UB40

Released: September 27, 1982

Songwriter: UB40

Producer: UB40

Multi-million dollar
Exploration into space
While in the name of progress
This planet's laid to waste
Nation takes on nation
And is stepping up the pace
And someone's got his finger
On the button

(chorus)
Forget the cost
We've got to choose
We're running in a race
That we can only lose

Rich is rich and poor is poor
And never the twain shall meet
East is east and west is west
And only one shall eat
The microchip has come of age
And man is obsolete
And someone's got his finger
On the button

(chorus)
Forget the.......(etc)

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

UB44

From the album

UB44 (1982)

UB40 popular songs

Forget the CostUB40

UB40

UB44