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.
Hurry Come Up
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, you, hurry come up
See how fast you come down
You run up your mouth
You run out of luck
You're running out of town
Hurry come up now you're all alone
You lost your way across the land
Foundations crumble built on shifting sand
[Chorus]
Hurry come up in the blink of an eye
You crowned yourself king of the castle high
You'll never get to heaven if you tell a lie
There's a hole in your bucket and your well's run dry
[Chorus]
Hurry come up we've got nothing to say
We sit back and watch you give yourself away
Where's all the power now they've pulled the plug
You're up to your neck in the hole you dug
[Chorus]
Hurry come up your edges are rough
We need a little love ain't life tough enough
There's no coming back your ticket's one way
Your journey don't start till judgment day
[Chorus]
Hurry come up just a fast as you can
Time's running out for your master plan
Cards on the table enough is enough
They hold the aces now they call your bluff
[Chorus]
Hurry come up when you turn off the light
How do you sleep in your bed at night
It's all a bad dream but no-one can hear
You only have yourself to fear
[Chorus]
UB40's song Hurry Come Up, released in 1993, speaks about the human tendency to be boastful and egoistic, leading to their downfall. The song is a warning to those who flaunt their power and success, constantly bragging and belittling others, only to realize that their actions have consequences. The chorus that goes, "Hey, you, hurry come up, see how fast you come down" emphasizes the fleeting nature of power and the inevitability of downfall.
The song depicts the struggle of a person who finds himself alone, having lost his way despite being overconfident. He builds his foundation on shifting sand, which eventually crumbles, leaving him with nothing. The verses, "You lost your way across the land, foundations crumble built on shifting sand" emphasize that people crave power, but it can be disingenuous.
The lyrics urge people to be humble and acknowledge that they are not invincible. The song's title, Hurry Come Up, is ironic and serves as a warning to those who are on a path of narcissism and self-destruction. The song urges people to be honest and authentic and warns them not to lie because their well will eventually run dry.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, you, hurry come up
Come up quickly, we're waiting for you.
See how fast you come down
You'll fall down just as quickly.
You run up your mouth
You talk a lot.
You run out of luck
Your luck will eventually run out.
You're running out of town
You're no longer welcome here.
Hurry come up now you're all alone
You're alone and in a hurry to fix your mistakes.
You had to kick dirt on your stepping stone
You mistreated the people who helped you get ahead.
You lost your way across the land
You've lost your direction and are lost.
Foundations crumble built on shifting sand
You built your life on unstable foundations, and they're now crumbling.
Hurry come up in the blink of an eye
Come up quickly, time is running out.
You crowned yourself king of the castle high
You think you're in charge, but you're not.
You'll never get to heaven if you tell a lie
You won't be rewarded for dishonesty.
There's a hole in your bucket and your well's run dry
You're running out of resources and can't sustain yourself.
Hurry come up we've got nothing to say
We're done listening to you.
We sit back and watch you give yourself away
We're watching you self-destruct, and it's not our problem.
Where's all the power now they've pulled the plug
You're powerless now that others have taken control.
You're up to your neck in the hole you dug
You're in a situation of your own making and can't get out.
Hurry come up your edges are rough
You need to be nicer to others.
We need a little love ain't life tough enough
We all need more love in our difficult lives.
There's no coming back your ticket's one way
You can't undo what you've done, and there's no turning back.
Your journey don't start till judgment day
Your fate will be decided in the afterlife.
Hurry come up just a fast as you can
You need to fix your mistakes quickly.
Time's running out for your master plan
Your plan is failing, and you're running out of time.
Cards on the table enough is enough
It's time to stop the games and be honest.
They hold the aces now they call your bluff
Others have a stronger hand, and you've been caught lying.
Hurry come up when you turn off the light
You're alone with your thoughts, and they're haunting you.
How do you sleep in your bed at night
Your conscience should be keeping you awake.
It's all a bad dream but no-one can hear
You're suffering, but no one is listening.
You only have yourself to fear
You're the cause of all your problems.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BROWN, CAMPBELL, FALCONER, HASSAN, TRAVERS, VI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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