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.
Now and Then
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must admit I wonder if I had the chance
To vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
How perfect every single day would be
To never wait in driving rain
For the bus that never came
Not to be the one to blame
Now and then
I contemplate a different way around this day
With nothing more than simple words, so I can say
I'm quite content and happy being me
Walking tall with peace of mind
To leave no childhood dreams behind
Arriving home to always find
Things just as I know they ought to be
Now and then
I must admit I wonder if I had the chance
To vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
How perfect every single day would be
To never wait in driving rain
For the bus that never came
Not to be the one to blame
For anybody else's misery
Now and then
I wake up, when it hits me like a ton of bricks
I realize it's me who has to take the licks
No angels up there looking after me
No rainbow with a pot of gold
No cloak to shield me from the cold
No pill to stop me growing old
Dreams fading into stark reality
The lyrics of "Now and Then" by UB40 describe a utopian existence, where the singer imagines himself as a superhero able to vanquish foes with just a glance. He thinks about how perfect every single day would be if he never had to wait for the bus in the driving rain or be blamed for anyone else's misery, and how he could arrive home to find everything just as he knows it ought to be. However, the singer realizes that this is just a fantasy that will never come true. He wakes up to the harsh reality that he has to take the licks and become responsible for his own life. He understands that there is no pot of gold, no angels, no cloak to shield him from the cold, and no pill to stop him from growing old. Dreams are fading into stark reality, and he needs to accept it.
The song is about recognizing the difference between fantasy and reality and learning to accept the challenges that come with it. It's a poignant reminder that real life is not always perfect, but accepting the imperfections and finding contentment in them is what makes life worth living. The lyrics are relatable and thought-provoking, making the song a beautiful piece of art.
Line by Line Meaning
Now and then
Occasionally I think
I must admit I wonder if I had the chance
Sometimes I ponder if I had the opportunity
To vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
To defeat enemies with a simple look
How perfect every single day would be
Every day would be flawless
To never wait in driving rain
To never wait in a heavy downpour
For the bus that never came
For the bus that did not arrive
Not to be the one to blame
To not hold responsibility for others' misfortune
For anybody else's misery
For anybody else's unhappiness
Now and then
Occasionally I think
I contemplate a different way around this day
I consider a different approach to this day
With nothing more than simple words, so I can say
With only basic language, I can express
I'm quite content and happy being me
I am satisfied and joyful being myself
Walking tall with peace of mind
Confident and calm while walking
To leave no childhood dreams behind
To not abandon any dreams from childhood
Arriving home to always find
Returning home to always discover
Things just as I know they ought to be
Things exactly as they should be
Now and then
Occasionally I think
I must admit I wonder if I had the chance
Sometimes I ponder if I had the opportunity
To vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
To defeat enemies with a simple look
How perfect every single day would be
Every day would be flawless
To never wait in driving rain
To never wait in a heavy downpour
For the bus that never came
For the bus that did not arrive
Not to be the one to blame
To not hold responsibility for others' misfortune
For anybody else's misery
For anybody else's unhappiness
Now and then
Occasionally I think
I wake up, when it hits me like a ton of bricks
I wake up suddenly and suddenly realize
I realize it's me who has to take the licks
I realize it is my responsibility to take the negative consequences
No angels up there looking after me
No divine beings watching over me
No rainbow with a pot of gold
No magical arch with riches
No cloak to shield me from the cold
No garment to protect me from the chill
No pill to stop me growing old
No medication to halt aging
Dreams fading into stark reality
Ideals becoming harsh real-life circumstances
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NORMAN NEWELL, RIZ ORTOLANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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