Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshir… Read Full Bio ↴Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a pop and rock and roll musician from Scotland, known for his particular success as a guitarist and singer-songwriter in the 70s and 80s. His stage name, "Midge", is a phonetic reversal of his real name, "Jim". Beginning his career in the pop rock band Slik, he would go on to play for power poppers Rich Kids and temporarily for Thin Lizzy.

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.

Sinnerman
Midge Ure Lyrics

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You're through with hoping
You're done with dreaming
Why have you burned every bridge you have crossed?

You can't rely on anyone
You're mother's boy, you're father's son
If you believe in no-one what will you do?
Oh, it's there in front of you

Pull for the shoreline, reach for a hand
You're nothing at all, oh you sinnerman
No more excuses, won't you please understand?
You're lost without love, oh you sinnerman
Sinnerman

So leave the darkness you carried with you
Those angry skies
All the storms you've been through

The battle's over, walk away
The simple price you have to pay
Is to believe that someone's helping you through
Oh, it's all you have to do

Pull for the shoreline, reach for a hand
You're nothing at all, oh you sinnerman
No more excuses, won't you please understand?
You're lost without love, oh you sinnerman
Sad, sad sinnerman

Pull for the shoreline, reach for a hand
You're nothing at all, oh you sinnerman
No more excuses, won't you please understand?
You're lost without love, oh you sinnerman
Oh sinnerman

Pull for the shoreline, reach for a hand
You're nothing at all, oh you sinnerman
No more excuses, won't you please understand?
You're lost without love, oh you sinnerman
Sad sinnerman

(Ohohohooo)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Midge Ure's song "Sinnerman" deal with the theme of despair and the search for hope. The opening lines indicate a sense of disillusionment and abandonment, as the singer is "through with hoping" and "done with dreaming." The following lines ask a pointed question, "Why have you burned every bridge you have crossed?" indicating that the singer may have isolated themselves through their own actions. The verse continues with the sentiment that the singer cannot rely on anyone and is left to their own devices. The chorus urges the singer to reach out for help, to "pull for the shoreline" and "reach for a hand." The repetition of the titular phrase "you sinnerman" throughout the song is both an acknowledgement of the singer's flaws and a call to action to overcome them.

The following verse offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the singer can leave "the darkness" behind and "walk away" from the "battles" they have faced. The only requirement is to "believe that someone's helping you through." The chorus repeats with its message of reaching out for help and no longer making excuses for the lack of love in their life. The song ends with a repetition of the sad and desperate title phrase.

Overall, "Sinnerman" is a song about overcoming personal obstacles and the journey towards hope and love. The singer acknowledges their own flaws and the struggles they have faced, but ultimately implores themselves to reach out and find a way forward.

Line by Line Meaning

You're through with hoping
You've given up hope

You're done with dreaming
You've stopped dreaming

Why have you burned every bridge you have crossed?
Why have you destroyed every relationship you've had?

You can't rely on anyone
You can't trust anyone

You're mother's boy, you're father's son
You're a product of your parents' upbringing

If you believe in no-one what will you do?
Without trust in others, what will you do?

Oh, it's there in front of you
The solution is right there in front of you

Pull for the shoreline, reach for a hand
Try to survive and get help

You're nothing at all, oh you sinnerman
You're worthless

No more excuses, won't you please understand?
Stop making excuses and understand

You're lost without love, oh you sinnerman
You need love to find your way