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 Way You Do The Things You Do
UB40 Lyrics
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You know you could've been a candle
I'm holding you so tight
You know you could've been a handle
The way you swept me off my feet
You know you could've been a broom
And baby you smell so sweet
Well you could've been anything that you wanted to
I can tell
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
As pretty as you are
You know you could've been a flower
If good looks were minutes
You know you could have been an hour
The way you stole my heart
You know you could have been a crook
And baby you're so smart
You know you could have been a school book
Well you could've been anything that you wanted to
I can tell
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
You make my life so rich
You know you could've been some money
And baby you're so sweet
You know you could have been some honey
Well you could've been anything that you wanted to
I can tell
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
As pretty as you are
You know you could've been a flower
If good looks were minutes
You know you could've been an hour
The way you stole my heart
You know you could've been a crook
And baby you're so smart
You know you could have been a school book
Well you could've been anything that you wanted to
I can tell
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
You made my life so sweet
I like the way you do the things you do
You made my life so sweet
I like the way you do the things you do
You made my life so sweet
The way you do the things you do
You made my life so sweet
The way you do the things you do
In UB40's "The Way You Do The Things You Do," the vocalist expresses his admiration for his lover's natural beauty and charm. The lyrics are playful and romantic, as he compares her beauty and allure to various objects such as a candle, handle, broom, perfume, flower, hour, crook, schoolbook, money, and honey. He acknowledges that she could have been anything she wanted to be, but he loves her just the way she is. He's appreciative of how she makes his life so rich and sweet, and he likes the way she does the things she does.
The song speaks to the universal experience of falling in love with someone for who they are, not what they could be. It's a celebration of the little things that make up a relationship and how those things can make life feel so much sweeter. The playful comparisons to various objects work well as metaphors for the endless beauty of the person he is in love with.
Overall, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" is a sweet and romantic song that celebrates the uniqueness and natural beauty of the person one is in love with. It's a lighthearted take on falling in love and appreciating someone for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
You got a smile so bright
Your smile shines so brightly, it could illuminate the room like a candle.
I'm holding you so tight
I'm embracing you so tightly.
The way you swept me off my feet
You're so charming, you made me fall in love with you easily.
And baby you smell so sweet
You have an incredible fragrance, like a perfume.
Well you could've been anything that you wanted to
I can tell
You have the potential to achieve anything you wish, and I can see that.
The way you do the things you do
I like the way you do the things you do
I admire your unique and special qualities.
As pretty as you are
You're incredibly attractive.
You know you could've been a flower
You're so beautiful, you could have been a floral masterpiece.
If good looks were minutes
You know you could have been an hour
You're so physically attractive, you could embody the entirety of time itself.
The way you stole my heart
You captured my heart.
And baby you're so smart
You're intelligent and clever.
You know you could have been a crook
If you wanted to, you could have stolen my heart.
You know you could have been a school book
You have so much knowledge and intellect, you could teach someone like a book.
You make my life so rich
You fill my life with abundance and happiness.
You know you could've been some money
You have such value, you could be a great sum of money.
And baby you're so sweet
You're caring, compassionate, and sweet as honey.
You know you could have been some honey
You're as sweet and comforting as honey.
You made my life so sweet
You've brought so much joy and happiness to my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Robert Rogers, William Robinson Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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THE MOST UNDERRATED VOICE IN HISTORY !!!
Jackie Smith
So true Ali's voice is pure class and I love it my son was born in1983 and he's been brought up with this music and he loves it
Noni
The joy of music without a single swear word or sexual innuendo. So joyful. Love it. ❤️❤️❤️
Leslyn Premdas
What an absolute pleasure especially when it sounds just as good all these years later.
Mark Gutierrez
Amen to that 🙏 good song🎵
Ray Levitt
Totally agree the shite that gets played now a days will never live on in time like some of these
Ahhw E-Any
Idk 🤔. Do my own ding sounds kinda pervy🤷♀️
martyn goodman
Jay i do now thx i like listing to the originals its nice but ub40 is more up beat but thx for letting me know that ub40 have done songs by other people before but i didn't know about this one
David villabedi
Los reyes de la música... Su música nunca pasará de moda. Debería ser referente de muchos
Janahi Narro
Lo mejor de lo mejor ❤❤❤😊😊😊estar en su concierto sería un sueño hecho realidad 🥰🥰🥰🥰