A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots re… Read Full Bio ↴A reggae band formed 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The music grasps from roots reggae and dub to lovers rock and pop. It is the second most commercial successful reggae band with +70 million sold albums. Many of their hits have been stylishly covers of early reggae and rocksteady hits from Jamaica. After success in UK, UB40's won USA with Labour of Love (1983), their first album of covers. UB40 was 1986 the first Western band to play behind the Iron Curtain, live in Moscow, Soviet Union. UB40 is known for hits as 'Food For Thought', (1980) 'Red Red Wine' (1983), 'Please Don't Make Me Cry' (1983), 'I Got You Babe' (1985) with frontman Ali Campbell in duet with Chrissie Hynde just like in 'Breakfast in Bed' (1988). Their most successful worldwide single release is their reggae/pop version of 'I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You' (1993).

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.

Rudie
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hold it down Rudie enough is enough
Kill it with kindness, kill it with love
No more deceiving; so throw off the gloves
Kill them with kindness kill them with love.

Fill them with feeling straight from the heart
Dealing with healing will set you apart
Respecting their meaning; releasing the dove

Will chill them with kindness, instill them with love

Don't lose it Rudie get high on the buzz
Remember how kindness, could fill you with love
The sun could be shining with blue skies above.
In love with the kindness, so kind of in love.

Believing in nothing is hard to believe
Discovering something is hard to achieve

A change must be coming the times right because
We're in need of some kindness and needing some love

Overall Meaning

UB40's song Rudie is a call for kindness and love, urging individuals to drop their weapons of anger and to meet challenges with love instead of fists. The lyrics do not shy away from the idea that life is tough, that people get hurt and grow bitter, that misery and frustration fill lives with insignificant lies. The song suggests that while it is easy for us to respond to these challenges with defensive hostility, responding with genuine kindness is a more powerful way to neutralize the hurt in ourselves and others.

The lyrics advise Rudie (a slang term for a ruffian or tough) to stop being angry and to approach situations with an open heart. The song recalls the idea that kindness is contagious and suggests that if Rudie can channel that spirit, their example will eventually spread beyond them, reaching others who would have never listened otherwise. Rudie is reminded that kindness and love have a transformative power that could even change their worldview, making them less cynical and negative over time.

In essence, the song's message is that Rudie should not give up or lose themselves because of the negativity in the world; instead, they should stand up to it with the positivity of kindness and love. It teaches that such acts have the power to heal and change the world, one person at a time. The song is a message of hope, calling all people to actions that make the world a better place.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold it down Rudie enough is enough
Stop acting out aggressively, Rudie. It's time to put an end to it.

Kill it with kindness, kill it with love
Respond to negativity with love and kindness instead of fighting back.

No more deceiving; so throw off the gloves
Stop pretending to be someone you're not and show your true self.

Kill them with kindness kill them with love.
Love is a powerful force that can conquer negativity.

Fill them with feeling straight from the heart
Communicate genuinely and authentically from your heart.

Dealing with healing will set you apart
Addressing pain and hurt can elevate you from others who avoid it.

Respecting their meaning; releasing the dove
Acknowledge others' perspectives and practice forgiveness to promote peace.

Will chill them with kindness, instill them with love
Acting with kindness can have a calming effect and inspire love in others.

Don't lose it Rudie get high on the buzz
Don't let stress get to you. Take pleasure in the good things in life.

Remember how kindness, could fill you with love
Reflect on how loving actions can bring fulfillment and happiness to your life.

The sun could be shining with blue skies above.
Take note of the beauty around you, and appreciate the small things in life.

In love with the kindness, so kind of in love.
Developing a love for kindness can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in life.

Believing in nothing is hard to believe
It's challenging to have no beliefs, values, or purpose in life.

Discovering something is hard to achieve
Finding meaning and purpose takes effort and self-reflection.

A change must be coming the times right because
The present moment is ripe for change and transformation.

We're in need of some kindness and needing some love
In times of struggle, we need more empathy, compassion, and love to bring us together.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TILMANN OTTO, ABIODUN ODUKOYA, THOMAS ADEGOKE ODUKOYA, JAMES BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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