UB40

Released: August 29, 1980

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: Bob Lamb UB40

There are murders that we must account for
Bloody deeds have been done in my name
Criminal acts we must pay for
And our children will shoulder the blame

(chorus)
I'm a British subject not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (repeat)

As a nation we follow in blindness
No one stops to question why
Our money's supporting an army
And a boy in Soweto dies

(chorus)
I'm a British subject not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (repeat)

Must we go on ignoring forever
The cries of an African son
There's a soldier's hand on a trigger
But it's we who are pointing the gun

(chorus)
I'm a British subject not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (repeat)

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

Signing Off

From the albums

Signing Off (1980)
The UB40 File (1985)

UB40 popular songs

Burden of ShameUB40

UB40

Signing Off