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.
He'll Have To Go
UB40 Lyrics
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Let′s pretend that we're together all alone
I′ll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you
He'll have to go you can tell your friend there with you,
He'll have to go
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Should I hang up or will you tell him, he′ll have to go?
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you′re with another man
Do you want me? Answer yes or no
Darling, I will understand
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Let's pretend that we′re together all alone
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low
And you can tell your friend there with you
He′ll have to go
The lyrics to UB40's song "He'll Have To Go" tell the story of a man on the phone with a woman he loves, who is currently with another man. He asks her to come closer to the phone, so they can talk as if they're alone together. He wants her to tell the man she's with that he'll have to go, so that they can be together. He asks her to whisper whether she loves him truly or not, and wonders if she is being held the way he holds her. He acknowledges that love can be blind, but he needs to know where he stands. He gives her the ultimatum of telling the other man to leave, or he will have to hang up.
The lyrics express the classic theme of a love triangle, with the singer fighting for the heart of the woman he loves. He attempts to convince her with sweet and romantic gestures, such as pretending that they are alone and asking her to whisper sweet nothings to him. He also shows his commitment by saying that he will understand if she cannot answer him truthfully, but that if she wants to be with him, the other man must go.
Overall, the lyrics to "He'll Have To Go" are a poignant expression of the struggle for true love, and the lengths that one will go to in order to have it. The song captures the pain and yearning of lost love, and the hopelessness that comes with not knowing whether the love you seek will ever come true.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone
Move the phone closer to your lips so I can hear you more clearly
Let's pretend that we're together all alone
Imagine that we're alone, even though we're on the phone
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low
I'll ask the person playing music to turn it down so we can hear each other better
And you can tell your friend there with you, He'll have to go
Tell the person with you that they have to leave because I want to talk to you alone
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true
Speak softly and tell me if your love for me is genuine
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Is the person you're with now holding you the same way that I do?
Though love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know
Although love can be uncertain, you need to decide and tell me what you want
Should I hang up or will you tell him, he'll have to go?
Should I end this call or will you ask the person you're with to leave?
You can't say the words I want to hear, While you're with another man
You can't say the things I want to hear when you're with someone else
Do you want me? Answer yes or no
Tell me if you want to be with me or not
Darling, I will understand
I will be supportive and understanding of your decision
Writer(s): Joe Allison, Audrey Allison
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul M
on reckless
Does anyone know who the singer on the mic is with the hat? Also the two that come in with Bam? Thanks
Ian Fulton
on My Way of Thinking
Best band in the stratosphere
Rosie Contreras
on Red Red Wine
Awesome song