have dreams and aspirations for what life has to offer.
The highest highs can turn around
The best moments in life can turn around and become the worst.
To sow love's seeds on stony ground
Even when we try to love, it can be difficult to find people who receive our love well.
Breathe
This is a call to action that emphasizes the need for something to change.
Breathe some soul in me
These lines represent an ongoing plea for spiritual and emotional fulfillment.
Breathe your honesty
This represents a request for openness and transparency in one's relationships.
Breathe your innocence to me
The artist is asking for a fresh start or a chance to wipe the slate clean.
Breathe your word and set me free
This line represents the artist's desire for guidance so that he can break free from his current situation.
Breathe to make me breathe
The ultimate goal is to find something that will give the singer a new lease on life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Midge Ure
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind