“Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” is a song by British new wave band Ultravox, released in May 1984 with “Building” as the second single from their seventh studio album Lament. Written by Ultravox members, Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann, and Billy Currie, it became one of the band’s most successful and well-known tracks, highlighting their blend of synth-pop and new wave sounds.
“Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” features Ultravox’s signature use of synthesizers, electronic beats, and melodic hooks. The song has an energetic tempo, but its melancholic melody and emotional vocals from Midge Ure give it a sense of urgency and sadness. The mix of driving rhythms and sweeping synthesizers creates a powerful atmosphere, typical of 1980s new wave music.
The lyrics are dramatic and focus on a deeply emotional theme—dealing with the end of the world. The song tells the story of a man who, aware that an imminent nuclear disaster is about to occur, spends his last moments with his loved one, dancing with tears in his eyes. The song reflects the anxieties of the Cold War era, where fears of nuclear annihilation were prevalent, and the lyrics convey a bittersweet mix of love, regret, and helplessness in the face of disaster.
“Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” was a commercial success. It reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of Ultravox’s biggest hits. The song also performed well across Europe and charted in several other countries, solidifying the band’s popularity during the 1980s.
The song is regarded as one of Ultravox’s signature tracks and remains one of the most iconic new wave songs of the 1980s. Its combination of emotional lyrics, strong melody, and haunting synth-driven sound continues to resonate with fans of the genre. “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” captures the fear and emotion of a world on the brink, while still maintaining the catchy, danceable quality that defines much of Ultravox’s music.