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.

Everytime
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In a little while Verse One
I'll be on my way
Got no words to express
What I need to say

[Chorus]
Everytime I think about the first time Chorus
We said hello

You know when you know
You never let go

It's just not my style Verse Two
Something I can't do
After all this time
I'm scared of losing you

[Chorus]

Is there anything Verse Three
You could let me know
Surely you could find me
A reason not to go

[Chorus]

After everything Verse Four
We've been going through
I'm so up and down
So dizzy and blue

[Chorus]

Let me one more time Verse Five
Look into your eyes
I remember when
There were no goodbyes

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In "Everytime," UB40 expresses the fear of losing someone they deeply care for. The song is about a desperate attempt to hold on to a relationship that means everything to them, even if it means going against their own usual behavior. They acknowledge that there are no words to express the weight of their emotions and how much they need to hold on to this love. Even though it's not their style to beg or plead, such is the depth of their love that they would do anything to keep the person they love. They pine over the first meeting and the realization that they never want to let go of that person. The lyrics highlight their deep sense of insecurity, their confusion, and their inability to comprehend the reason behind their partner's silence or their own emotional turmoil.

The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that once you find love, you never let go. Every time they think of the first moment they met, they remember how that person made them feel, and they refuse to let go of that feeling, even if it means going against their best judgments. Love has a way of holding onto us, even when we don't want it to, and these lyrics speak to that experience.

Line by Line Meaning

In a little while I'll be on my way Got no words to express What I need to say
Soon, I'll be leaving, but I don't know how to articulate what I'm feeling.

Everytime I think about the first time We said hello You know when you know You never let go
Reminiscing about the moment we met, I know that true connections are never lost.

It's just not my style Something I can't do After all this time I'm scared of losing you
It's not typical for me to express my emotions, but I'm afraid of losing you after everything we've been through.

Is there anything You could let me know Surely you could find me A reason not to go
Please tell me if there's anything that could convince me to stay, because I don't want to leave without a reason.

After everything We've been going through I'm so up and down So dizzy and blue
Our relationship has been a rollercoaster ride, leaving me feeling both excited and defeated.

Let me one more time Look into your eyes I remember when There were no goodbyes
Before I go, let me look into your eyes one last time, remembering the beginning when there was no thought of parting ways.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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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