The Gift
Ure Midge Lyrics
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From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
With hands of gold and images strong
You cast the shape of things to cling on
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
And in return, I give you honest love
These things I see around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
The Gift is a song that speaks to the power of creation and the frustration that can come when that creation is undervalued or disregarded. The singer is speaking to an unknown artist who came from the city streets and created something beautiful and true out of dirt and smoke. The artist tried to share their creation with the world, but it was taken and discarded, rendering the gift worthless. Though it would be easy to become bitter or jaded after such a rejection, the singer chooses to honor the artist by giving them honest love and respect. The gift that the artist gave - the gift of passion and art - is something the singer cherishes above all else.
The song is a powerful tribute to artists everywhere, reminding them that even if their work sometimes goes unappreciated, it is still valuable and worthy of respect. It also speaks to the importance of recognizing the power of creation and choosing to honor and cherish it, rather than allowing it to be discarded and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
From city streets you came with something true
You arrived from the city streets bearing a genuine gift
From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
You discovered something novel through observing the dirt and smoke
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
When you presented your work, people took it and discarded it
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
They threw away the gift you had given
With hands of gold and images strong
Your hands were skilled and your images powerful
You cast the shape of things to cling on
You crafted things that people would attach to
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
When you exhibited your creations, people took them
And gave it away, the gift that you gave
And they gave away the gift that you had bestowed
And in return, I give you honest love
I am giving you sincere admiration in return
These things I see around me
I am noticing the things present around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
I perceive with my innermost being and sense with my emotions
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
Your gift has been acknowledged and in response, I am giving you my respect
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
I have learned that this is all I have to give
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
The essence of your gift was its textures and form
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
When people inquire about my most cherished possession
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
What I value most, I say genuinely
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
The affection and artistry you brought is what I cherish
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind