UB40 - Riddle Me Lyrics






[Chorus:]
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this
Who owns the chains that bind your wrists
Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer again
Riddle me who built the machine
That washed your brain

Like parents did before them
Your parents did the same
They said do your best, you must pass the test
You must learn to play the game
They scrimped and saved and suffered
To send you off to school
But if they'd had the cash
They could've brought the class
And a different set of rules

[Chorus]

They taught a simple system
Why they had and you had not
They said know your place, you can't win the race
Life's an auction you're the lot
If you'd ever thought to question
They would never answer you why
When they buy your sweat, you are in their debt
And they own you till you die

[Chorus]

You took hook line and sinker
Everything they fed
Worked day and night, for most your life
To earn their daily bread
Now your old and weary
And you lay you down to sleep
With body worn and spirit torn
What's left is yours to keep





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UB40 Riddle Me Comments
  1. �.... ....

    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who built the machine that washed your brain?
    Like parents did before them
    Your parents did the same
    They said do your best, you must pass the test
    You must learn to play the game
    They scrimped and saved and suffered
    To send you off to school
    But if they'd had the cash they could've bought the class
    And a different set of rules
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who built the machine that washed your brain?
    They taught a simple system
    Why they had and you had not
    They said know your place, you can't win the race
    Life's an auction you're the lot
    If you'd ever thought to question
    They would never answer why
    When they buy your sweat, your are in their debt
    And they own you till you die
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who built the machine that washed your brain?
    You took hook line and sinker
    Everything they fed
    Worked day and night, for most your life
    To earn their daily bread
    Now you're old and weary,
    And you lay you down to sleep
    With body worn and spirit torn
    What's left is yours to keep
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who owns the chains that bind your wrists?
    Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this,
    Who built the machine that washed your brain?

  2. J.... G....

    Unemployment Benefit Form 40. Few know that.

    J.... G....

    Jason Garvin I knew that! Of the UK variety ;)

    J.... G....

    Few?? 😂😂😂 you serious?

    J.... G....

    Everyone knows that. I knew that before I was old enough to be employed.

    J.... G....

    Hi, I'm few.

    J.... G....

    @Andrew Devine Same here. Anyone living in Britain in the first half of the 80s knew that.

  3. H.... T....

    I love belbezafffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

  4. E.... A....

    UB40, at one time, was a VERY political band. Political not as in liberal/conservative but as in militant/revolutionary and poor people power.

    E.... A....

    Ernesto Arce They were a voice for the disenfranchised the oppressed the wronged....... when youre a working class band it shapes your ideals.....then comes fame & fortune and it all changes and youre now privileged ....and it shows in your music....youre almost unrecognizable to the band you started out as!

    UB40 throughout the 80s - their finest time , the UB40 of today pale by compairison

    E.... A....

    Ub40 were great, very militant with their first 3 albums, after UB44 they went 'off', became commercial, pop orientated in their reggae sound, it was when they released Guns in the Ghetto back in 1997 that they became militant again, and also rediscovered their reggae sound, more base driven and dubby, from then on their next albums were all very political and militant, 'Cover up', Homegrown', 'Who you fighting for' (brilliant album), and 24/7, sadly Ali left and they have not sound the same since, lyrically and music wise either, which is strange really........musically the Album promises and lies back in 1993 was awful, sounded so cheap, why it was more successful than the other albums I mentioned is any ones guess.

    E.... A....

    Ernesto: So they helped promote the Labour Party.

    E.... A....

    Correct. What happened , why aren't there active groups...trying. Its sad.

    E.... A....

    @cohenhaywood10 Interesting info about their music from 1997 onwards. Thanks from one ancient enough to remember when their first hit,the double A sided King/Food For Thought came out; even heard it on evening-time radio a month or two before it charted.

  5. d.... w....

    @Eirexeyes You're both glib AND arrogant.

  6. d.... ....

    Its about girls lying or making things up that what i think

    d.... ....

    It's about the Left creating imaginary enemies. Same as they have always done.

  7. E.... ....

    ppl love this song, but havent got a fucking clue what the song is about!.. sheeple we call them !!!

  8. A.... F....

    i love this band ub40 !!!