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.

The Train Is Coming
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I said, the train is coming baby
I said, the train is comin' now
I said, the train is coming baby
I said, the train is comin' now
So long I've been waiting
Waiting for you, oh yeah
Now the time has come
And its between me and you, oh Lord'

I said, the train is coming baby
The train is comin' now, now, now, now
I said, the train is coming baby
And I am leaving on that train, Lord
Everyday I pray
For this little hour
Now the time has come
And I want you to stand by me
Because the train is comin' baby
And we are leaving on that train

And we will roam this land
Where we all will be free, Lord

Overall Meaning

The song "The Train Is Coming” by UB40 is a love ballad that tells the story of a man who has been waiting for a long time to be with his lover. He speaks about the anticipation he feels as the train that will take him to her is arriving. The song has a bluesy, soulful feel to it, and the lyrics are powerful and emotive.

The song is laden with symbolism. The "train" represents the journey that the man must go on to be with his lover. The journey that they will take together is one that they hope will be free and full of happiness. The train symbolizes the hope that the man feels for the future, and the promise of a new beginning.

The lyrics also suggest that waiting for the arrival of the train has been a long and difficult process. The man has been waiting for a long time, and the arrival of the train is the culmination of his patience and perseverance. In the end, the message of the song is one of hope and joy, as the man and his lover finally come together and embark on a new journey.

Line by Line Meaning

I said, the train is coming baby
I am telling you that our opportunity is approaching

I said, the train is comin' now
Our chance is imminent and we need to act quickly

So long I've been waiting
I have been anticipating this moment for a very long time

Waiting for you, oh yeah
I have been waiting for you to be ready for this opportunity

Now the time has come
The moment we have been waiting for has finally arrived

And its between me and you, oh Lord'
Our fate is now in our own hands and we must work together to seize this chance

The train is comin' now, now, now, now
Our chance is so close that we can feel it

And I am leaving on that train, Lord
I am committed to taking advantage of this opportunity, even if it requires leaving my old life behind

Everyday I pray
I have been hoping and wishing for this moment every day

For this little hour
This brief moment in time holds the key to our future success

And I want you to stand by me
I need your support and help to make the most of this opportunity

Because the train is comin' baby
Our chance is almost here and we need to be ready to act

And we are leaving on that train
We are committed to seizing this opportunity, even if it means leaving behind our old lives

And we will roam this land
Together we will explore new opportunities and experience the freedom that this chance will provide

Where we all will be free, Lord
We will finally achieve the freedom and success that we have been striving for

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ORVILLE BURRELL, KENNETH GEORGE BOOTHE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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