Fade to Grey
Midge Ure / Ultravox Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Devenir gris
Devenir gris

One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Show fear as he turns to hide
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Un homme dans une gare isolée
Une valise a ses cotés
Des yeux fixes et froids
Montre de la peur lorsqu'il
Se tourne pour se cacher

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Sent la pluie comme un été Anglais
Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine
Sortant de derriere d'un poster
Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back shop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long

Devenir gris

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris





Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Fade to Grey" by Midge Ure/Ultravox revolve around the theme of loneliness, isolation, and despair. The opening lines present a picture of a man sitting alone on a lonely platform with a suitcase beside him. The use of the word "lonely" and "cold and silent" indicates that the man is estranged from the world around him. The lyrics further suggest that the man is afraid of something, as he turns to hide.


As the song progresses, we hear that the man wishes to fade into the background, to become a part of the grey surroundings of the world. The lyrics "Devenir gris" (to become grey) repeated throughout the song, symbolize the desire to disappear and become invisible, to become nothing. The lyrics create a vivid image of a person who wants to escape from reality, from the problems of the world, and to become part of the background.


The song also invokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for a distant past, a time that is elusive and impossible to reclaim. This is exemplified by the lines "Feel the rain like an English summer, hear the notes from a distant song." These lines suggest that the person is reminiscing about happier times in life, which have long since passed.


Overall, "Fade to Grey" by Midge Ure/Ultravox is a song that explores the theme of loneliness, isolation, and despair, and the desire to escape from the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Devenir gris
Becoming gray


Devenir gris
Becoming gray


One man on a lonely platform
A solitary man standing at an empty train station


One case sitting by his side
A suitcase resting next to him


Two eyes staring cold and silent
Eyes fixed and emotionless in their gaze


Show fear as he turns to hide
Revealing fear as he quickly looks away


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Expressing a sense of fading or disappearing into the unknown


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Repeating the feeling of fading away


Un homme dans une gare isolée
A man in an isolated train station


Une valise a ses cotés
A suitcase is by his side


Des yeux fixes et froids
Cold, unchanging eyes


Montre de la peur lorsqu'il
Revealing fear as he


Se tourne pour se cacher
Turns to hide himself


Sent la pluie comme un été Anglais
Feeling the rain like an English summer


Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine
Hearing the faint notes of a distant song


Sortant de derriere d'un poster
Emerging from behind a poster


Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue
Wishing life wasn't so long


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Expressing a sense of fading or disappearing into the unknown


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Repeating the feeling of fading away


Feel the rain like an English summer
Experiencing the rain in the same way as an English summer


Hear the notes from a distant song
Listening to the faint notes of a faraway song


Stepping out from a back shop poster
Emerging from behind a poster in a back shop


Wishing life wouldn't be so long
Longing for life to be shorter


Devenir gris
Becoming gray


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Expressing a sense of fading or disappearing into the unknown


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Repeating the feeling of fading away


Devenir gris
Becoming gray


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Expressing a sense of fading or disappearing into the unknown


Devenir gris
Becoming gray


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Expressing a sense of fading or disappearing into the unknown


Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Repeating the feeling of fading away




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS PAYNE, BILLY CURRIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@boboften9952

Fade To Grey
Lyrics

One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Shows fear as he turns to hide

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back drop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long
(Devenir gris)

Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)

Songwriters: Ure James / Payne Christopher John / Currie William

Fade to Grey lyrics © Mood Music Ltd., Hot Food Music Ltd.



All comments from YouTube:

@teresaroberts5907

This is beautiful, the vocals and music. I would love to see Midge perform live, the extra guitars bring a new dimension to the song.

@sandrahamand4622

I am 71 yrs old & didn’t realise what a powerful voice James has....love this song..
Midge URE. “You are a legend” your voice has gotten better over the years :) you certainly can make that guitar sing!! X

@markpeters9916

Midge Ure, one of the most underated performers and song writers

@Voxac100b

Brilliant performer and artist

@markrae1317

No he isn't! Nobody doesn't rate him. Buy a dictionary. Look up "underrated".

@mickyday2008

Definitely not underrated

@davethecrow

@@markrae1317 he was good in gary numan

@markrae1317

@@davethecrow In what sense?

3 More Replies...

@williamashford2057

Midge ure is a very underrated guitarist.

@johnstairs

Spot on me thinks his spell with Thin Lizzy helped him also.

More Comments

More Versions