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.
Midnight Rider
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To keep from hiding
And I'm bound to keep on riding
And I got one more silver dollar
But I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing
And the road those are forever
And I got one more silver dollar
But I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I've gone fast but going to carry
Some old bed I'll soon be sharing
And I got one more silver dollar
But I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I ain't gonna let'em catch
The midnight rider
The lyrics to UB40's song, Midnight Rider, tell the story of a man on the run, always hiding and always moving. This is suggested in the first stanza where the singer sings, "Well, I've got to run, to keep from hiding". The lyrics also describe the man as having only one more silver dollar and not owning the clothes he's wearing, a clear indication that he's a transient. The singer is determined not to be caught and won't allow his pursuers to get the best of him. This is emphasized in the chorus where he repeats his determination not to be caught "I ain't gonna let'em catch the midnight rider". The final stanza ends with the singer suggesting that he may end up sleeping on an old bed soon but he will not stop moving.
The lyrics overall suggest a sense of urgency and desperation. The singer is running away from something and is determined not to be caught. It's not clear what he's running from, but the fact that he has only one more silver dollar, doesn't own the clothes he's wearing, and suggests that he may soon be sleeping on an old bed indicates that he's destitute and most likely running from something dangerous. The overall message of the song seems to be about defiance in the face of adversity and the strength of the human spirit in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've got to run
I need to move quickly to avoid being caught
To keep from hiding
I need to keep moving so they can't find me
And I'm bound to keep on riding
I am compelled to continue moving on
And I got one more silver dollar
I have one more form of currency to sustain me on my journey
But I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I refuse to be captured
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I will not be caught
The midnight rider
That is my alias, and I won't let them apprehend me
And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing
I do not possess the garments on my person
And the road those are forever
Traveling is a part of my life now and will continue indefinitely
And I've gone fast but going to carry
I've already moved quickly, but I must continue onward
Some old bed I'll soon be sharing
I will have to settle for a humble abode
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I am determined to evade capture
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I will not be apprehended
The midnight rider
I will retain my identity as the elusive rider
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I am resolved to not be caught
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I refuse to be apprehended
The midnight rider
That is who I am, and I will not allow them to catch me
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I am determined to remain at large
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I will not be apprehended
The midnight rider
My identity as the midnight rider is something I will not relinquish
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
I refuse to be caught
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I am determined to evade apprehension
The midnight rider
My persona as the midnight rider is sacrosanct
And I ain't gonna let'em catch me no
My determination to remain elusive will not falter
I ain't gonna let'em catch
I will not let them take me
The midnight rider
I am the midnight rider and I will not allow them to catch me
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
UB40
Official UB40 Midnight Rider Music Video. Behind The Scenes
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Please visit us: https://www.facebook.com/ub40official
http://www.ub40.co.uk
Checkout all the amazing UB40 reviews from 2014 - 2015
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUB40News
See what people are saying about UB40:
http://m.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/…/story-2647911…/story.html
http://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/review-ub40-in-cambridge/
http://www.qromag.com/reviews/concert_reviews/ub40/
http://vulturehound.co.uk/2014/04/ub40-live-review/
http://www.reggaeville.com/nc/artist-details/artist/ub40/news/ub40-go-on-the-road-again-dublin-ireland-3282014/ac/news/update/1.html
http://gigglepics.co.uk/ub40-at-the-leas-cliff-hall-review/
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Review-UB40-Rock-City/story-20918405-detail/story.html
http://louderthanwar.com/ub40-leeds-live-and-picture-review/
Gavin's Adventures & Interests.
Every time i watch this music video it always makes me emotional.
UB40 truly are a fantastic reggae band.
One of the best bands in the world in my honest opinion.
UB40
How lovely. Thank you
Your Man In London Collecting
This is just such a great remake of the original. Should easely be a Top 10 in the old days. Probably top 5. Respect 🤗
UB40
Official UB40 Midnight Rider Music Video. Behind The Scenes
Come And Join Us, Over 1.1 Million Facebook Fans, Endless Great Live Reviews.
Please visit us: https://www.facebook.com/ub40official
http://www.ub40.co.uk
Checkout all the amazing UB40 reviews from 2014 - 2015
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUB40News
See what people are saying about UB40:
http://m.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/…/story-2647911…/story.html
http://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/review-ub40-in-cambridge/
http://www.qromag.com/reviews/concert_reviews/ub40/
http://vulturehound.co.uk/2014/04/ub40-live-review/
http://www.reggaeville.com/nc/artist-details/artist/ub40/news/ub40-go-on-the-road-again-dublin-ireland-3282014/ac/news/update/1.html
http://gigglepics.co.uk/ub40-at-the-leas-cliff-hall-review/
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Review-UB40-Rock-City/story-20918405-detail/story.html
http://louderthanwar.com/ub40-leeds-live-and-picture-review/
ShiningLight Star
Love this!x
RIP beautiful Brian. Still present. Love you! 💓🇬🇧💕😭🎵🎶🙏❤👏
Tom Wallace
Fantastic.The newspaper/website reviews have been unanimous in their praise and rightly so,Great band,great music,great people,
Kerry Golds
Great music as usual - brilliant band
Paul Hickey
Probably the best gig I've every been to. The new album "Getting Over The Storm" went down just as well as the old stuff, an amazing concert with more than 10,000 people. Might even take a bit of credit for some of the footage😎.
What a great video and insight in to the preparations for such an event!!
Hawkeye
best gig i ever saw was when ub40 was ub40, feels like a tribute band these days
rafa Moreira
Melhor banda de reggae,na minha opinião 🎼🎼💪