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.
Heart Of The Country
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believed in the heart of the country
How the words sound, how the truth lies
I was moved by the heart of the country
Oh, oh, then I saw through
The charade, the facade,
Now I've had it all
When they ask you who deprives you
You reply your heart of the country
I am older, I am wiser
I despise the heart of the country
Oh, oh, then I felt it
All the tears and the grief
I believed it all
Taking bad times, by the handful
Do what you can for the heart of the country
They dish the dirt out too hard to swallow
Just to follow the heart of the country
Oh, oh, heed the words
And learn the lines
I'll be fine when I have it all
The lyrics to Midge Ure's song "Heart Of The Country" capture the journey of a person's perception and belief in their country. In the beginning, the singer is young and idealistic, believing in the purity and goodness of their homeland. They are moved by the way the words sound and how the truth appears. However, as they grow older and gain wisdom, they begin to see through the charade and facade that the country presents. They realize that they have been deceived and that the heart of the country is not what it seemed.
The lyrics suggest that when questioned about who deprives them, the singer points to their own heart, indicating that the disappointment and disillusionment they feel come from within. They have become aware of the flaws and shortcomings of their country, despising what they once believed in. They have experienced the tears and grief, realizing that they had once believed it all.
Still, the singer recognizes the importance of persevering through difficult times for the sake of their country's heart. They acknowledge the challenges and the dirt that is thrown their way but remain committed to following the heart of the country. The lyrics end on a note of resilience, stating that they will be fine when they have it all, possibly referring to achieving a deeper understanding and acceptance of their country's imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
I was young and not deceived then
During my youth, I was innocent and not easily fooled
I believed in the heart of the country
I placed my trust in the genuine essence of the country
How the words sound, how the truth lies
Paying attention to the tone and hidden reality behind the words
I was moved by the heart of the country
I was emotionally touched by the core values of the country
Oh, oh, then I saw through
Eventually, I saw past the illusions
The charade, the facade
The deceptive acts and false appearances
Now I've had it all
Now I've experienced it all
When they ask you who deprives you
When others inquire about what takes away your happiness
You reply your heart of the country
You respond that it is the core values of the country that do
I am older, I am wiser
With age, I have gained wisdom
I despise the heart of the country
I strongly dislike the fundamental principles of the country
Oh, oh, then I felt it
Oh, then I truly experienced it
All the tears and the grief
All the pain, sorrow, and distress
I believed it all
I naively believed in everything
Taking bad times, by the handful
Enduring difficult times in abundance
Do what you can for the heart of the country
Putting forth effort to support the fundamental principles of the country
They dish the dirt out too hard to swallow
They spread harmful information that is difficult to accept
Just to follow the heart of the country
Only to conform to the core values of the country
Oh, oh, heed the words
Oh, oh, pay close attention to the words
And learn the lines
And understand what lies beneath the surface
I'll be fine when I have it all
I'll be content when I possess everything I desire
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind