UB40

Released: July 28, 1986

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40

(Verse1)
You try to close your ears
And you try to close your eyes
But the blasphemies keep coming
And tempting you with lies

Chorus:
Give thanks for your protection
Your watchdogs of the night
Who hold the hungry wolves at bay
And keep them out of sight out of sight

(Verse 2)
You just don't understand it
But it strikes a distant chord
So you look for way of escaping
And sanity is restored

Chorus 1

(Verse 3)
You focus your direction
Cloak tightly pulled around
But somewhere in the distance
You can hear a haunting sound

Chorus 2x

You're in danger of corruption
And you're always running scared
You cannot make decisions
You're completely unprepared

Chorus

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

Rat in the Kitchen

From the album

Rat in the Kitchen (1986)

UB40 popular songs

WatchdogsUB40

UB40

Rat in the Kitchen