UB40

Released: August 29, 1980

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40 Bob Lamb

Ivory Madonna, dying in the dust
Waiting for the manna coming from the west
Barren is her bosom, empty as her eyes
Death a certain harvest scattered from the skies

Skin and bones is creeping, doesn't know he's dead
Ancient eyes are peeping, from his infant head
Politicians argue sharpening their knives
Drawing up their bargains, trading baby lives

[Chorus]
Ivory Madonna, dying in the dust
Waiting for the manna coming from the west

Hear the bells are ringing, Christmas on it's way
Hear the angels singing, what is that they say?
Eat and drink rejoicing, joy is hear to stay
Jesus son of Mary is born again today

[Chorus]
Ivory Madonna, dying in the dust
Waiting for the manna coming from the west
Ivory Madonna, dying in the dust
Waiting for the manna coming from the west

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

UB40 popular songs

Food for ThoughtUB40

UB40

Signing Off