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.
Freestyler
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because we wicked and wild it
Because we know how fe run it
And we just can't done it
And you know say we like it
And we have to excite it
If you come a dance
I say you might get frightin'
And you say we love it
There is very few things I coulda really put above it
I love the booming of the base in a the speaker boxes
The treble in the tweeters it just
A tear off me hat see
I said you just can't trap it
I said you just can't unwrap it
Say you justs can't take it
Say you know you have to find it
Deep down in a your soul I say you have to feel it
Little after that you a go want to reveal it
Coz music is a thing I say you
Know you have to share it
If me couldn't do that
Me just couldn't bear it
'cause the love for the music on me
Sleeve me have fe wear it
Deep down in a me heart I said you
Just couldn't tear it
Me no like them journalist man
Dem come from different land
Say we is a white reggae band
Open your eyes no man you must
Be blind no man
You gwan like your cool man
Your heart must be black no man
Full of bad intention
We is dub organizer
A little oder and wiser
We no like wife beater spreading
Love would be sweeter
Out of many nations yes we are one
Just like the motto if you is Jamiacon
Deep in a the night the musics calling
Deep in a we hearts you know we're
falling in love
It's like a religious calling
Calling calling you better send out
A warning
Calling calling you better send out
A warning
The song Freestyler by UB40 is an ode to the power of music and its ability to bring people together. The first two lines of the song, "Say we a just freestyle it/Because we wicked and wild it" encapsulate the carefree attitude that the band has towards making music. They are not constrained by rules or expectations and create music that is raw and untamed. The line "If you come a dance/I say you might get frightin'" suggests that their music might be intimidating to some, but to the band, it is a natural expression of who they are.
The second verse is a call to action for the listener to embrace the power of music. The lines "Coz music is a thing I say you/Know you have to share it/If me couldn't do that/Me just couldn't bear it" suggest that music is meant to be shared and that it is a critical part of the human experience. The final verse of the song challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that exist around white reggae bands. The line "We is dub organizer/A little oder and wiser" suggests that they are proud of their Jamaican roots, and they are not afraid to challenge those who would question their legitimacy.
Overall, Freestyler is a celebration of the power of music and a call to action for the listener to embrace it fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Say we a just freestyle it
We are improvising and going with the flow
Because we wicked and wild it
We are wild and enjoying ourselves
Because we know how fe run it
We know how to handle the music
And we just can't done it
We can't stop the music
And you know say we like it
We love the music
And we have to excite it
We have to bring the energy up
If you come a dance
If you come to dance
I say you might get frightin'
You might get scared
Because you know say we live it
We live and breathe the music
And you say we love it
And you know we love it
There is very few things I coulda really put above it
There are very few things that are better than the music
I love the booming of the base in a the speaker boxes
I love the sound of the bass coming through the artists
The treble in the tweeters it just
The high sound coming from the tweeters is amazing
A tear off me hat see
I'm so excited, I could tear off my hat
I said you just can't trap it
You can't contain the music
I said you just can't unwrap it
You can't fully understand the music
Say you justs can't take it
You can't handle the music
Say you know you have to find it
You have to seek out the music
Deep down in a your soul I say you have to feel it
You have to feel the music in your soul
Little after that you a go want to reveal it
After feeling it, you will want to share it with others
Coz music is a thing I say you
Music is something that
Know you have to share it
You have to share
If me couldn't do that
If I couldn't share it
Me just couldn't bear it
I would be unable to handle it
'cause the love for the music on me
Because my love for the music
Sleeve me have fe wear it
Is something I wear on my sleeve
Deep down in a me heart I said you
Deep down in my heart
Just couldn't tear it
I cannot part with it
Me no like them journalist man
I don't like those journalists
Dem come from different land
They come from different countries
Say we is a white reggae band
They claim we are a white reggae band
Open your eyes no man you must
You need to open your eyes
Be blind no man
To not see what's apparent
You gwan like your cool man
You act like you're cool
Your heart must be black no man
You must have a dark heart
Full of bad intention
Full of ill intent
We is dub organizer
We organize dub music
A little oder and wiser
A bit more experienced and wise
We no like wife beater spreading
We don't like men who beat their wives spreading
Love would be sweeter
Love would be better
Out of many nations yes we are one
Though we are from many nations, we are one
Just like the motto if you is Jamiacon
Like the Jamaican motto
Deep in a the night the musics calling
Late at night, the music beckons
Deep in a we hearts you know we're
In our hearts, we know we are
Falling in love
Falling in love with the music
It's like a religious calling
It's like being called by religion
Calling calling you better send out
The calling is getting stronger, you should warn others
A warning
To be cautious
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON, MICHAEL VIRTUE, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, EARL FALCONER, ROBIN CAMPBELL, JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
simowalooca
I prefer the live version on their 2003 DVD (shot in Holland)
Julian Trejos
@simowalooca I am completely agree with you!! This version lacks strength.
Rhyal Stanley
I liked ahoy live in Holland version better