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.
Yellow Pearl
Midge Ure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Yellow Pearl control, attack, attack, attack, attack
Yellow Pearl
It is foolish to venture into strange enchanted places
If they aren't the places you want to be
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
We will arise
We will command
We will patrol
It is foolish under the guise of love and liberty
That we should capitalize and rob and fell
The poor for the socialistic tree
We will arise
We will control
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
That's what you lack
We shall arise
They will arise
We shall control
They will control
We shall command
They will command
We shall patrol
They will patrol
We must fight back
We will arise
They will arise
We will control
We are now living in a situation
Where that self same situation depends on the Yellow Pearl
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
We will arise
They will arise
We will control
They will control
We will command
They shall command
We will patrol
They will patrol
Arise
Yellow Pearl's upon us now
We must fight back
We will arise
They will arise
We will control
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
Is what we lack
Don't trust in Liberty
To save your soul
It is genocide to let liberty lose control
Control
We must decide
Control
We the Yellow Pearl we will control
The song Yellow Pearl by Midge Ure and Ultravox is an interesting piece that contains powerful messages about control, liberty, and the fight for power. The primary message in the song is the need to beware of the yellow pearl, which represents control over people and situations. The Yellow Pearl is something that people must fight back against and ensure that they do not fall under its control.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and aggression as the lyrics discuss the lack of control that people have and the need to take control before it is too late. It is foolish to venture into strange enchanted places, and it is also foolish to fall under the guise of love and liberty and capitalize on the poor. The song urges people to arise, take control, command, and patrol. The lines "Don't trust in Liberty to save your soul, It is genocide to let liberty lose control" further emphasize the song's message on the need to be careful when it comes to liberty and control.
Overall, Yellow Pearl is a song that speaks volumes about the need to be vigilant and fight for control over one's life and situations. It highlights the dangers of falling under the control of others and the importance of taking back control before it is too late.
Line by Line Meaning
We all must beware of the yellow pearl
The Yellow Pearl is dangerous and we need to be cautious of it.
The Yellow Pearl control, attack, attack, attack, attack
The Yellow Pearl seeks to control and attack relentlessly.
Yellow Pearl
Reiterating the dangerous nature of the Yellow Pearl.
It is foolish to venture into strange enchanted places
If they aren't the places you want to be
It's unwise to explore unfamiliar territory that doesn't align with your goals.
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
We need to be aggressive and attack more in order to succeed.
We will arise
We will control
We will command
We will patrol
We will take over and dominate every aspect of the situation.
It is foolish under the guise of love and liberty
That we should capitalize and rob and fell
The poor for the socialistic tree
Exploiting the poor under the pretense of love and liberty is hypocritical and goes against socialistic ideals.
That's what you lack
Acknowledging that the listener also lacks the aggression needed for success.
We shall arise
They will arise
We shall control
They will control
We shall command
They will command
We shall patrol
They will patrol
We will take over and dominate everything while the others we are up against have no chance of winning.
We must fight back
We need to retaliate and take control after being threatened.
We are now living in a situation
Where that self same situation depends on the Yellow Pearl
The scenario we find ourselves in revolves around the influence of the Yellow Pearl.
Don't trust in Liberty
To save your soul
It is genocide to let liberty lose control
Relying on the concept of Liberty to save us is foolish since it can lead to tragedy.
Control
We must decide
Control
We the Yellow Pearl we will control
We need to take control and make decisions, and the Yellow Pearl is the one that will be in charge.
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
Is what we lack
Stressing the importance of aggression and the need to attack in order to succeed.
Yellow Pearl's upon us now
We must fight back
We will arise
They will arise
We will control
Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Is what we lack
The Yellow Pearl's influence is currently affecting us and we need to retaliate by taking over and attacking more aggressively.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES URE, PHILIP PARRIS LYNOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
80s Renaissance
It's a select group of people who can appreciate Ultravox.
Selected for taste and soul.
Jaso
One of the best British vocalists ever! Midge is phenomenal! This guy is out there with a select few. Midge on the vocal range easily keeps company with some of the best, Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox coming to mind!
Simon P
That mix of Yellow Pearl followed by Passing Strangers made the hairs on my arm stand up.
That’s how good that was!
Classic Ultravox.
NerveJam
Yellow Pearl wasn't Ultravox. It was Phil Lynott. (Plus Midge of course).
Arizona idiot
Without a doubt THE greatest performer EVER...... past, present or future!!!! Thank you!
James McCarthy
Listening to this timeless masterpiece just prove's that music indeed is for the age's !!!
Tommy H
Yellow Pearl with a "young Phil Lynott" on bass guitar!! Goosebumps
Alan Pavlak
When I look back now,I see a very seamless transition for me that when my favorite band of all time Joy Division dissolved for reasons which we all know Ultravox came right in and filled the spot perfectly. There is no band like Ultravox and level of music they made was just mind blowing. They weren’t Joy Division obviously, but for me they are right in the coat tails of them as far as greatness for me. So many classic and beautiful songs like the magnificent Astradyne- the Voice- Vienna- Stranger Within etc and when I listen to them now it really brings me back to a special place in my youth. Thanks Midge and the boys for bringing me such wonderful music and was so glad I WAS INTRODUCED TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE BACK THEN SINCE THERE WAS NOT MUCH EXPOSURE HERE IN THE US. Hope to see you again next year.
Jonathon Singleton
Bloody heck, there is so much happening here with the combo of these two songs. The first by Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, originally for his 1980 solo album, and the second from Ultravox's early days. Political. Postcolonial realiites enmeshed in poetic realities of human love. I'm a bit gobsmacked about the cleverness of what Midge Ure has done here... What an amazing bastard he is :*)
Dan LA 69
Youre a very intelligent man. I wish we had more like you here in The US as well as The UK.