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.
Wastelands
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wants to make them last
For they make him feel alive
They are the voices of the faces on the wall
He listens to them all
Hangs on every little tale they tell
Knows them all and their life stories
One day he even cut their names upon his skin
They mean that much to him
For them he'd take the test
His bedroom window opens to the evening air
The fox is in his lair
The volume of his system is full on
But the neighbors moan and the parents call
This angry noise is the muzak of the wastelands
Wastelands, the wastelands, wastelands
The boy is dressing in the fashion of the day
The kids all dress that way, you can tell them anywhere
The boy looks out and sees his friends are waiting there
In the cold electric glare
Of those lamps that make you think that night is day
They drag their lusts into your sight
With shouts and screams they meet the night
They block your way in twos and fours
In uniforms from city stores
They're closing in, who knows the score
It won't be long before
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
Wastelands, yes, it won't be long before
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
Wastelands, the wastelands
Wastelands, oh, wastelands
Wastelands, yes, it won't be long before
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
Wastelands, oh, wastelands
In Midge Ure's song Wastelands, the lyrics paint a picture of a young boy who is so entranced by the music of the past that he feels a deep connection to the artists whose faces adorn his bedroom wall. He identifies with their pain and glories and feels that their music makes him feel alive. The boy's obsession with the music is so intense that he even goes as far as to cut their names into his skin to show his devotion. However, he is also met with opposition from his neighbors and parents who do not share his passion for this music but instead view it as "angry noise" that is emblematic of the wastelands. These wastelands are a place where violence and chaos reign and where martyrs are made.
Moreover, the boy is not alone in his youth, as he is surrounded by other kids who dress alike and act out their frustrations in the same way. They are all waiting in the cold electric light, ready to take to the streets and turn their anger into action. However, this determination and passion are met with opposition, as the "uniforms from city stores" block their path and threaten their safety. The tension and desperation finally culminate in the idea that "a martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands," suggesting that this society has become so lost that even sacrifice and death cannot bring about any meaningful change.
In conclusion, Wastelands is a powerful commentary on the state of society and the impact of music and culture on the youth. The lyrics highlight the importance of expression and the desire to break free from societal norms, but also the cost of this freedom and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
The boy is listening to those records from the past
The boy is listening to old records that make him feel alive.
He wants to make them last
He wants to keep them with him forever.
For they make him feel alive
The music makes him feel alive and gives him a sense of purpose.
They are the voices of the faces on the wall
The music represents the voices of the people who he admires.
He listens to them all
He listens to every record he can find from his idols.
Hangs on every little tale they tell
He is captivated by every story, no matter how small.
Knows them all and their life stories
He knows everything there is to know about the people who made the music.
Shares their pain and shares their glories
He feels a connection with them and identifies with their struggles and triumphs.
One day he even cut their names upon his skin
He loves them so much that he has permanent reminders of their influence on him.
They mean that much to him
Their music is incredibly important to him and has a significant impact on his life.
For them he'd take the test
He would do anything for them, even something difficult like taking a test.
His bedroom window opens to the evening air
His window is open to the world outside.
The fox is in his lair
The outside world is full of animals and other creatures.
The volume of his system is full on
He plays his music very loudly.
But the neighbors moan and the parents call
The people around him are annoyed by the noise he is making.
This angry noise is the muzak of the wastelands
The loud music is seen as unpleasant noise that represents the barren and hopeless wastelands.
The boy is dressing in the fashion of the day
He is dressing in the style that is popular with his peers.
The kids all dress that way, you can tell them anywhere
His friends also dress in the same style.
The boy looks out and sees his friends are waiting there
His friends are waiting for him outside.
In the cold electric glare
The streetlights create a harsh, unnatural light that feels cold.
Of those lamps that make you think that night is day
The streetlights are so bright that they make it feel like daytime.
They drag their lusts into your sight
His friends are very open about their desires and intentions.
With shouts and screams they meet the night
They are boisterous and excited to be out at night.
They block your way in twos and fours
His friends are in a group, making it hard to pass them.
In uniforms from city stores
His friends conform to the styles and expectations of the city.
They're closing in, who knows the score
He feels trapped and unsure what will happen next.
It won't be long before
Something is going to happen soon.
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
Violent or dangerous things are happening, leading to death and distress.
Wastelands, yes, it won't be long before
The wastelands are a metaphor for a bleak and dangerous future that is rapidly approaching.
Wastelands, the wastelands
The wastelands are constantly present and looming over everything.
Wastelands, oh, wastelands
The wastelands are sad and depressing.
Wastelands, yes, it won't be long before
The wastelands are ever-present and unavoidable.
A martyr's blood is nourishing the wastelands
The wastelands are being sustained by pain and sacrifice.
Wastelands, oh, wastelands
The wastelands are unpleasant and unfortunate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL MITCHELL, MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind