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.
I Shot the Sheriff
UB40 Lyrics
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But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!
I Shot The Sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh.)
Yeah! All around in my home town,
They're tryin' to track me down;
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy,
But I say:
Oh, now, now. Oh!
(I Shot The Sheriff.) - the sheriff.
(But I swear it was in selfdefence.)
Oh, no! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah!
I say: I Shot The Sheriff - Oh, Lord! -
(And they say it is a capital offence.)
Yeah! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah!
Sheriff John Brown always hated me,
For what, I don't know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow -
He said kill them before they grow.
And so:
Read it in the news:
(I Shot The Sheriff.) Oh, Lord!
(But I swear it was in self-defence.)
Where was the deputy? (Oo-oo-oh)
I say: I Shot The Sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence. (Oo-oh) Yeah!
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down,
So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say:
If I am guilty I will pay.
(I Shot The Sheriff,)
But I say (But I didn't shoot no deputy),
I didn't shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh), oh no!
(I Shot The Sheriff.) I did!
But I didn't shoot no deputy. Oh! (Oo-oo-ooh)
Reflexes had got the better of me
And what is to be must be:
Every day the bucket a-go a well,
One day the bottom a-go drop out,
One day the bottom a-go drop out.
I say:
I - I - I - I Shot The Sheriff.
Lord, I didn't shot the deputy. Yeah!
I - I (shot the sheriff) -
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah! No, yeah!
The song "I Shot The Sheriff" by UB40 tells the story of a man who admits to shooting the sheriff but denies shooting the deputy. He claims he acted in self-defence and under duress, as the sheriff was trying to kill him. The lyrics convey his fear of being arrested and his desire to avoid punishment. The singer has a prior conflict with the sheriff, who hated him and opposed his planting of seeds. The song portrays a struggle between authority and individual freedom.
The song has an ambiguous message, as it can be interpreted as a story of a righteous man defending himself against an unjust system, or as a confession of a guilty person. The lyrics leave room for interpretation and invite the listener to question the motives and actions of both the singer and the authorities. The song's catchy reggae beat and chorus add to its appeal and make it a classic of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
I Shot The Sheriff
The singer admits to killing the sheriff.
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!
The singer did not kill the deputy.
I Shot The Sheriff
Repeats the admission of shooting the sheriff.
But I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh.)
Reaffirms that the artist did not kill the deputy.
All around in my home town,
People in the artist's hometown are searching for the artist.
They're tryin' to track me down;
The people are trying to capture the singer.
They say they want to bring me in guilty
The people wish to deem the singer guilty.
For the killing of a deputy,
The people accuse the artist of killing a deputy.
For the life of a deputy.
The deputy's life was taken.
But I say:
The artist will now defend themselves.
Oh, now, now. Oh!
Expresses a change in tone towards a defensive argument.
(I Shot The Sheriff.) - the sheriff.
Repeats that the artist shot the sheriff.
(But I swear it was in selfdefence.)
The singer states the shooting was done in self-defense.
Oh, no! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah!
Anxiety, uncertainty and fear are expressed.
I say: I Shot The Sheriff - Oh, Lord! -
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff and adds a plea for mercy.
(And they say it is a capital offence.)
Authorities consider the shooting a serious crime.
Yeah! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah!
A positive exclamation.
Sheriff John Brown always hated me,
The singer and the sheriff have a history of animosity.
For what, I don't know:
The singer is unsure of the sheriff's reasoning.
Every time I plant a seed,
The artist is attempting to grow something.
He said kill it before it grow -
The sheriff ordered the artist to destroy their crops.
He said kill them before they grow.
The Sheriff ordered the artist to destroy the crops before they even began to grow.
And so:
The event motivated the singer's actions.
Read it in the news:
The issue with the law enforcement authorities is now publicly known.
(I Shot The Sheriff.) Oh, Lord!
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff and adds another plea for mercy.
(But I swear it was in self-defence.)
Repeats the explanation of shooting in self-defense.
Where was the deputy? (Oo-oo-oh)
The deputy was not present during the shooting.
I say: I Shot The Sheriff,
The artist maintains that they killed the sheriff.
But I swear it was in selfdefence. (Oo-oh) Yeah!
Repeats the explanation of shooting in self-defense and adds an exclamation of affirmation.
Freedom came my way one day
The singer is free.
And I started out of town, yeah!
The singer is leaving the town behind.
All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
The artist encounters the sheriff.
Aiming to shoot me down,
The sheriff attempts to harm the artist.
So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say:
The artist killed the sheriff in self-defense with multiple gunshots.
If I am guilty I will pay.
The singer is prepared to face the consequences if deemed guilty.
(I Shot The Sheriff,)
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff.
But I say (But I didn't shoot no deputy),
Reaffirms that the singer did not kill the deputy.
I didn't shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh), oh no!
Repeats that the singer did not kill the deputy.
(I Shot The Sheriff.) I did!
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff.
But I didn't shoot no deputy. Oh! (Oo-oo-ooh)
Reaffirms that the artist did not kill the deputy.
Reflexes had got the better of me
The artist acted instinctively without much thought.
And what is to be must be:
The singer accepts the outcome of their actions.
Every day the bucket a-go a well,
An expression conveying regular and repetitive activity.
One day the bottom a-go drop out,
The artist uses a metaphor for unexpected change.
One day the bottom a-go drop out.
Repeats the use of the metaphor for unexpected change.
I say:
The artist expresses their thoughts on the outcome.
I - I - I - I Shot The Sheriff.
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff.
Lord, I didn't shot the deputy. Yeah!
Repeats that the artist did not kill the deputy.
I - I (shot the sheriff) -
Repeats the admission of killing the sheriff.
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah! No, yeah!
Reaffirms that the singer did not kill the deputy.
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Keira T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NIc Fewer
They have just finished singing this here in Waterford, Ireland at our Day Tripper Festival just across the road from my house!