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.

Young Guns
UB40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey hotshot, you're a one man band
The Don on the block with a glock in your hand
With the girl and the ride, you don't want to hear
Think you're getting respect, all you've found is fear
The one damn thing you're sure to find
Is another gun, where you gonna hide?
Said you'd never never run, I guess you lied
You're the fool in the crew that died

Your mother cried

Hold your fire, cool your temper
Young guns ever too bold
Hold your fire, just remember
Young guns never grow old

Hey hotshot, you're a one man band
The Don on the block with a glock in your hand
With the girl and the ride, you don't't want to hear
Think you're getting respect all you find is fear
The one damn thing you're sure to find
Is a bigger gun to blow away your pride
Your young blood running in the roadside
And in the crossfire, innocents died
We all cried

Hold your fire, cool your temper
Young guns ever too bold
Hold your fire, just remember
Young guns never grow old.

Hey hotshot, you're a one man band
The don on the block with a glock in your hand
With the girl and the ride, you don't't want to hear
Think your getting respect, all you've found is fear

Hold your fire, cool your temper
Young guns ever to bold
Hold your fire, just remember
Young guns never grow old
Hold your fire, cool your temper
Young guns ever too bold
Hold your fire, just remember
Young guns never grow old

Young guns never grow old
Young guns never grow old

Overall Meaning

The song "Young Guns" by UB40 talks about the struggles of young men in urban areas who turn to guns and gang culture to cope with their issues. The opening lines of the song describe a young man who thinks he's gained respect by carrying a firearm, but instead, he's only instilled fear in those around him. The lyrics are a commentary on the consequences of this kind of lifestyle, particularly the loss of young lives, as described in the line "the fool in the crew that died, your mother cried."

The chorus of the song urges young men to hold their fire, cool their temper, and remember that young guns never grow old. The phrase "hold your fire" is a metaphor for controlling one's anger and impulsivity, while "young guns never grow old" is a reminder that the recklessness of youth can have permanent consequences.

The song's message is one of caution and restraint for young men who might feel like they have something to prove. It encourages them to think about the long-term consequences of their actions and to avoid violence and senseless loss of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey hotshot, you're a one man band
Addressing the person as a hotshot who is trying to handle everything alone.

The Don on the block with a glock in your hand
Comparing the person to the Don of the area with a gun in their hand.

With the girl and the ride, you don't want to hear
The person is ignoring the opinions of their partner and their situation.

Think you're getting respect, all you've found is fear
The person is trying to establish authority through fear instead of respect.

The one damn thing you're sure to find
Suggesting that the outcome of this situation is predictable.

Is another gun, where you gonna hide?
Asking where the person will hide when they have to face someone with a bigger gun.

Said you'd never never run, I guess you lied
Pointing out that the person failed to keep their promise of not running away.

You're the fool in the crew that died
Labeling the person as the foolish one in their group who will die.

Your mother cried
Mentioning the impact of the person's death on their loved ones.

Hold your fire, cool your temper
Advising the person to pause and reflect on their actions before taking any further steps.

Young guns ever too bold
Stating that young individuals are prone to behaving recklessly and making mistakes.

Just remember Young guns never grow old
Urging the person to learn from their mistakes and not to repeat them as they get older.

The one damn thing you're sure to find
Reiterating that the outcome of the situation is predictable.

Is a bigger gun to blow away your pride
Highlighting that there will always be someone stronger who can take away the person's sense of superiority.

Your young blood running in the roadside
Referring to the person's youth and potential which is being wasted due to their reckless behavior.

And in the crossfire, innocents died
Describing the collateral damage caused by the person's actions.

We all cried
Expressing collective grief at the loss of innocent lives.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON, JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, SEDOU KONE

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