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.
Reap the Wild Wind
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reap the wild wind
A finger points to show a scene. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
Another face where mine had been. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
Another footstep where I once walked. (Take my hand)
Take it all.
You take my hand and give me your friendship.
I'll take my time and send you my slow reply.
Give me an inch and I'll make the best of it.
Take all you want and leave all the rest to die.
Reap the wild wind.
A footprint haunts an empty floor. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
A fading coat that I once wore. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
Oh, desolation where I once lived.
I have seen in times gone by.
I have felt a different shadow on the wall,
A stranglehold on a certain feeling.
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
Reap the wild wind.
[Chorus]
Reap the wild wind.
In Midge Ure's song Reap the Wild Wind, the singer is reflecting on how his life has changed, and he is seeing his life through someone else's eyes. The repeated phrase of "take my hand" is an invitation to the listener to come along on this journey of self-discovery. The lyrics reference a finger pointing to a scene and another face where his had been, suggesting that the singer is seeing himself from a different perspective. He reflects on his past, with the now-empty floor and fading coat serving as reminders of what has been lost. The lyric "A stranglehold on a certain feeling" speaks to the idea that the singer is struggling to hold on to his identity in the face of change.
The chorus provides a message of hope: if the listener gives the singer their friendship, he will take his time in responding in kind. The line "take all you want and leave all the rest to die" implies a willingness to let go of the past and embrace new beginnings. Overall, the song is about the fear and uncertainty of change, but also the possibility for growth and moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
A finger points to show a scene. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
I see something in the distance, come with me, I'll guide you.
Another face where mine had been. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
Someone else is now in my footsteps, come with me and I'll show you this new world.
Another footstep where I once walked. (Take my hand)
Someone else is now taking the path I once took, let's follow them together.
Take it all.
Let's explore this world together and take in everything it has to offer.
You take my hand and give me your friendship.
Let's be friends and explore the world together.
I'll take my time and send you my slow reply.
I may take a while to respond to you, but I will appreciate your friendship.
Give me an inch and I'll make the best of it.
If you give me a little bit of opportunity, I will make the most of it and use it to its fullest potential.
Take all you want and leave all the rest to die.
Take as much as you want from this world and leave behind anything that doesn't serve you anymore.
A footprint haunts an empty floor. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
I see the remnants of someone who once walked here, let's follow their footsteps and see where they lead us.
A fading coat that I once wore. (Take my hand. Take my hand.)
I see a coat that I used to wear, let's go find out what happened to it.
Oh, desolation where I once lived.
I used to live in a place of emptiness and loneliness.
I have seen in times gone by.
I have witnessed things in the past that still affect me now.
I have felt a different shadow on the wall,
I have experienced a sense of foreboding or uncertainty in my life.
A stranglehold on a certain feeling.
I feel trapped and suffocated by a certain emotion.
Reap the wild wind.
Experience everything that life has to offer, even if it's risky or unpredictable.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gita Andani
Ultravox, one of the most important synth pop acts that sadly aren't as famous as they deserve to be.
Fritz Lange
I dunno, Vienna was reasonably successful.
David Meredith
I absolutely agree!! Great, underrated band!!
Paul Anthony
@Fritz Lange As was Dancing with tears in my eyes and various other top 20 tracks they were successful but I catch their drift as in maybe more top ten tracks midge had a number one on his own with "If I was" I had their hits Album The Collection back then. Incidentley in the UK Vienna was voted as the best song to not get to number 1 and number 2 instead famously kept off the top with "Shut uppa your face"
Maciej Tadaszak
What? They are. I'm from Poland, born in 86 and I know their songs since childhood.
srkbear1
They were in the UK. Who were always ahead of us musically here in America. This was top 40 in England when it came out, while we were being “dazzled” by “Eye of the Tiger” and the Flashdance theme here in the US. 🙄
Brett Terwilliger
Midge Ure's voice is so unique. There's a poetic vibe that was perfect for that genre.
eternal1blue
Very much
Green Eyes
It's pure new romantic, new wave and melancholic. I wanna dance, I wanna sing and cry at the same time. That's the real music. That is the best music.
where's Yaya
👏👏👏👏👏 you captured it exactly !!