Released: October 16, 1984

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: Howard Gray UB40

If it happens again I'm leaving
I'll pack my things and go
If it happens again
There'll be no looking back
And I won't say I told you so
I won't say I told you so

You did what you were told
And you took the strain
Been left out in the cold
Got yourself to blame
But believe me
If it happens again I'm leaving
If it stays the same I'm gone
When you're stabbed in the back
And there's salt in the wound
Then it's time to move along

If it happens again I'm leaving
I'll pack my things and go
If it happens again
There'll be no looking back
And I won't say I told you so
I won't say I told you so

No more spanners in the works
All the works been done
Had your face rubbed in the dirt
On show for every one
But believe me
If it happens again I'm leaving
If it stays the same I'm gone
When compromise is the song that you sing
It's been going on too long

If it happens again I'm leaving
I'll pack my things and go
If it happens again
There'll be no looking back
And I won't say I told you so
I won't say I told you so

If it happens again I'm leaving
I'll pack my things and go
If it happens again
There'll be no looking back
And I won't say I told you so
I won't say I told you so
If it happens again I'm leaving
I'll pack my things and go
If it happens again
There'll be no looking back
And I won't say I told you so
I won't say I told you so

UB40

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.