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.
c'est la vie
UB40 Lyrics
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She'd seen a lady sell her baby
For ten or twenty dollars maybe
And everybody thinks she's crazy
They're too blind to see
She never failed to call attention
To the things we never ment
Real horror, daily, courtesy of your T-V
A woman came and said to me
Now listen very carefully
There's brother killing brother
People living on their knees
Biting sugar coated bullets
For the pain of this disease
C'est La Vie
A woman came and said to me
She had a husband on an island
Found his body on a wasteland
Soldiers came and took him
Just to torture her you see
C'est la vie
All alone she mourned her lover
Crossed the sea to find a brother
Maybe he could help her get her baby back for free
More stuff
about C'est La Vie
The lyrics of "C'est La Vie" by UB40 and Toots Hibbert are commenting on the bleak, often brutal realities of life that are often ignored or overshadowed by more superficial concerns. The song is divided into three verses, each of which tells a story of human suffering and injustice.
The first verse describes a woman who witnesses another woman selling her baby for a small sum of money. This act is viewed as madness by those who witness it, but the song suggests that it is the result of a society that values profit over compassion. The second verse is about brother turning against brother, and people being forced to accept the injustices of their lives. The third verse tells the story of a woman who lost her husband to war and then had her child taken away from her as well.
Overall, "C'est La Vie" is a powerful critique of the callousness of society, and an appeal for greater empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
A woman came and said to me
A woman approached me to share a disturbing story
She'd seen a lady sell her baby
The woman had witnessed another woman selling her own child
For ten or twenty dollars maybe
The selling price for the baby is shockingly low, indicating the desperate circumstances of the mother
And everybody thinks she's crazy
Society does not understand the mother's predicament and labels her as insane
They're too blind to see
People are ignorant and unwilling to see the root causes of poverty and despair
She never failed to call attention
The woman speaking to the singer was a vocal advocate for social justice
To the things we never meant
She highlighted the ugly realities in the world that are often overlooked or ignored
Real horror, daily, courtesy of your T-V
The media often presents superficial or sensationalized news stories, while ignoring or downplaying the true horrors of everyday life
C'est La Vie
This is life; a French expression to convey the acceptance of life's harsh realities
There's brother killing brother
The woman shared another tragic tale of violence and conflict, this time between family members
People living on their knees
Society has oppressed and marginalized certain groups, reducing them to living in poverty and submission
Biting sugar coated bullets
People have been forced to accept lies and false promises, disguised as comforting words or temporary solutions
For the pain of this disease
This disease refers to a systemic problem that causes suffering and injustice
She had a husband on an island
The woman had more tragic news to share, this time about her own personal loss
Found his body on a wasteland
Her husband was found dead in a desolate area
Soldiers came and took him
The cause of her husband's death was due to military intervention or corruption
Just to torture her you see
The woman is now a victim of intentional cruelty by those in power
All alone she mourned her lover
The woman is left to grieve the loss of her loved one by herself
Crossed the sea to find a brother
She seeks support and comfort from her own family member, who may share her pain and struggle
Maybe he could help her get her baby back for free
The woman may also be seeking assistance to recover her own lost child, if applicable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ferd2000
Artistas de hoy aprendan lo que es la música en su máxima expresión este álbum es una obra maestra desde el diseño, la portada, los arreglos; todo es una marca indeleble en la historia de la música en el mundo. Saludos a todos y sigamos disfrutando a UB40 por siempre.
@cesaralbertoperez2788
asi es,tienes toda la razon,esta si es musica...
@duqueliseth
quisiera ir a un club y oir pura musica de este estilo
@tonypalencia1
@liseth a duque Seria lo máximo, cuando vamos?
@josepenayo3389
@Antonio Tony Palencia y si van,no me dejen... quiero ir tambien
@darrenstrathdee7425
Gives me goosebumps this song. Truly magic.
@gaelignacio6513
Love it...me encanta ❤
@blingminer1453
My father used to play this on our summer road trips and I can’t forget the memories I made with this song playing in the background :D
@ijustlovepuppies
Same! This song reminds me of my dad driving us on a road trip to Zambia ❤️
@SuperZaike
That also applies to me, in the past ub40 always came through the speakers at our house. childhood sentiment, always makes me happy when I hear ub40