The Gift

Midge Ure The Gift Lyrics
1.If I Was

Words:M. Ure/D. Mitchell
music:M. Ure/D. Mitchell

If I was a better man
Would fellow men take me to their hearts
If I was a stronger man
Carrying the weight of popular demand
Tell me would that alarm her
I'd never harm her at all

If I was a soldier
Captive arms I'd lay before her
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her

If I was a wiser man
Would other men reach out and touch me
If I was a kinder man
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease her
I want to please her again

If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love in burning words I would show it
If I was her lover
Her eyes in kisses I would cover
Come here my baby
Oh they can't touch you now
I'll keep you safe and warm
I'll never leave you at all
Come here my baby
Oh they won't touch you
Dishing up love for a hungry world
Tell me would that appease you
I want to please you again

If I was a soldier
Captive arms I'd lay before her
If I was a sailor
Seven oceans I'd sail to her
If I was a painter
I'd paint a world that couldn't taint her
If I was a leader
On food of love from above I would feed her
If I was a poet
All my love in burning words I would show it


2.Living In The Past

Words:Ian Anderson
music:Ian Anderson

Happy and I'm smiling
Walk a mile to drink your water
You know I'd love to love you
And above you there's no other

We'll go walking out
While others shout of war's disaster
Oh, we won't give in,
Let's go living in the past

Once I used to join in
Every boy and girl was my friend
Now there's revolution
But they don't know what they're fighting

Let us close our eyes
Outside their lives go on much faster
Oh we won't give in
Let's go living in the past


3.She Cried

Words:M. Ure/D. Mitchell
music:M. Ure/D. Mitchell

She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways

She promised to a stranger
Arranger kisses
She, torn between her heart
And the others' wishes
Try to please them
Try to reason

She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways

She tries to understand
What her father preaches
She wants to live the life
That her new world teaches
Try to tell them
What she felt then

She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways

Try to tell them what she felt then

She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways

She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways
She cried
The tears that fell were from Asian ways


4.That Certain Smile

Words:M. Ure/D. Mitchell
music:M. Ure/D. Mitchell

Cross your heart and hope to die it's love
A perfect world in my mind's eye and oh
The face that's watching me tonight has me
Falling for that certain smile

Hold your hand up, swear to God, it's love
Help me to believe because for all
The words you said to me tonight has me
Falling for that certain smile
Falling for that certain smile

Take my tears and smile for me it's love
Take my soul, my heart, my fears for oh
The way you're touching me tonight has me
Falling for that certain smile

Bring me passion, bring me lust or love
Bring me only truth because for all
The times you said to me tonight have me
Falling for that certain smile
Falling for that certain smile
Falling for that certain smile


5.The Gift

Words:M. Ure
music:M. Ure
(For C.R. Mackintosh)

From city streets you came with something true
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 gave it away
The gift that you gave

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


6.Wastelands

Words:M. Ure/D. Mitchell
music:M. Ure/D. Mitchell

The boy is listening to those records from the past
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
Shares their pain and shares their glories

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 neighbours 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 friedns 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


7.When The Winds Blow

Words:M. Ure/D. Mitchell
music:M. Ure/D. Mitchell

Common people living quietly in confusion
Information's giving quite a grand illusion
Hearts are beating, keeping time
To meet a deadline
Faces pressed against the pane
To watch a headline

When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call you
We will stand and watch them fall

All our ships are sailing blindly
Under one sun
Sending signals, calling kindly
Reaching no-one
Echoes sound the shifting air
Of empires calling
Hold my hand, the shifting sand
Of empires falling

When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call you
We will stand and watch them fall
Oh we'll stand and watch them fall

We confided, then decided not to follow
All the slogans, taunts and charges
Sound so hollow
With open minds across the border
We have waited
But keeping place within this race is complicated

When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call you
We will stand and watch them

When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call
When the winds blow I will call you
We will stand and watch them fall
Oh we'll stand and watch them fall


8.Antilles


9.Edo


10.The Chieftain


11.The Gift (Reprise)