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.
Madame Medusa
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comes a dreadful sight
Lady with the marble smile
Spirit of the night
See the scourge of innocence
Swinging in her hand
Hear the silent suffering
That echoes through the land
From the tombs of ignorance
Of hate and greed and lies
Through the smoke of sacrifice
Watch her figure rise
The sick the poor the old
Basking in her radiance
Men of blood and gold
In her bloody footsteps
Speculators prance
Men of dreams are praying
For that second chance
Round her vacant features
Gilded serpents dance
Her tree of evil knowledge
Sprouts a special branch
Madam Medusa
Madam Medusa
Madam Medusa
Knock her right down
And then she bounce right back
Knock her right down
And then she bounce right back
She gone off her head
We've got to shoot her dead
She gone off her head
We've got to shoot her dead
Run for your life before she eat you alive
Run for your life before she eat you alive
Move out of the way 'cause you're blocking out the day
Move out of the way 'cause you're blocking out the day
The song "Madame Medusa" by UB40 is a social commentary on the corrupting influence of power and wealth. The lyrics are metaphorical, with Madame Medusa being a symbol of greed, corruption, and evil. She is described as a lady with a marble smile, the spirit of the night, and the scourge of innocence. She represents the dark side of humanity, and the harmful impact it can have on society.
The song describes Madame Medusa's reign of terror, where she rules over the ignorant, the poor, and the old. She is a figure of worship for some, with men of blood and gold basking in her radiance. The speculators are dancing around her, while the men of dreams are praying for a second chance. Her tree of evil knowledge sprouts a special branch, which represents the corruption and greed that have seeped into every aspect of society.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Knock her right down, and then she bounce right back," which suggests that Madame Medusa is a resilient force that cannot be easily defeated. The song ends with a warning to run for your life before she eats you alive and move out of the way because she's blocking out the day. This final stanza suggests that the corrupting influence of Madame Medusa is so strong that it can consume everything in its path.
Line by Line Meaning
From the land of shadows
A dark figure emerges from a place of obscurity and mystery.
Comes a dreadful sight
This figure brings with it a sense of horror and fear.
Lady with the marble smile
The figure is a woman with an inhumanly stoic expression.
Spirit of the night
She is associated with the darkness and the supernatural.
See the scourge of innocence
She holds a whip that is used to harm and punish the innocent.
Swinging in her hand
She wields this tool with confidence and control.
Hear the silent suffering
The pain caused by her actions is hidden and unspoken.
That echoes through the land
Yet the effects can be felt across the entire region.
From the tombs of ignorance
This evil comes from a source of ignorance and lack of knowledge.
Of hate and greed and lies
It is fueled by negative emotions and deceit.
Through the smoke of sacrifice
It is also linked to rituals and practices that involve burning substances.
Watch her figure rise
She gains power and influence as she continues her actions.
The sick the poor the old
Those who are vulnerable are particularly affected.
Basking in her radiance
They are drawn in by her charisma and influence.
Men of blood and gold
But those who benefit from violence and wealth also follow her.
In her bloody footsteps
Her actions leave a trail of violence and harm.
Speculators prance
Some take advantage of her influence for their own gain.
Men of dreams are praying
Others hope that their wishes will be fulfilled by following her.
For that second chance
They seek an opportunity to improve their lives and find redemption.
Round her vacant features
Despite her power, her face remains expressionless.
Gilded serpents dance
Those who support her are like snakes, captivating but dangerous.
Her tree of evil knowledge
She is the source of a corrupted understanding of the world.
Sprouts a special branch
Her influence continues to spread and evolve.
Madam Medusa
This figure is known as Madam Medusa.
Knock her right down
A call to action to stop her.
And then she bounce right back
But she proves resilient and difficult to stop permanently.
She gone off her head
Her mind and actions have become unhinged.
We've got to shoot her dead
The only way to stop her is through violence.
Run for your life before she eat you alive
Her influence is deadly and must be avoided.
Move out of the way 'cause you're blocking out the day
Her influence casts a shadow on everything, but we must resist.
Contributed by Hannah M. 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