UB40

Released: October 16, 1984

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: Howard Gray UB40

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this:
Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer again:
Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain?

Like parents did before them
Your parents did the same
They said: "Do your best, you must pass the test
You must learn to play the game."

They scrimped and saved and suffered
To send you off to school
But if they'd had the cash they could've bought the class
And a different set of rules

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this:
Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer again:
Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain?

They taught a simple system
Why they had and you had not
They said: "Know your place, you can't win the race
Life's an auction, you're the lot."

If you'd ever thought to question
They would never answer why
When they buy your sweat, your are in their debt
And they own you till you die

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this:
Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer again:
Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain?

You took hook line and sinker
Everything they fed
Worked day and night, for most your life
To earn their daily bread

Now you're old and weary
And you lay you down to sleep
With body worn and spirit torn
What's left is yours to keep

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this:
Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer again:
Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain?

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.

more tracks from the album

Geffery Morgan

From the album

Geffery Morgan (1984)

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Riddle MeUB40

UB40

Geffery Morgan