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.
The Gift
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
With hands of gold and images strong
You cast the shape of things to cling on
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
And in return, I give you honest love
These things I see around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
In the song "The Gift" by Midge Ure, the singer reflects on the value of artistic expression and the impact it can have on humanity. The opening lines suggest that the singer comes from city streets surrounded by dirt and smoke, but possesses something genuine and sincere - something that can't be fabricated or bought. The artist created their art with "hands of gold and images strong," leaving behind a legacy of their art. Unfortunately, those who came before did not appreciate the value of this art and discarded it as if it was nothing more than trash.
Yet, the singer shows appreciation for the art, respecting its value. In return, the singer offers the artist their sincere love, which comes from the soul and heart, a show of gratitude for the positive impact the artist has had on their life. The chorus emphasizes the significance of the art, highlighting that it's a gift that deserves respect, a treasure that can be passed down from one generation to another.
Overall, the song speaks to the importance of artists and their work, how their legacy lives on and how it can touch the lives of people they may never meet. It also exposes how society sometimes undervalues artistic expression and fails to recognize the value it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
From city streets you came with something true
You came from the harsh reality of city life with something true and genuine.
From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
You were able to find something new, original, and refreshing amidst all the dirt and smoke of city living.
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
Despite your hard work and effort, people did not appreciate or value your gift and instead disregarded it.
With hands of gold and images strong
You cast the shape of things to cling on
You had incredible talent and skills in creating things that people could hold onto and cherish.
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
And gave it away, the gift that you gave
People still failed to recognize the worth of your gift and even gave it away without realizing what they had in their possession.
And in return, I give you honest love
These things I see around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
As a response to your gift, I offer you genuine love and appreciation for the beauty and soulfulness that you have added to the world. My respect for you is my way of honoring the gift you've given.
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
The only way I can repay your gift is to offer you my sincere appreciation and acknowledgement for all the wonderful textures and forms you've created.
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
If someone asks me about the legacy I hold most dear, it's the passion and art you've given that comes straight from the heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind