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.
Little by Little
UB40 Lyrics
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The ostrich hides his head.
Soon the red blood will be boiling.
And blue blood will be dead.
While we say.
[Chorus]
Little by little by little,
Rich man's mountain comes crumbling down
Poor boy sleeps on straw,
The rich boy sleeps in bed.
That fat boy fills his belly,
My poor boys's a dead,
While we say.
[Chorus]
Little by little by little,
And stone by stone.
Rich man's mountain comes crumbling down.
The rich man drives his car past,
The poor man on bare feet.
That rich man do get what he wants
The poor must know defeat,
While we say.
[Chorus]
Little by little by little,
And stone by stone.
Rich man's mountain comes crumbling down.
The lyrics of UB40’s song ‘Little by Little’ are a commentary on the inequality and social injustice present in society. The opening lines speak of “poor man’s anger rising,” indicating the frustration and anger felt by those who have been oppressed for a long time. The lyric continues, “The ostrich hides his head,” referring to those in power turning a blind eye to the problems faced by the less fortunate. The next line, “Soon the red blood will be boiling, and blue blood will be dead,” suggests that the anger and frustration of the poor will eventually reach a breaking point and the ruling class will face the consequences of their inaction.
The chorus of the song states, “Little by little by little, and stone by stone. Rich man’s mountain comes crumbling down.” This phrase implies a revolution, where the poor will gradually take power and dismantle the structures that keep them oppressed. The next verse highlights the differences in living conditions between the rich and poor, with the poor boy sleeping on straw while the rich boy sleeps in bed and eats to his heart’s content. The final verse speaks of the rich man driving past the economically disadvantaged on bare feet, with the poor unable to demand a fair share of the wealth that they have helped to create.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor man's anger rising.
The poor man is getting angrier due to the injustices he faces.
The ostrich hides his head.
People are trying to ignore or deny the problem that exists.
Soon the red blood will be boiling.
The poor man will soon reach a boiling point and take action against the injustice.
And blue blood will be dead.
The rich people who have caused this problem will suffer the consequences.
While we say.
While we sit idly and do nothing to help.
Little by little by little,
Change will happen gradually and over time.
And stone by stone.
Each small action or effort will slowly build up to create a bigger impact.
Rich man's mountain comes crumbling down.
Eventually, the oppressive power of the rich will fall apart.
Poor boy sleeps on straw,
The poor are forced to live in terrible conditions.
The rich boy sleeps in bed.
The rich are privileged and can afford to live comfortably.
That fat boy fills his belly,
The rich have an abundance of resources and take more than they need.
My poor boys's a dead,
The poor suffer and may even die due to the oppressive system.
The rich man drives his car past,
The rich don't have to face the problems that the poor face.
The poor man on bare feet.
The poor have to walk everywhere and cannot afford transportation.
That rich man do get what he wants
The rich are able to maintain their power and privilege.
The poor must know defeat,
The poor are often oppressed and struggle to rise above their conditions.
Lyrics © MIMIL LTD, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JAMES BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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