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.
If I Was
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would fellow men (would fellow men) take me to their hearts
If I was (if I was) a stronger man (a stronger man)
Carrying the weight of a popular demand
Tell me would that alarm her
I'd never harm her at all
If I was a soldier
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
If I was (if I was) a wiser man (a wiser man)
Would other men (would other men) reach out and touch me
If I was (if I was) a kinder man (a kinder man)
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease her
I want to please her again
If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love and burning words I would show it
If I was her lover
Her eyes in kisses I would cover
Come here my baby
Oh they can't touch you now
I'll keep you save and warm
I'll never leave you at all
Come here my baby
Oh they won't touch you
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease you
I want to please you again
If I was a soldier
Captive arms I'd lay before her
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love and burning words I would show it
The song "If I Was" by Midge Ure is a poignant reflection of the artist's desire to be a better man, one who is loved and cherished by others. Ure questions whether his shortcomings are the reason that he is not embraced by others, and wonders if he could be more successful in life if he were stronger, wiser, and kinder. The lyrics suggest that Ure craves acceptance from others, particularly from a specific woman whom he calls "my baby" in the chorus. He longs to please her and show her love, and promises to protect her from harm.
The song's underlying message is one of self-improvement and the desire to be loved by others. Through introspection and self-assessment, Ure realizes that he has flaws, but he wants to take steps to correct them. He believes that if he can become a better man, others will admire him and treat him with the respect he deserves.
The chorus repeats a series of 'if I was' propositions, each followed by a hypothetical statement about what Ure would do if he were a better man. He would offer himself up as a soldier or a sailor, laying captive arms before his love or sailing seven oceans. He would paint a world that couldn't taint her, feed her food of love from above, or show her all his love and burning words as a poet. These hypothetical scenarios underscore Ure's desire to be the best possible version of himself, in order to please his love and find acceptance from others.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was (if I was) a better man (a better man)
If I were a more virtuous individual
Would fellow men (would fellow men) take me to their hearts
Would my peers hold me in higher esteem
If I was (if I was) a stronger man (a stronger man)
If I had more physical and emotional fortitude
Carrying the weight of a popular demand
Bearing the responsibilities and expectations of the masses
Tell me would that alarm her
Asking if this newfound strength would scare or intimidate someone
I'd never harm her at all
Assuring that no harm would come to this person
If I was a soldier
If I were a member of the armed forces
Captive arms I'd lay before her
Offering up any weapons taken from a prisoner of war to this person
If I was a sailor
If I were a seafarer
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
Traveling across every sea to be with this person
If I was (if I was) a wiser man (a wiser man)
If I were a more knowledgeable person
Would other men (would other men) reach out and touch me
Would other people want to connect with me
If I was (if I was) a kinder man (a kinder man)
If I were a more compassionate and generous individual
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Dispensing love to the world that craves it
Tell me would that appease her
Asking if this would satisfy or please this person
I want to please her again
Expressing desires to please this person once more
If I was a painter
If I were an artist who paints pictures
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
Creating an ideal world that wouldn't negatively impact this person
If I was a leader
If I held a position of authority
On food of love from above I would feed her
Nourishing this person with love and affection from a higher power
If I was a poet
If I were a writer of poems
All my love and burning words I would show it
Expressing my love for this person through my poetry
If I was her lover
If I were romantically involved with this person
Her eyes in kisses I would cover
Planting kisses all over her face
Come here my baby
Inviting this person to come close
Oh they can't touch you now
Ensuring that no one can harm or touch this person anymore
I'll keep you safe and warm
Promising to protect this person and keep them comfortable
I'll never leave you at all
Promising to never abandon or leave this person
Oh they won't touch you
Reaffirming that this person will remain safe from harm
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Dispensing love to the world that craves it
Tell me would that appease you
Asking if this would satisfy or please this person
I want to please you again
Expressing desires to please this person once more
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL MITCHELL, MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gabri1618
If I was a better man
Would fellow men take me to their hearts
If I was a stronger man
Carrying the weight of popular demand
Tell me would that alarm her
I'd never harm her at all
If I was a soldier
Captive arms I'd lay before her
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
If I was a wiser man
Would other men reach out and touch me
If I was a kinder man
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease her
I want to please her again
If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love and burning words I would show it
If I was her lover
Her eyes in kisses I would cover
Come here my baby
Oh they can't touch you now
I'll keep you safe and warm
I'll never leave you at all
Come here my baby
Oh they won't touch you
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease you
I want to please you again
If I was a soldier
Captive arms I'd lay before her
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love and burning words I would show it
@alicesings1971
He has an incredible voice. So pure ! He’s so talented and more pleasant sounding than some of the people today that rely on Auto Tune. Bring back the genius of the 80’s.
@Freddie1710
Yes, the genius of the 80s!!!
@cyclist7s
Dude, you hit that one right on the head!!!!!!80’s forever!!!!!!!!!!!
@jamescraft2976
I can't be the only person who thinks James Ure is one of the most criminally underrated musicians of the 80s...right?
@vezmalik5042
Totally agree
@floogelhornzzz4770
Midge. Ure James.
@felicitydavey2371
😊
@Paul-fq9pj
He’s a legend and he was also in Thin Lizzy ⚡️
@susanleitch8649
Not for me. Always one of the greatest. Always.
@naomicorban8703
They don't write songs like this any more.Absolutly beautiful,goosebumps right now&tears...❤currently on loop