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.
The Earth Dies Screaming
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The highways quiet scars across the land.
People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming,
The earth dies screaming.
Like scattered pebbles, cars lie silent waiting,
Oilless engines seized by dirt and sand.
Bodies hanging limp, no longer bleeding,
The earth dies screaming.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Despite all odds we must defend our land.
Half eaten meals lie rotting on the tables,
Money clutched within a boney hand.
Shutters down, the banks are not receiving,
The earth dies screaming.
The lyrics of UB40's song The Earth Dies Screaming speak about the apocalypse and the end of the world due to man's actions. The song is an eerie and haunting depiction of the aftermath of a global catastrophe brought about by environmental neglect and warfare. The first two lines describe the silence that permeates the earth, interrupted only by a warm dry wind. The highways, once bustling with life, now only adding to the scars across the desolate landscape.
The line, "People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming," paints a vivid picture of the utter hopelessness and desolation of a world without life. The next verse describes how machines, once powerful and efficient, now lie helpless and inert due to lack of oil and a buildup of dirt and sand. The bodies, no longer alive or even bleeding, simply hang limp in the wake of this apocalypse.
The chorus of "The earth dies screaming" underscores the severity of the situation and the hopelessness of the survivors. The two following lines convey a sense of desperation and urgency as the survivors band together to defend their land, even as it slips away from them. The last verse describes the horror of the situation with half-eaten meals left to rot on tables, the only sign of life amid the death and destruction. The banks have shut down, and the money is of no use in a world without resources - the earth dies screaming.
Overall, this song serves as a warning to humanity of the devastating consequences of neglecting the planet and engaging in war. The imagery may seem stark and jarring, but it is a call to action for all of us to do better and preserve the world we inhabit.
Line by Line Meaning
A warm dry wind is all that breaks the silence,
The only sound in the deserted land is a warm and dry wind.
The highways quiet scars across the land.
The empty highways have become scars on the landscape.
People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming,
The people are lying down with their eyes closed, no longer dreaming or hoping for a better future.
The earth dies screaming.
The earth is dying and suffering despite not being able to express itself vocally.
Like scattered pebbles, cars lie silent waiting,
The cars are scattered and abandoned, their engines frozen due to the lack of oil and overrun by dirt and sand.
Oilless engines seized by dirt and sand.
The engines of the abandoned cars are stuck and immovable due to lack of lubrication and accumulation of dirt and sand.
Bodies hanging limp, no longer bleeding,
Dead bodies are hanging, their wounds no longer bleeding.
The earth dies screaming.
Despite the voiceless state of the earth, it is dying in agony.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band.
The earth is dying, and we need to come together to defend it.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Despite all odds we must defend our land.
Although the situation may seem hopeless, we still need to fight to save our land.
Half eaten meals lie rotting on the tables,
Abandoned half-eaten meals are rotting on the tables.
Money clutched within a boney hand.
A lifeless hand clutches onto money that is now worthless.
Shutters down, the banks are not receiving,
The banks are closed and unable to receive any transactions.
The earth dies screaming.
The earth is still dying and is in pain.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wh7227
LYRICS:
A warm dry wind is all that breaks the silence
The highways quiet scars across the land
People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
Despite all odds we must defend our land
Like scattered pebbles, cars lie silent waiting
Oil less engines seized by dirt and sand
Bodies hanging limp, no longer bleeding
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
Despite all odds we must defend our land
Half eaten meals lie rotting on the tables
Money clutched within a bony hand
Shutters down, the banks are not receiving
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
The earth dies screaming (The earth dies screaming)
@Dezmo59
A warm dry wind is all that breaks the silence,
The highways quiet scars across the land.
People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming,
The earth dies screaming.
Like scattered pebbles, cars lie silent waiting,
Oilless engines seized by dirt and sand.
Bodies hanging limp, no longer bleeding,
The earth dies screaming.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band.
The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Despite all odds we must defend our land.
Half eaten meals lie rotting on the tables,
Money clutched within a boney hand.
Shutters down, the banks are not receiving,
The earth dies screaming
Read more: Ub40 - The Earth Dies Screaming Lyrics | MetroLyrics
@Torky1965
One of their most underrated songs but I love it. It's amazing how a song can resonate the feelings you had at the time. I was 15 when this came out I'm 55 now and it still takes me back to those days.
@stevepettit2064
that is me too tommy SO true.
@sparkz9803
I was 16 and just starting my apprenticeship in the British Army, 57 now and this music has never aged.
@alanhales
@@sparkz9803 couldn't agree more, joined the air force at 16 1/2 yrs old now also 57 ,smashed this album out every day - happy days
@RetroReminiscing
exactley...so true how a song...melody can zoom you back in time instantly and almost feel you are back there with the people you were around back then...i get that feeling with songs and certain perfumes or smells...have a nice evening
@shaunparkin7702
πππ
@Raymund-Swales
A song, timeless, yet more relevent today somehow. Can't wait to move back to Birmingham after being in the States for way too long. Got to get back to where things are a little more real.
@simonmiller5165
Their best ever track along with King. Massively underrated.
@PhilBig68
By whom?
@vincentfay4449
So under rated 2021