The Ub40 File

Ub40 The Ub40 File Lyrics
1.Tyler

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

Appeal to the governor of Louisiana
You may get an answer the process is slow
Federal government too much to help him
It's been nearly five years
And they won't let him go

Chorus

Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so
Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so

Testify under pressure, a racist jury
Government lawyers its all for show
With rows of white faces
False accusations
He's framed up for murder
They won't let him go

Chorus

Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so
Tyler ..... Etc

Police gun was planted
No matching bullets
No prints on the handle, no proof to show
But tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
They show him no mercy
They won't let him go

Chorus

Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so
Tyler...... Etc

Appeal to the governor of Louisiana
You may get an answer the process is slow
Federal government too much to help him
It's been nearly five years
And they won't let him go

Chorus

Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so
What right do we have to say it's not so
Tyler .... Etc


2.King

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

King, where are your people now?
Chained and pacified.
Tried in vain to show them how.
And for that you died.

You had a dream of a promised land.
People of all nations walking hand in hand
But they're not ready to accept
That dream situation, yet.

King, where are your people now?
Chained and pacified.
Tried in vain to show them how.
And for that you died.


3.12 Bar


4.Burden Of Shame

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40/Van Morrison

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're following blindly
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 the 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


5.I Think It's Going To Rain Today

Lyrics:Randy Newman
Music:Randy Newman

Lonely, Lonely,
Tin can at my feet.
Think I'll kick it down the street,
That's the way to treat a friend

Broken windows and empty hall ways
Pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away.
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today.

Right before me, the signs implore me
Help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today.


6.Food For Thought

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

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.
Politician's 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 here 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.


7.Signing Off


8.Madam Medusa

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

From the land of shadows
Comes a dreadful sight
Lady with the marble smile
Spirit of the night
See the scourge of innocence
Swinging in her hand
Hear the silent suffering
That echoes through the land

From the tombs of ignorance
Of hate and greed and lies
Through the smoke of sacrifice
Watch her figure rise
The sick the poor the old
Basking in her radiance
Men of blood and gold

In her bloody footsteps
Speculators prance
Men of dreams are praying
For that second chance
Round her vacant features
Gilded serpents dance
Her tree of evil knowledge
Sprouts a special branch

Madam Medusa
Madam Medusa
Madam Medusa

Knock her right down
And then she bounce right back
Knock her right down
And then she bounce right back
She gone off her head
We've got to shoot her dead
She gone off her head
We've got to shoot her dead
Run for your life before she eat you alive
Run for your life before she eat you alive
Move out of the way 'cause you're blocking out the day
Move out of the way 'cause you're blocking out the day


9.Strange Fruit

Lyrics:Lewis Allen
Music:Lewis Allen

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is a fruit for the crow to pluck
For the rain to wither, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop.


10.My Way Of Thinking

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

Give me all you have (Come over)
All you got to give (Come over)
Save your guilt till tomorrow (Come over)
Won't be that hard to live with

Satisfy my need (Come over)
Won't be that easy (Come over)
You gonna have to try a little harder baby (Come over)
A little harder please me

Why tell me no (Come over)
When what you mean is yeah yeah (Come over)
You'll have to tell me what you want to do cos (Come over)
You can't expect me to guess

Last verse repeats

My way of thinking


11.The Earth Dies Screaming

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

A warm dry wind is all that breaks the silence,
The highways quiet scars across the land.
People lie, eyes closed, no longer dreaming,
The earth dies screaming.

Like scattered pebbles, cars lie silent waiting,
Oilless engines seized by dirt and sand.
Bodies hanging limp, no longer bleeding,
The earth dies screaming.

The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Your country needs you, lets strike up the band.

The earth dies screaming
The earth dies screaming
Despite all odds we must defend our land.

Half eaten meals lie rotting on the tables,
Money clutched within a boney hand.
Shutters down, the banks are not receiving,
The earth dies screaming.


12.Dream A Lie

Lyrics:Ub40
Music:Ub40

Why do I have to dream of you when I don't want to dream a lie?
Why do I have to dream of you when I don't want to dream a lie?

There never was a better time
For trying to set the words to rhyme
Of when a golden love turns blue
And dreams of dreams that won't come true

Every night I call your name
We're still together just the same

A lonely room, an empty bed

It always seems that way