UB40

Released: November 22, 2001

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40

Write off the debt
Me say write off the debt
Me say write off the debt
And stop the third world a fret

I say the IMF put on too much interest
Certain man pon the streets can't even buy a little vest
I said the east and the west them just a build up dem chest
Certain man in the third world can't even digest, a little food
But no bother take them man deh as no fool
'Cos you know say dem teach and go a good school
Me say lord a god a mercy dem learn up all the rules
So no bother patronize dem cos all dem need is the tools
Me say over the millennium me say what a bomb
Me say a whole heap of right
Me say a whole heap of wrong
I say it's time to come together and sing we own song
And make the shooting and all the killing and the fighting
Have fe done
I say the IMF wipe off the lump sum
You know say me bredren that would a handsome
So come on fe me posse let's rehearse up this song
And hope say dem man yah don't take too long

Me say write off the debt
Me say write off the debt
And stop the third world a fret

Picture a world with no more hurt and pain
Picture a world where we are all the same
Maybe not in mind but in spirit
Must do the right thing to ease the pain

Yes me breden that would a wicked!

UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. UB40 have sold over 70 million records. The ethnic make-up of the band’s original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage.

Their hit singles include their debut “Food for Thought”, “Red Red Wine” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band’s version of “I Got You Babe”. Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.

On January 24, 2008, it was announced that Ali Campbell would be leaving the group after 30 years. It was reported by some Birmingham newspapers on 13 March 2008, that Maxi Priest would be the new lead singer of UB40 and had recorded a cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” with the band.

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