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.

Everything Is Better Now
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everything is better now
Better than is was before
Sunshine on a golden bough
Darkness locked behind closed door
Now I found a better place
Somewhere I can lay my head
Clean fresh air and open space
Safe upon my feather bed

I've been a mistake maker
For all of my days
And a law breaker
But crime never pays
An overtaker
On lifes highways
A serial faker
Making getaways

I've been a mover and a groover
In the halls of power
A real bad loser
In my darkest hour
A high seas cruiser
Searching tropical flowers
A pick and chooser
In an ivory tower

Now I'm a man of peace
With a hungry soul
For I found release
In a lost loophole
I'm the masterpiece
Who just scored the goal

Let the love increase
Now I'm in control

Overall Meaning

The song Everything Is Better Now by UB40 expresses the journey of a person who has faced a number of challenges and has made a lot of mistakes in their past, but has now found solace in a better place where they can feel safe and secure. The lyrics suggest that the person now sees things in a more positive light and feels that they have turned a corner, with a newfound sense of control and tranquility. They have reached a point in their life where they are at peace with themselves.

The first verse of the song talks about how everything is better now compared to what it was before. The reference to the "sunshine on a golden bough" highlights the idea of a brighter and more hopeful future. The second verse then goes on to describe how the singer previously lived a life of crime and lawlessness, but has now found a new way of living where he can be at peace with himself. The final verse talks of the singer's current state, where he has found inner peace and control over his life.

Overall, Everything Is Better Now is a song that is in essence an ode to hope and second chances. It tells the story of someone who has had a difficult past but has found a way to overcome their troubles and move forward with hope and positivity.

Line by Line Meaning

Everything is better now
Life has truly become better than it ever was in the past.

Better than is was before
Things have improved significantly from what they used to be.

Sunshine on a golden bough
A positive aura has finally entered the picture after an extended period of gloominess.

Darkness locked behind closed door
Negative experiences and feelings have been contained, not to bother again.

Now I found a better place
A great spot to rest one's head and soul has been discovered.

Somewhere I can lay my head
A sanctuary has been found - a place of rest and solace.

Clean fresh air and open space
A place of cleanliness and freedom with lots of fresh air is now enjoyed.

Safe upon my feather bed
A place of security and comfort to rest heads and ease onto.

I've been a mistake maker
The artist admits that they have made many blunders in the past.

For all of my days
All the way from the start, up to this point in life, it has been an issue.

And a law breaker
In the past, the singer has broken regulations and rules.

But crime never pays
The artist has learned from their experienced that breaking the law is never worth it.

An overtaker
The singer has achieved victory over other competing forces on life's journey.

On lifes highways
This has all occured during one's worldly experiences.

A serial faker
The singer used to pretend to be someone they were not on a consistent basis.

Making getaways
They also used to frequently escape situations without fully resolving them.

I've been a mover and a groover
The artist has had some significant impact and influence within the corridors of power.

In the halls of power
The influence was most strongly felt within the government and other important institutions.

A real bad loser
The singer was overwhelmed with disappointment and sorrow during tough times.

In my darkest hour
During their most difficult moments of their life.

A high seas cruiser
The artist used to wander the waters in search of adventure, and sometimes profit.

Searching tropical flowers
They would seek out wealth or beauty, often in far-off lands.

A pick and chooser
They used to readily engage in various scenarios that piqued their interest.

In an ivory tower
The artist, at one time, lived a much more luxurious existence than their current lifestyle.

Now I'm a man of peace
As of today, the singer has genuinely found inner calm and tranquility.

With a hungry soul
Although their soul was hungry in the past, they are now sated and full.

For I found release
They found a new lease on life which helped to alleviate their anxieties.

In a lost loophole
The artist found an unlikely solution to what seemed to be an insurmountable problem.

I'm the masterpiece
The individual now views themselves as a work of art after all that they have overcome.

Who just scored the goal
They feel as though they have hit a major point of personal success or achievement.

Let the love increase
The singer urges themselves and others to feel love and empathy more often.

Now I'm in control
They now have control over their own life, allowing for positive changes to occur.

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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