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.
Somebody
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody to lay your head on
I've been around the world
To look for love from many souls
But at the wrong time
Searching for these vague elusive things
To keep and save
And I can belong
I can be anything I need
If only I had known
I'd face this world alone
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on
Lying with my face away
From every pressure
Every day you'll find me
Clinging tightly to the stronger thoughts
The clearer picture
Friendly spots around me
And I could be loved
And I could be happy
If only I had known
I'd take these steps alone
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on
If there's life beyond the daily grind
A vision for a broken mind
Can't find it
Fall from heaven, fall from grace
Come shelter in my barren place
Re-find it
A search for beauty
Search for friendship
Search for meaning in it all
If only I had known
I'd walk this world alone
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on
Somebody
Somebody to lay your head on...
The song "Somebody" by Midge Ure talks about the search for love and companionship, as well as the realization that sometimes we have to face the world alone. The singer has traveled all over the world looking for love, but at the wrong time, and has been searching for things to keep and save, in order to ease their mind. They could belong and be anything they need if they had someone to lay their head on.
The lyrics reveal that the singer has been going through some pressures and has been seeking a clearer picture and friendly spots around them. They wish to be loved and be happy, but they have to face the truth that they have to take these steps alone. The repeated line throughout the song, "Somebody to lay your head on," expresses their desire for comfort and affection, but they also acknowledge that they may never find it.
In the second half of the song, the singer talks about the struggles of finding a purpose in life and trying to maintain beauty, friendship, and meaning in everything. They urge for someone to come and shelter in their barren place, as they try to re-find themselves.
Overall, "Somebody" is a poignant song about the human need for love, companionship, and understanding, but also the painful realization that we may have to face the world alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been around the world
I have traveled far and wide
To look for love from many souls
To seek love from different people
But at the wrong time
But timing was not on my side
Searching for these vague elusive things
Looking for abstract things that are hard to grasp
To keep and save
To possess and preserve
To ease my sad, sad mind
To soothe my troubled and unhappy mind
And I can belong
And I can fit in
I can be anything I need
I can become whatever I require
If only I had known
If only I had been aware
I'd face this world alone
I would deal with this world by myself
Somebody to lay your head on
A person to lean on
Lying with my face away
Reclining with my face turned away
From every pressure
Away from all stress and demands
Every day you'll find me
Each day, you will discover me
Clinging tightly to the stronger thoughts
Holding strongly to the more positive and empowering ideas
The clearer picture
The greater understanding
Friendly spots around me
Places with friendly and comforting atmosphere around me
And I could be loved
And I could earn the affection of others
And I could be happy
And I could experience joy and contentment
If only I had known
If only I had been aware
I'd take these steps alone
I would manage this journey by myself
If there's life beyond the daily grind
If there's more to life than the daily routine
A vision for a broken mind
An aspiration for a damaged mental state
Can't find it
Unable to locate it
Fall from heaven, fall from grace
Fallen from a place of comfort and favor
Come shelter in my barren place
Come seek refuge in my unproductive and empty surroundings
Re-find it
Find it once again
A search for beauty
A quest for aesthetics
Search for friendship
Looking for companionship
Search for meaning in it all
Search for significance in everything
Somebody to lay your head on
A person to lean on
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marc Moingeon
One of Midge's most moving melodies and lyrics.... Quite sad too...
I often play it twice or three times in a row.... a lovely ending to this album that media stupidly ignored - like many others from this excellent songwriter and musician !!!
Wild Talks Ireland
Superb song. Midge is one of the greats.
Marina Griva
Perfect voices......love it!
Marc Moingeon
One of Midge's most beautiful song... splendid conclusion to "Move Me", an album that got scandalously unnoticed, while it's another very good clever pop album, made with passion... by a singer/songwriter who's got a big heart and a really good voice. Midge should be so much more famous than he's been during the last 25 years... I don't get it.
Aivalsonic
Midge Ure is one of the best singers and composers ever.
drsnypejsek
playing it again and again. it is a very deep inside... made by genius
Sebek1969
One of the most beautiful tunes ever! Pity the world knows nothing about it. If this was sang by Sting or U2 it would have been a worldwide hit. No question about it.
elementel73
I love this song!!
ΕΛΕΝΑ jr3
cannot believe there are idiots who pressed dislike in such song and artists.. u can only be jealous or deaf..
Diego Manfrin
Midge ure sicuramente un grande musicista