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.
Free
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the weight of the world on my shoulders
An ancient voice screamed in my head
Saying: Run boy, run
I waited for the inspiration
Waited for forever or so it seemed
I made my mind up
I'm free (no ties to bind me)
I'm free (left the world behind me)
I took my life and I walked away
Oohooo
I'm free (no ropes to tie me)
I'm free (where no one can find me)
I packed my life and I walked away
Oohohooo
I left the dust of a million dreams
Lying dead by the side of the road
I felt the breath of a brand new day
Make me run boy, run
I'm free (left the world behind me)
I'm free (no ties to bind me)
I took my past and I walked away
Oohooo
I'm free (where no one can find me)
I'm free (no ropes to tie me)
I packed my past and I walked away
Oohohooo
And I walked away
Left the world behind me
I just walked away
(I just walked away)
I'm free (left the world behind me)
I'm free (no ties to bind me)
I packed my past and I walked away
Oohooo
I'm free (where no one can find me)
I'm free (no ropes to tie me)
I packed my past and I walked away
Oohohooo
The song Free by Midge Ure is a metaphorical piece about freedom and starting anew. The lyrics describe the singer walking through the busy and empty streets with the weight of the world on his shoulders, when suddenly a voice screams in his head to run away. The singer waits for inspiration, but eventually he decides to take control and run away from his past. He leaves behind a million dreams and embraces the breath of a brand new day.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm free" in various contexts- free from ties that bind him, free from ropes that tie him down, and free from the world he left behind. He declares that he packed his life and past and simply walked away, where no one can find him.
The song is a positive message about the power of starting anew and freeing yourself from past burdens. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm free" to emphasize the sense of liberation and independence the singer experiences. The powerful metaphorical imagery of "walking away" from the past is a message that resonates with listeners who may be going through similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walked the busy, empty streets
Walking down the deserted streets, feeling overwhelmed with the troubles of life.
With the weight of the world on my shoulders
Carrying the burden of life's troubles on one's shoulders.
An ancient voice screamed in my head
A voice from within telling to take action, like a call from past experiences.
Saying: Run boy, run
Commanding to take action towards a new direction in life, to take a leap of faith.
I waited for the inspiration
Waiting for a spark that will ignite a new beginning.
Waited for forever or so it seemed
The wait felt like an eternity, unsure of how long it might take for the change to come.
I made my mind up
Finally came to a decision to take a risk and make a change.
And started there and then to run boy, run
Took the first step towards a new journey and didn't look back.
I'm free (no ties to bind me)
Feels unburdened by ties and responsibilities of the past, free to make a new beginning.
I'm free (left the world behind me)
Left behind the negative experiences, ready to embrace the new opportunities life offers.
I took my life and I walked away
Embracing the new chapter of life, walking away from the past failures and disappointments.
I left the dust of a million dreams
Leaving behind the shattered dreams of the past, but never losing hope for new dreams.
Lying dead by the side of the road
Past failures are no more a burden, they're lying dead on the wayside.
I felt the breath of a brand new day
Feeling the fresh air of new opportunities and experiences.
Make me run boy, run
Instigating the urge to keep moving forward, to chase new beginnings.
I'm free (where no one can find me)
Having complete freedom to start anew, where nobody can control or direct their life.
I'm free (no ropes to tie me)
No more holding back, no restrictions or limitations in the path they choose to take.
I packed my life and I walked away
Leaving behind the baggage of the past, and embarking on a new journey.
And I walked away
Walking away from the negative experiences that weighed them down.
Left the world behind me
Leaving the toxic world behind, and embracing the new opportunities that lie ahead.
I just walked away
A determined, hopeful step towards making a better future.
I packed my past and I walked away
Leaving the unpleasant memories and past failures behind and moving ahead towards new beginnings with determination.
Oohooo
Shows the emotional intensity and freedom felt while embracing the new phase of life.
Oohohooo
Expresses the elation and hopefulness of the journey towards new beginnings and away from the past.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: FELDMAN, KLEIN, MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matteo Outatime
Thanks for the upload, probably the most underrated record I've ever listened to. To me, the whole Breathe record is a MASTERPIECE, I love every single song and I think that record deserves a place in every all time top 100. TOO UNDERRATED
Matteo Outatime
And that's incredibly sad to me because it shows how underrated this record is, if even a great Midge fan like you doesn't know its songs
Claudia Pilade
wow...great words...thankyou for the lyrics.
Kenneth Cameron
Most amazing I'm totally touched
thesandsie13the2nd
I don't think I've ever heard this song. which is weird because at some point I've heard everything midge has done