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.
War Poem
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To echo on uncertain footsteps
Sharp of iron quick of hand
Advancing forward to regrets
Under foot the and mortars
Slip away the codes of warnings
From the top the barking orders
Light the sky and leave that morning
CHORUS
Seek asylum from the terror
Reaching out for what its worth
Shelter from the raging anger
Raining down on bitter worlds
Those the people all whose hurting
Getting lost between the lines
Its the stuff that keeps returning
Laughing lound in victors lies
Up above on winds declaring
Soon the cold will whistle through
Push aside the warm sea air
That fills the sails that carry you
CHORUS X3
Many miles are put between oh
What once was and what will be
Sleep all night and dream sweet dreams
Step inside to history
Every whisper sings resistance
All emotions hide inside
Refugee looks to the distance
Out there somewhere lies his pride
CHORUS
The lyrics of UB40’s song “War Poem” describe the harsh and brutal realities of war. The song begins with a depiction of the silence that falls on a battlefield, where soldiers are uncertain about their next steps. The soldiers move forward with quick and sharp movements, unaware of the regrets they will face later on. The sound of the bombs and the mortar fire is described as slipping away from codes of warnings, as the commanding officers bark orders from their positions. As the sky lights up with explosions, the soldiers are left to face the morning of another day of war.
The chorus seeks asylum from the terror of war, as people reach out for shelter from the rage and anger that rains down on them in bitter worlds. The song depicts the people, who are lost between the lines of war, trying to find a way to cope with the stuff that keeps returning, laughing loudly in the lies of the victors. The winds above declare the cold that will whistle through, as the warm sea air that fills sails begins to push aside, carrying the soldiers away from what used to be their home.
The last verse of the song emphasizes the distance between what was and what will be, as people sleep all night and dream of sweet dreams while stepping inside history. Every whisper sings resistance, and all emotions hide inside as refugees look towards the distance where their pride lies. The “War Poem” is a powerful portrayal of the human cost of war, as people strive to survive and hold on to their dignity in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Line by Line Meaning
Silence falls on no-mans land
A quietness descends upon the battlezone
To echo on uncertain footsteps
Which amplifies each unsteady footstep
Sharp of iron quick of hand
The weapons are deadly and swift
Advancing forward to regrets
As the soldiers march on with heavy hearts
Under foot the and mortars
Explosions happen continuously under their feet
Slip away the codes of warnings
The earlier alerts have faded away
From the top the barking orders
The commanding officers urge on their troops
Light the sky and leave that morning
As daylight dawns, the violence continues
CHORUS
Seeking refuge from fear and anger
Those the people all whose hurting
Getting lost between the lines
Caught in the crossfire between the opposing armies
Its the stuff that keeps returning
The horrors they've witnessed keep replaying in their minds
Laughing lound in victors lies
The victorious side boast with glee about their triumph
Up above on winds declaring
The wind carries eerie messages of death and destruction
Soon the cold will whistle through
Winter is coming, and its chill is inescapable
Push aside the warm sea air
The warm, comforting memories must be forgotten
That fills the sails that carry you
Which powered them towards a brighter future in a different place
CHORUS x3
Searching for a safe haven amidst chaos
Many miles are put between oh
Having to leave behind everything they once knew
What once was and what will be
In between what was and what the future could hold
Sleep all night and dream sweet dreams
Trying to find solace in their sleep
Step inside to history
Becoming a part of the tragedy of their time
Every whisper sings resistance
Even the smallest acts can be a form of rebellion
All emotions hide inside
The pain, the rage, the sorrow are all kept internalised
Refugee looks to the distance
Hoping to find a way to begin again somewhere else
Out there somewhere lies his pride
The pride of their identity lies in their roots, wherever they may end up
CHORUS
Fleeing from the hostility of war
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALI CAMPBELL, BRIAN TRAVERS, EARL FALCONER, JIM BROWN, MICHAEL VIRTUE, NORMAN HASSAN, ROBIN CAMPBELL, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hes Gone
Finaly found theur way back to their roots. Massive thumbs up Ub40
Richard Whitehead
brilliant song from a brilliant album classic Ub40
Juan Ca WICK
lo mejor ub40
zilla
Lyrics by Brian Travers 💔 RIEP beautiful soul
Robert cracknell junior
much love :)
freddy alexander
<3
Gweilo354
I wish so much that the now 2 UB40's would reconcile and fuck the lawyers and the money and get back together. Lawyers are always right and most of the time for all the wrong reasons. one love guys , all the best for the future from a life long fan !!
Michael Donoghue
Come in from Wolverhampton not quite sure what there saying but loving it reel music boys
kevin ska'd 4 life
WICKED 😁😁😁😁😁