UB40

Released: July 27, 1993

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40

All the sorrow and the pain
All the sacrifice in vain
I was much too blind to see
You make a loser out of me
You put me down for oh so long
While you sang your serpent's song

The rest is history
You can do no more to me
I've been down so low
Had nowhere left to go
I could see it in your eyes
All your promises were lies
Promises and lies

Your cut was quick and deep
But then you thought you'd never need a friend
But all things change, and tides must turn
And you let all your bridges burn
Too many fatal wounds to heal

The rest is history
You can do no more to me
I've been down so low
Had nowhere left to go
I could see it in your eyes
All your promises were lies
Promises and lies

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

Promises and Lies

From the album

Promises and Lies (1993)

UB40 popular songs

Promises and LiesUB40

UB40

Promises and Lies