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.
You're Always Pulling Me Down
UB40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought I could steal your secrets and put them in a song
I thought that you'd be waiting patiently for me
That only I could see
You build me up and tell me lies
You hold my hand, say close your eyes
You're always pulling me down
You make me lower my expectations
You're always pulling me down
Why do you complicate situations
You're always pulling me down
I don't know what else to do
I'm still in love with you
I wish that I could see things through your eyes
I want to lift the veil and penetrate your lies
I want to take your truth and hold it in my hand
Maybe then I'll understand
You contradict in a thousand ways
You call the tune and guess who pays
The lyrics of You're Always Pulling Me Down by UB40 explore the complexities of a romantic relationship that is characterized by deception, contradiction and disappointment. The song is about the singer's struggle to come to terms with the fact that the person he thought he knew well is not as transparent as he thought. The opening lines "I thought I knew you well, your right and wrong, Thought I could steal your secrets and put them in a song" suggest the singer's disillusionment at how little he actually knows about his partner. The use of the phrase 'stealing secrets' highlights the sense of disappointment and confusion that comes from realizing that the person he was involved with has been keeping secrets from him.
The following lines "You build me up and tell me lies, You hold my hand, say close your eyes" depict the rollercoaster of emotions that come with being in such a relationship. The partner holds the singer's hand and asks him to close his eyes, only to proceed to deceive and manipulate him. The chorus "You're always pulling me down, You make me lower my expectations, You're always pulling me down, Why do you complicate situations, You're always pulling me down" portrays the hopelessness and despair of the singer, who feels trapped and powerless to the whims of his partner.
The singer expresses his unconditional love for his partner in the lines "I don't know what else to do, I'm still in love with you." The closing lines, "You contradict in a thousand ways, You call the tune and guess who pays" emphasize the emotional turmoil that comes with being in such an unstable relationship. The partner throws the singer's life into chaos by intentionally confusing him and manipulatively changing the course of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought I knew you well, your right and wrong
I assumed that I understood your moral compass perfectly.
Thought I could steal your secrets and put them in a song
I believed that I could extract confidential information about you and turn it into music.
I thought that you'd be waiting patiently for me
I was under the impression that you had infinite patience for me.
That only I could see
I believed that I was the only person who understood you.
You build me up and tell me lies
You elevate me and then deceive me.
You hold my hand, say close your eyes
You ask me to trust you and have faith in you.
You're always pulling me down
You always bring my spirits down.
You make me lower my expectations
You coerce me into lowering my standards.
Why do you complicate situations
Why do you create complex situations?
I don't know what else to do
I'm at a loss for what actions to take.
I'm still in love with you
I still have feelings for you.
I wish that I could see things through your eyes
I want to comprehend your perspective.
I want to lift the veil and penetrate your lies
I desire to unveil and expose your deceit.
I want to take your truth and hold it in my hand
I want to grasp your honesty.
Maybe then I'll understand
Perhaps then I'll gain clarity.
You contradict in a thousand ways
You have a thousand inconsistencies.
You call the tune and guess who pays
You dictate the outcome and someone else bears the cost.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pab9UB44
This is one of my favourite tracks from the album. It has a kind of English Lovers Rock feel to it. The lyrics are about a one sided love relationship. The horn section brightens up the melancholy vibe well.
Jazzy Grace
Favorite tune.got dumped choice..Joe vs pania.jahmarley.ara.matty.ma niggahz❤️.ty.jamor
Thank you very much.kbz massive heart.
Shaz Harwood
Still blasting this jam in 2019 ub40 always pulling thru 💕
Jay
its hard to pick a favourite ub40 song but this is top5 for sure.
Black Jack
I love this album
Robin Tandela
How is this song not famous enough
Leo Saura
This is still great even at the end of 2021.
Glen Kiernan
This is an old one but 2018 still playing it ..
Black Jack
Very underated album..
Gabriela Menichini
August 2018 and still discovering new songs from them