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
Wild Violet
Чудесная аранжировка♥️Одна из любимейших песен.
Mark Mongie
Holy freaking cows! The original was one of the most moving tracks ever performed in it's day. This version tops that. This is what the gift of repentance sounds like.
Rob Tyman
This is such a lush arrangement of a beautiful song! Despite not being a huge hit at the time, it has over the years grown immensely, to now become a real gem. This orchestrated version is a joy to listen to.
katinca
Mein absolutes Lieblingslied!
Ich hätte nie für möglich gehalten, dass dieses Lied noch mehr Emotionen in mir hervorrufen könnte, als es das eh schon getan hat. Dass es da noch eine Steigerung gibt, ist unglaublich, unfassbar und unbeschreiblich schön. So muss sich Musik wirklich anfühlen! Ich liebe dieses Lied und diese Stimme und ich liebe diesen Mann! PERFEKT!!! Bei dem Lied fühle ich, was er fühlt! Es berührt mich tief im Herzen!
bren ryan
this is an absolutely amazing version of this song. The original was brilliant, and this versions takes it to a whole new level. And the original was released 34 years ago - and still stands out today as a such a powerful piece of music and lyrics.
Jim Moffat
Lament !! The original was and is brilliant, But this is so, so special, ear candy of the highest order.
Just cannot stop listening to it !!!!!
Does to me what The Gift track had done for years.....reaches the soul. Great !!!
James Stevens
This song has now attained perfection!
james ferguson
Absolute genius a song which triggers all the memories of a age past
Thankyou
8-Bit Guru
Lament was always my favourite Ultravox track, and this version just lifts it to an even higher plane.
John Russell
Always one of my favourite songs. Over the years a refuge in despair and pain. This version elevates it to a level which is awesome. Inspiring. This is music. This is life. Wow!