Viënna
Midge Ure / Ultravox Lyrics
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Freezing breath on a window pane
Lying and waiting
A man in the dark in a picture frame
So mystic and soulful
A voice reaching out in a piercing cry
It stays with you until
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna
The music is weaving
Haunting notes, pizzicato strings
The rhythm is calling
Alone in the night as the daylight brings
A cool empty silence
The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky
It fades to the distance
The image has gone only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna
This means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna
The lyrics of Midge Ure and Ultravox's song Vienna evoke a sense of longing and melancholy that is embodied in the feelings of the singer described. The opening lines suggest the harsh weather the singer is enduring as they observe a figure in a picture frame, evoking a sense of isolation and loneliness. The song's chorus, 'It means nothing to me, this means nothing to me, oh Vienna,' suggests a sense of detachment from the world around them, with the city of Vienna being used as a symbol for an unattainable ideal.
The music of the song adds to the atmosphere - the haunting notes of the pizzicato strings, the cool silence of the night, the warmth of the singer's hand contrasted with the cold grey sky. The lyrics and music combine to create a sense of longing and desire for something that is unattainable - a feeling that will stay with you even after it has faded from view. Overall, the song can be interpreted as an exploration of the human desire for meaning and connection, even in the face of a cold and isolated world.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked in the cold air
I was outside in the chilly environment
Freezing breath on a window pane
My exhaled air turned into frosts on the window
Lying and waiting
I was laying down, waiting for something to happen
A man in the dark in a picture frame
There was a man's photo framed on the wall, and he was depicted in darkness
So mystic and soulful
The man's presence had an enigmatic and emotional quality to it
A voice reaching out in a piercing cry
The man's voice was loud and intense, expressing deep emotions
It stays with you until
You keep thinking about it until
The feeling has gone only you and I
We're the only ones left with the feeling, which has now passed
It means nothing to me
I don't care about it
This means nothing to me
I don't attach any value to this
Oh, Vienna
A cry to the city of Vienna
The music is weaving
The melody is intricately intertwining
Haunting notes, pizzicato strings
The music has an eerie and melancholic tone with plucked string instruments
The rhythm is calling
The beat is compelling me to follow
Alone in the night as the daylight brings
I am by myself at night, and when the sun comes up
A cool empty silence
The silence is calm but cold and deserted
The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky
I feel your hand's warmth, but the sky is still gloomy and dull
It fades to the distance
The memory slowly disappears
The image has gone only you and I
We're the only ones who remember the image, which has vanished
This means nothing to me
I don't attach any value to this
This means nothing to me
I don't care about this
Oh, Vienna
A cry to the city of Vienna
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM NORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind