UB40

Released: November 27, 1989

Songwriter: John Holt

Producer: UB40

I'm gonna wear you to the ball tonight
Put on your best dress tonight

Did you hear what the man said baby
Well be your best 'cause this
Gonna be a musical test
So come to school, and I take up the musical rule
Give me soul brothers and give me soul sisters
Come To I and maybe you can make it if you try
So be wise and be changing, put on your best
Because I got your musical key
Rub it baby, I said scrub it, yeah
Cause I'm tougher than tough
And that ain't no bluff
Maybe it's because I've got the musical stuff

I'm gonna make you the talk of the town
No use wearing a frown
Though those other guys may put you down
I'm gonna let you wear my crown
Though those other guys may put you down
You'll wear my crown

Wow ! Chick-a-bow, chick-a-bow
Chick-a-bow, chick-a-bow wow wow
Give me soul brothers and give me soul sisters
Don't beg for no mercy
Move it up, break it up!
Tell you bout it, it's good
Wow! she's got it, she's got it
She's got it, she's got it

Though those other guys may put you down
I'm gonna let you wear my crown

And we are going to have a musical ball
So get on the ball and don't stall
I beg you baby
Wow! Tell you about it, it's good

I'm gonna wear you to the ball tonight
Put on your best dress tonight

That's for sure
Play brand new musical discs from
The flick of my wrist, baby
Wow! Tell you about it, she's got it
She's got it, she's got it Chick-a-bow
Chick-a-bow, chick-a-bow, chick-a-bow wow wow

I'm gonna wear you to the ball tonight
Put on your best dress tonight

I'm gonna make you the talk of the town
No use wearing a frown

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

Labour of Love II

From the album

Labour of Love II (1989)

UB40 popular songs

Wear You to the BallUB40

UB40

Labour of Love II