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.
Matter Of Time
UB40 Lyrics
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Money mountains you climb, never hedging your bets
But your luck can run out, you'd better watch your step
Just a matter of time
Just a matter of days, till the factory's done
When they shut down the lathes 'cause the work has all gone
And nobody cares 'cause there's no-one
I know what you mean and I suppose I agree
I'm a bit pushed for time, please don't bother me
Take you guidance elsewhere, 'cause I've heard it before
In case is not very clear, I don't care anymore
Just a matter of hours until you're forgotten
Your pushing up flowers, and you're used to the rot
So that was your life, didn't manage a lot
Just a matter of hours
I know what you mean and I suppose I agree
I'm a bit pushed for time, please don't bother me
Take you guidance elsewhere, 'cause I've heard it before
In case is not very clear, I don't care anymore
I know... care anymore (repeat till end...)
The lyrics of UB40's song "Matter Of Time" convey a message about the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death. The opening lines suggest that no matter how successful or wealthy one becomes, it is just a matter of time until they face their mortality. The mention of "money mountains" and "never hedging your bets" implies that the person being addressed is focused on accumulating wealth and material possessions, but that these things will ultimately prove meaningless in the face of death. The warning to "watch your step" suggests that the subject may be taking risks that could result in their demise.
The second verse continues the theme of impermanence, this time focusing on the transient nature of employment. The lines "till the factory's done" and "when they shut down the lathes 'cause the work has all gone" suggest that the subject's job is at risk or that they have already lost it. The reference to "nobody cares 'cause there's no-one" suggests a sense of isolation and desperation. The repetition of the phrase "It's just a matter of days" emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and employment.
The chorus repeats the warning that death is imminent, using the phrase "just a matter of hours" to drive home the point. The repeated lines "I know what you mean and I suppose I agree / I'm a bit pushed for time, please don't bother me / Take your guidance elsewhere, 'cause I've heard it before / In case it's not very clear, I don't care anymore" suggest a sense of resignation and detachment from the subject, as if they have given up on trying to make sense of life and death. Overall, the lyrics of "Matter Of Time" are a powerful reminder of the transience of life and the need to appreciate every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a matter of time, till you run out of breath
Your time is limited and it won't be long until you die
Money mountains you climb, never hedging your bets
You are constantly seeking wealth without considering the risks
But your luck can run out, you'd better watch your step
Your good fortune can disappear suddenly, so be careful
Just a matter of time
The inevitable will happen, and it's only a matter of time
Just a matter of days, till the factory's done
The factory where you work will soon close, and you'll be unemployed
When they shut down the lathes 'cause the work has all gone
The machines will stop because there's no work left to do
And nobody cares 'cause there's no-one
No one will care about your situation because they're all in the same boat
It's just a matter of days
Your job loss is inevitable, and it's only a matter of days
Just a matter of hours until you're forgotten
Once you're gone, people will forget about you quickly
Your pushing up flowers, and you're used to the rot
You've been buried and decomposed, and it's natural
So that was your life, didn't manage a lot
You didn't accomplish much in your lifetime
Just a matter of hours
Your life and death is something that will happen in a short amount of time
I know what you mean and I suppose I agree
I understand what you're saying and I might agree with you
I'm a bit pushed for time, please don't bother me
I'm busy right now and don't have time for this conversation
Take you guidance elsewhere, 'cause I've heard it before
I don't need your advice because I've already heard it all before
In case is not very clear, I don't care anymore
In case you didn't understand, I don't care about this matter anymore
I know... care anymore (repeat till end...)
I understand and I no longer care about this matter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MELVILLE LEE ARCHER, DOUGLAS JAMES FALCONER, JOHN ALBERT HOWARD, ROBERT DAVID MILES, BARRY JOHN JOSEPH PALMER, MARK JEREMY SEYMOUR, JEREMY STUART SMITH, MICHAEL BERNARD WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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