A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots re… Read Full Bio ↴A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots reggae and dub to lovers rock and pop. It is the second most commercial successful reggae band with +70 million sold albums. Many of their hits have been stylishly covers of early reggae and rocksteady hits from Jamaica. After success in UK, UB40's won USA with Labour of Love (1983), their first album of covers. UB40 was 1986 the first Western band to play behind the Iron Curtain, live in Moscow, Soviet Union. UB40 is known for hits as 'Food For Thought', (1980) 'Red Red Wine' (1983), 'Please Don't Make Me Cry' (1983), 'I Got You Babe' (1985) with frontman Ali Campbell in duet with Chrissie Hynde just like in 'Breakfast in Bed' (1988). Their most successful worldwide single release is their reggae/pop version of 'I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You' (1993).

The band is one of the most culturally diverse dub Ska bands with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band is named from the paper form issued by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security at the time of the band's formation for claiming unemployment benefit (UB40 = Unemployment Benefit, Form 40).

UB40 were influenced by the many Blues Parties they attended as teenagers in the multiracial Balsall Heath area of Birmingham, their love of ska and reggae inspired such original tracks as King, Madam Medusa, Food for Thought, Signing Off and One in Ten.

Their early music style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesizers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques which were later perfected by the late Pablo Falconer.

Ali and Robin Campbell have a musical heritage, being sons of Ian Campbell, a folk musician.

The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight. They have had a number of hits, most commercially and to amusement of the band, "Red Red Wine", a cover version of a Neil Diamond song (in an arrangement similar to that of Tony Tribe's version). Their most successful single release is the cover of the Elvis Presley ballad Can't Help Falling In Love which was intended to be the main title to the 1992 Sharon Stone movie Sliver and was a Number One hit across Europe and in the U.S.

Many of UB40's recordings were inspired by 1960s ska and early lovers rock songs that would have otherwise been forgotten in the public eye. Their new injection of life into so many old Jamaican hits has resulted in many musicians' and producers' renewed popularity and income.

UB40's early music often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.

Other artists that UB40 have collaborated with include: Pato Banton, Madness, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde, Robert Palmer, Hunterz, Japanese artist Mikidozan, French artist Nuttea, Lady Saw and Afrika Bambaataa.

Blood and Fire
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
There is no more water to out the fire
There is no more water to out the fire
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn burn
Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire

Judgement has come and mercy has gone (mercy come and gone)
Ooh, weak hearts shall lick up and spit up (weakheart must get lick up)
Judgement has come and mercy has gone (judgement time is here)
Ooh, weak hearts shall lick up and spit up (weakheart must get sick up)
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn burn (mercy gone)
Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
Rasta Hail!
Blessed is the weed, the healing of all nations in every corner of the earth
Blessed are the fields of sensimillia that enlighten and erich our soul
Blood and fire mek it burn bredren
All weak hearts shall lick up and spit up
And all righteous shall stand
Hail, Rasta hail and wail (rastafari)
Hail Rasta don't quail (we not quail)

Let it burn, burn burn
Let it burn, burn burn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of UB40's song Blood and Fire are an ode to the Rastafarian culture and their beliefs. The song talks about a coming judgment day where weak hearts will suffer and the righteous will stand. The repeated use of the phrase "Blood and Fire" serves as a warning that the day of judgement is near, and there is no way to put out the fire of that day.

The song also gives a nod to the healing properties of marijuana, known as "the weed" among Rastafarians, and how it enriches the soul. The lines "Blessed are the fields of sensimillia that enlighten and enrich our soul" imply that the plant is a gift of nature that's supposed to be used for man's spiritual, physical, and mental well-being.

Overall, Blood and Fire is a poignant song that speaks of the struggles of life and its eventual judgement. It also highlights the Rastafarian way of life, including their beliefs on marijuana, that have become synonymous with their cultural identity.

Line by Line Meaning

Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
The intense destruction and devastation of a situation, represented by the metaphorical combination of blood and fire.

There is no more water to out the fire
The situation has become so severe that there is no longer any hope of returning to a state of calm.

Let it burn, let it burn
Accepting the chaos and allowing it to consume everything with its intensity.

Judgement has come and mercy has gone (mercy come and gone)
The reckoning has arrived, and all hope of compassion and forgiveness has vanished.

Ooh, weak hearts shall lick up and spit up (weakheart must get lick up)
Those who are not strong enough to withstand the destruction will suffer and perish in its wake.

Blood, blood, blood; blood and fire
The repeated use of this refrain emphasizes the severity and intensity of the situation.

Blessed is the weed, the healing of all nations in every corner of the earth
Marijuana, seen as a tool for healing and unity among all people, is celebrated as a blessing.

Blood and fire mek it burn bredren
The combination of intense destruction and chaos fuels the situation even further.

All weak hearts shall lick up and spit up
Those who are not strong enough will suffer and perish due to the intense destruction.

And all righteous shall stand
Only those who are truly moral and principled will endure this destruction.

Hail, Rasta hail and wail (rastafari)
Celebrating the strength and resilience of the Rastafarian community, even in the face of chaos and destruction.

Hail Rasta don't quail (we not quail)
Encouraging the Rastafarian community to remain strong and not to give up hope, despite the chaos.

Let it burn, burn burn
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the acceptance of the chaos and the inevitable destruction that comes with it.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WINSTON HOLNESS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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