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 Man Who Sold the World
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long, long time ago
Oh no
Not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazely stare
And all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long, long time ago
Who knows? Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
Oh no
Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
Midge Ure's "The Man Who Sold The World" is a song that has caused a lot of speculation and interpretation amongst its listenership. Many believe that the song is about a deal with the devil - a topic that has long been explored in literature and film. The opening lines of the song suggest a chance encounter between the singer and a friend who he thought was dead, leading to a conversation about the past.
However, as the song progresses, the lyrics become more surreal and confusing. The repeated phrase "You're face to face / With the man who sold the world" gives rise to various interpretations, many of which suggest that the singer has encountered a darker force. The line "We never lost control" is often seen as a warning to those who seek power and fame - a reminder that even the most successful and influential people can become trapped in their own egos.
One interpretation of the song is that it's a commentary on the loss of innocence and the corrosive effects of greed and ambition. It's a warning to those who seek to "sell the world" - to appropriate or profit from the natural beauty and power of the earth. The song suggests that those who seek to do so risk losing touch with what really matters - community, friendship, and true connection with other human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other while going up the stairs
We spoke of was and when
We talked about the past and reminisced
Although I wasn't there
Even though I wasn't physically present at that time
He said I was his friend
He claimed that I was his friend
Which came as some surprise
It was unexpected news for me
I spoke into his eyes
I looked into his eyes while speaking
I thought you died alone
I believed that you passed away without anyone by your side
A long, long time ago
It happened many years back
Oh no
Expressing shock or surprise
Not me
I wasn't the one who lost control
I never lost control
I never lost my composure
You're face to face
You are now in close proximity
With the man who sold the world
With the person who deceived or misled the world
I laughed and shook his hand
I laughed and greeted him with a handshake
And made my way back home
And then I returned to my place
I searched for form and land
I wandered and looked for stability and direction
For years and years I roamed
For many years, I kept moving around aimlessly
I gazed a gazely stare
I looked around with a vacant expression
And all the millions here
And all the people around me
We must have died alone
We probably all passed away by ourselves
Who knows? Not me
I'm not certain and I don't have the answer
We never lost control
We maintained our composure and didn't lose ourselves
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cairo Lee
Finding out that Venom Snake was not only not Big Boss but just a hypnotized Mother Base soldier may have been one of the most shocking moments in my years of gaming.
Every injury, Every sandstorm endured, Every bond with each tactical buddy, Every mission that made me want to pull out my hair by the roots and for what? A guy who wasn't even who I thought he was..
But then I remembered something The Boss had said. "Loyalty to the end" and then I remembered.. Venom Snake would gave become Big Boss even without the crash. Even without the coma. Because he was loyal. A good soldier. His best guy on Mother Base... Vic Boss..
The clues were there. The bionic arm, The tapes, Eli's DNA test, The recovery of The Boss' bandana, Paz, Hell even the name Punished Venom Snake. He was punished for another man's sins. He took it all and through his tenacity, Strength and determination became worthy of the title Big Boss.. All while the real Boss was creating ZanzibarLand. Looking back I understood why. Why should Big Boss give one ounce of his energy on any of that? He was Big Boss. He was above it all..
I'll always remember this game and Venom Snake/The Medic/Big Boss/Vic Boss
What a way to rewire history
Yudhajit Manna
"Now do you remember..
Who you are..
What you were meant to do..
I cheated death.. Thanks to you
And thanks to you I've left my mark
You have too.
You've written your own history..
You're your own man..
I am Big Boss.. and you are too..
No.. It's the two of us together..
Where we are today.. we built it.
This story.. this legend.. it's our's..
We can change the world and with it the future..
Thank you my friend..
From here on out..
You're Big Boss.."
gbrs
[Verse 1]
We passed upon the stair
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise
I spoke into his eyes, "I thought you died alone
A long long time ago"
[Chorus]
Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
[Verse 2]
I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
At all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long long time ago
[Chorus]
Who knows? Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
Who knows? Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
canbeassistant
Спасибо Kojima Productions за замечательную MGS V: The Phantom Pain и за то, что я узнал эту безупречную песню. Она какая-то особенная что ли, звучит как-то глубоко, будто бы каждый удар в этой песне по отдельной части тела делает микро разряд током.
Ниже перевод песни из гугл переводчика.
---
Мы прошли по лестнице
Хотя меня там не было
Он сказал, что я его друг
Что стало некоторым сюрпризом
Я говорил ему в глаза
Я думал, ты умер один
Очень очень давно
О нет, не я
Я никогда не терял контроль
Вы лицом к лицу
С человеком, который продал мир
Я засмеялся и пожал ему руку,
И вернулся домой
Я искал форму и землю
В течение многих лет я бродил
Я смотрел пристальным взглядом
И все миллионы здесь
Мы, должно быть, умерли в одиночестве
Очень очень давно
Кто знает? не я
Мы никогда не теряли контроль
Вы лицом к лицу
С человеком, который продал мир
Akbar Lakhani
We passed upon the stair
''Venom and Big Boss crossing the spiral stair case in the hospital''
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
''Big Boss to himself when first talking to venom '' You're talking to yourself'' . ''
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long long time ago
'' The medic who was the body double for big boss was presumed dead in that helicopter crash 9 years ago but venom is the medic ''.
I laughed and shook his hand,
And made my way back home
'' Big boss helps Venom up and they escape the hospital ''.
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
'' Venom leads the diamond dogs and forms the Mother Base and travels to diffrent locations to perform missions''.
I gazed a gazely stare
And all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long long time ago
'' The dillusional Paz missions created by Venom's mind and the visions of the helicopter blast ''.
Who knows? not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
''The final mission cassete tape scene where Venom is the medic all along and Big boss was the real ''man who sold the world'' ''.
Mr. S
This song really makes you feel like you're coming out of a 9-year coma.
Toby Toyota
Fr
Ben
“Kept you waiting huh”
Clayton "Spectrum" Elite
After surviving an explosion.
Poor Peace Ortega
Blizzard Buffalo
NOSOKOMA, CALM DOWN, TRY NOT TO PANIC
Chance Cisneros
The morning after drinking.
Zooch
This is probably my favorite version of the man who sold the world, it sounds so different than the others
myearshurt Noone
omg yes i agree %1mil
madmax6923
It's the og of this song
Otis
sounds more bowie than bowie's version