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.

Drop On By
UB40 Lyrics

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Drop on by when the sun goes down
We can talk or just hang around
Shoot the breeze, tell me what you found
On your search for some common ground

Think of me when the moon is high
Counting stars in the clear night sky
Think of me when the moon is blue

Sitting here just thinking of you

I've been here and I've been there
It's the same most everywhere
We're all trying to get away
Live to fight another day

In my dreams I will follow you
Any place that you want me to
Tomorrow waits on the other side
Patiently for the sun to rise
Don't go now can't you stay a while
Light my night with your loving smile
Once you were gone but now your home
I couldn't bear being all alone

I've been here and I've been there
It's the same most everywhere

I've been here and I've been there
It's the same most everywhere

We're all trying to get away
Live to fight another day [2x]

Overall Meaning

UB40's song "Drop On By" speaks to the desire for human connection and companionship, regardless of the circumstances. The lyrics suggest a hope for a deeper relationship than a casual encounter, with the repeated invitations to "drop on by" and the expression of missing the person when they're gone. The lyrics also acknowledge the universality of the human experience, with the statement that "we're all trying to get away" and the suggestion that the singer has traveled and found similarity in different places.

The opening stanza establishes an invitation to spend time together, framed by the setting of the sun. The lines suggest a desire for conversation and the exploration of shared experiences. The second stanza speaks to a longing for the person when they're not present, indicated by the poetic idea of thinking of them when the moon is high or blue. The following stanza hints at the singer's own travels and the expression of similarity everywhere, building empathy and understanding.

The fourth stanza reveals a more vulnerable side of the singer, with the confession of dreams to follow the person anywhere. This is followed by a meditation on the fleeting nature of time, with the suggestion that tomorrow will come, regardless of the current moment. The final stanza is the most direct expression of the singer's desire for connection, with the request to not leave and the admission of loneliness when the person is gone.

In all, "Drop On By" is a hopeful, romantic song about the desire for companionship and understanding, even in the face of the challenges of everyday life.

Line by Line Meaning

Drop on by when the sun goes down
Come visit me when the sun sets

We can talk or just hang around
We can have a conversation or just spend time together

Shoot the breeze, tell me what you found
Let's chat and share our latest discoveries

On your search for some common ground
As we try to find things we have in common

Think of me when the moon is high
Remember me when the moon is up and bright

Counting stars in the clear night sky
Gazing at the stars in the sky

Think of me when the moon is blue
Recall me when the moon looks blue

Sitting here just thinking of you
In this place, I'm reminiscing about you

I've been here and I've been there
I've traveled to different places

It's the same most everywhere
Everywhere looks familiar to me

We're all trying to get away
Everyone is striving to escape something

Live to fight another day
We survive to face another day

In my dreams I will follow you
I'll pursue you in my sleeping moments

Any place that you want me to
I'll come to you anywhere you desire

Tomorrow waits on the other side
The future is lurking around the corner

Patiently for the sun to rise
Ready for the morning to start

Don't go now can't you stay a while
Please don't leave, stay a bit longer

Light my night with your loving smile
Illuminate my life with your affectionate grin

Once you were gone but now you're home
You were away, but now you're back

I couldn't bear being all alone
I couldn't handle being solely by myself

We're all trying to get away
Everybody is attempting to escape something

Live to fight another day
We survive to confront another day

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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