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.
Lament
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all the pain
The twist in my life starts healing
Just to twist again
In stillness, in sorrow
Returns that softly sighing lament
And just as the smile's returning
The fire inside stops burning
Just to burn again
In moments of madness
Returns that softly sighing lament
The lyrics to Midge Ure/Ultravox's song 'Lament' express the idea of cyclical suffering in life, and the inevitability of pain and sorrow to return yet again even after a brief moment of respite. It speaks of the hopelessness and helplessness of an individual in the face of such harsh realities. The opening lines of the song talk about how just as the singer's eyes start seeing clearly after a painful experience, some twist in their life comes around to plunge them into suffering again. The pain and sorrow return again and again, depicted through the recurring line, "Returns that softly sighing lament".
The second half of the lyrics talk about how just as the singer's smile starts returning after a period of sadness, the fire inside them stops burning, and they are consumed by madness once more. The song seems to suggest that there is no escape from life's cycles of suffering, and that even brief periods of happiness are quickly extinguished. The lament referred to in the lyrics is a symbol of the sadness and longing that the singer feels in their heart, an expression of their hopeless surrender to fate.
Line by Line Meaning
And just as my eyes start seeing
As I begin to understand and gain clarity
After all the pain
After enduring much hardship and difficulty
The twist in my life starts healing
The problems and complications in my life begin to get resolved
Just to twist again
Only to be replaced with new problems and complications
In stillness, in sorrow
During times of quiet contemplation and sadness
Returns that softly sighing lament
The feeling of sadness and sorrow returns, expressed metaphorically as a soft sighing sound
And just as the smile's returning
As I begin to feel happy and content again
After all the pain
Despite the overwhelming difficulties I've faced
The fire inside stops burning
My passion and drive begin to fade away
Just to burn again
Only to reignite and consume me once more
In moments of madness
During times of intense emotion or turmoil
Returns that softly sighing lament
The feeling of sadness and sorrow returns once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE, MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williamheaton7958
And just as my eyes start seeing
After all the pain
The twist in my life starts healing
Just to twist again
In stillness, in sorrow
Returns that softly sighing lament
And just as the smile's returning
After all the pain
The fire inside stops burning
Just to burn again
In moments of madness
Returns that softly sighing lament
@arseniolupin8851
one of the best things about 50 years old, is the fact that i lived my teenage years in the 80s that is priceless and i am grateful!!!
@lotterytechinc.5059
I'm 53 and some of the BEST music came out of the 80's
@blase410
I'm 56 And I agree 100% Music had meaning and emotion back then.
@tonybalm1513
Me too!!!!
@suedanim6249
Oh yes!
@ashgnostic6105
Same
@721jackie
Still the greatest Ultravox song!!! I discovered this album in 84 and it remains the best and timeless.
@unlimitedhangout5
All in One Day is their greatest song.
@eyeofbrown1387
This song is so sad, and yet so beautiful. Thank you, Ultravox, for crafting a song so many years ago that still touches one’s soul. Really feeling this one right now 😢.
@homer270
The MOST underrated band of the 80's, still can't believe Vienna didn't get no1......