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.
Sweet Cherrie
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's gone away from home
I've got to find sweet cherry
She's left me all alone
(chorus)
Cherry, cherry,
Don't go and leave me alone
My thoughts are always with you
The emptiness leaves me blue
If you should ever desert me
Then life deserts me too
(chorus)
Cherry, cherry,
Don't go and leave me alone
Don't go and leave me alone
When we were together, downtown
We would do things together, downtown
The first place I met you, downtown
There we could always be.
(chorus)
Cherry, cherry,
Don't go and leave me alone
Don't go and leave me alone
The lyrics of UB40's song "Sweet Cherrie" speaks of a person's longing to find his lover, who has left him alone. The singer yearns for his "sweet cherry" to return to him because the emptiness he feels is unbearable. He reminisces about the good times they had in downtown, the place where they first met, and where they used to do everything together. It seems as if the singer is desperate and pleading with his beloved not to leave him all alone, as he cannot imagine life without her.
The song carries a sense of longing and desperation that is relatable to many people who have experienced heartbreak. The metaphor of the "sweet cherry" may represent the person's partner, which is seen as a symbol of the sweetness of love that the singer desires to get back. The repetition of the chorus, which includes the plea, "Don't go and leave me alone," adds to the song's emotional impact and highlights the singer's desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to find sweet cherry
The singer is searching for someone named Sweet Cherry.
She's gone away from home
Sweet Cherry has left her home.
I've got to find sweet cherry
The singer repeats his search for Sweet Cherry.
She's left me all alone
Sweet Cherry leaving has left the singer alone.
(chorus)
The singer repeats his plea for Sweet Cherry not to leave him alone.
Cherry, cherry,
The singer addresses Sweet Cherry.
Don't go and leave me alone
The singer is begging Sweet Cherry not to abandon him.
My thoughts are always with you
The singer's mind is constantly on Sweet Cherry.
The emptiness leaves me blue
The singer feels sad and empty without Sweet Cherry.
If you should ever desert me
The singer fears that Sweet Cherry might leave him.
Then life deserts me too
If Sweet Cherry leaves, the singer feels like he will have nothing left.
(chorus)
The singer repeats his plea for Sweet Cherry not to leave him alone.
Cherry, cherry,
The singer addresses Sweet Cherry.
Don't go and leave me alone
The singer is begging Sweet Cherry not to abandon him.
When we were together, downtown
The two used to spend time in the city together.
We would do things together, downtown
The city was a special place for the two of them to spend time together.
The first place I met you, downtown
The city was where the singer first met Sweet Cherry.
There we could always be.
The city was a safe haven for their love.
(chorus)
The singer repeats his plea for Sweet Cherry not to leave him alone.
Cherry, cherry,
The singer addresses Sweet Cherry.
Don't go and leave me alone
The singer is begging Sweet Cherry not to abandon him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martha Mikielewicz
Love this always have big fan of ub40 since I was a kid still listening to them today 2022 🤩🤩🤩
Anacleto Carinhas
Grande musica. Das melhores.
Mukuru Mubarak
Who else listening in 2019! Big up UB40
Elton Welsby
2021 for me
BRACE MITCHELL
ME!! GLORIOUS, WHAT A SOUND!
Luke Hardy
Please ub40 all original members reunite 👊✌️❤️
Salamatu Mustapha
Oh no this music make me cry now I cannot push the clock back I can't I remember my past that's fine life have to go on. ✌️❤️✌️
Samoa Moni
Rvstng here.
Tuesday ngt — March 8, 2022.