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.
Seasons
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems like loving you is a crime.
I remember those days
Oh, so long ago
Like the first time I took you
To a picture show
Or the first time I kissed you
I put my hand on my heart
I thought I'd die
Like the seasons
Yes, you were for me
It was plain to see
I knew in my heart
You were the one for me
Though people used to try
To get us down
As time goes on
We're still around
Like the seasons
We had our share
Of ups and downs
We had our share
Of nights on the town
The days were short
But the nights were long
My love for you
It grew so strong
Like the seasons
But as we grew old
Your love turned cold
Gone are the days
Of glitter and gold
I work so hard
To keep you mine
Now all I have is
Nothing but time
Like the seasons you change your mind
It seems like loving you is a crime.
The song "Seasons" by UB40 is a love song that explores the ups and downs of a relationship over time. The lyrics suggest that the person being addressed in the song changes their mind often, making it seem like being in love with them is a crime. The first verse reminisces about the early days of the relationship when things were new and exciting. The second verse acknowledges that the relationship had its share of highs and lows, but the love between two people was strong enough to endure through the years. The final verse suggests that time has passed, and the love that once seemed bright and shiny has turned cold and empty. The singer is trying to hold onto the love that once was while grappling with the realization that things have changed.
The song's lyrics seem to suggest that love is like the changing of the seasons; sometimes it's beautiful and perfect, and at other times it's harsh and unpredictable. The message behind the song is that relationships go through changes and periods of growth and decline, but true love withstands the test of time. The lyrics are relatable as they touch on universal themes like love, loss, and the passage of time. The use of seasonal imagery adds poetic depth to the song, creating a vivid picture of the changing landscape of a relationship's trajectory.
Overall, "Seasons" is a poignant and relatable song about the complexities of love and the challenges of holding onto something that was once meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the seasons you change your mind
You frequently alter your opinions or feelings, just like how seasons change over time.
It seems like loving you is a crime.
Loving you appears to be an offense or sin.
I remember those days
I recollect those times in the past.
Oh, so long ago
It happened many years back.
Like the first time I took you
Just as I took you out for the first time,
To a picture show
I took you to watch a movie.
Or the first time I kissed you
Or when I kissed you for the first time,
Beneath the moonlit sky
Under the sky that was illuminated by moonlight,
I put my hand on my heart
I placed my palm on my chest, indicating my love.
I thought I'd die
I felt like I would expire.
Yes, you were for me
Without any doubt, you were mine.
It was plain to see
It was evident to everyone.
I knew in my heart
In my heart, I was sure,
You were the one for me
That you were the right person for me.
Though people used to try
Even though others tried,
To get us down
To discourage us,
As time goes on
As the days and years pass,
We're still around
We're still here, despite everything.
We had our share
We had our fair portion,
Of ups and downs
Of good and bad times.
We had our share
We had our fair portion,
Of nights on the town
Of spending nights out in the city
The days were short
The daylight hours were brief,
But the nights were long
But the nighttime lasted much longer.
My love for you
My affection for you
It grew so strong
It intensified significantly.
But as we grew old
But as we caught up with age,
Your love turned cold
Your affection for me dwindled.
Gone are the days
The times of yesterday are gone,
Of glitter and gold
The time when everything appeared shiny and expensive.
I work so hard
I put in a lot of effort
To keep you mine
To make sure that you stay with me.
Now all I have is
But now all I possess is
Nothing but time
Only an abundance of time and nothing else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ian Fulton
on My Way of Thinking
Best band in the stratosphere
Rosie Contreras
on Red Red Wine
Awesome song