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.
Don't Slow Down
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you must reach that horizon before the setting of the sun.
You chase the light in front of you, nightfall close behind.
If you stop to catch your breath, you know what you will find.
[Chorus]
Don't slow down don't touch the ground.
You know what you will find.
No time to stop, don't go to sleep, prepare to pay the cost.
The hours and minutes are passing by, another day is lost.
Impatience is a virtue, catch me if you can.
The seconds have been ticking by since your life began.
The opening verse of UB40's “Don't Slow Down” communicates a message of inspiration for the listener, offering encouragement to pursue their goals with urgency and diligence. The lyrics suggest that there are always new horizons to reach, and the chase is never truly over. It can also be interpreted as a metaphor for life, reminding us not to become complacent or stagnant, but instead to remain relentless in our pursuit of success and self-actualization.
The chorus of the song is a warning to not stop or slow down, as there is a lingering sense of something ominous following behind. The old grey man in tattered clothes represents the inevitability of death, a powerful reminder for the listener to continue making the most of their life and not waste time on trivial matters. The lyrics in this section seem to suggest that time is a precious and fleeting resource, and that we must be careful not to squander it on things that do not ultimately matter in the long run.
The final verse of the song reinforces the urgency and necessity of living life to the fullest, emphasizing the idea that death is always lurking just around the corner. The lyrics suggest that impatience is not necessarily a negative trait, as it can help to propel us forward toward achieving our goals. In the end, the seconds continue to tick by, reminding the listener that life is short, and we must make the most of every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
You might believe, and still you feel the chase has just begun.
Even if you think you have made progress, in reality you're just getting started and have a long way ahead of you to achieve what you desire.
That you must reach that horizon before the setting of the sun.
There is a sense of urgency to reach your goals before time runs out or before it's too late.
You chase the light in front of you, nightfall close behind.
There is always something new to pursuit, but at the same time, time is always running out and one needs to make haste to reach their goal.
If you stop to catch your breath, you know what you will find.
If you pause on your journey, it'll give the opportunity for those that are behind to catch-up or even overtake you.
Don't slow down don't touch the ground.
Don't stop, keep moving forward and remain focus on your goal(s).
You know what you will find.
If you slow down, you'll be overtaken by competition.
That old grey man in tattered clothes following behind.
This line is metaphorical and refers to age and death inevitably catching up with you - this is the old man following behind.
No time to stop, don't go to sleep, prepare to pay the cost.
Time waits for no man, so you must keep moving forward and work towards your goals, even if it comes at a cost.
The hours and minutes are passing by, another day is lost.
Time is like a currency, and every second that passes gets lost and can never be regained, so make the most of your time and don't waste your days.
Impatience is a virtue, catch me if you can.
In some scenarios, such as in the pursuit of one’s dreams and goals, being impatient or restless can push one to move forward, and achieve them quickly or with haste.
The seconds have been ticking by since your life began.
Our time is finite and we've been losing it second by second since birth. So, we must keep chasing our dreams and goals, making the most of the time we have.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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