UB40 - Red Red Wine Lyrics

UB40 Lyrics

"Red Red Wine"
(originally by Neil Diamond)

Red red wine
Goes to my head
Makes me forget that I...
Still need her so

Red red wine
It's up to you
All I can do, I've done
Memories won't go
Memories won't go

I'd have sworn that with time
Thoughts of you would leave my head
I was wrong, now I find
Just one thing makes me forget

Red red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be alone
It's tearing apart
My blue heart

I'd have sworn that with time
Thoughts of you would leave my head
I was wrong, now I find
Just one thing makes me forget

Red red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be alone
It's tearing apart
My blue, blue heart

Red red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be alone
It's tearing apart
My blue, blue heart...

Submit Corrections

Thanks to nina farallo, Chase for correcting these lyrics.

Writer(s): Neil Diamond

This song was originally written, performed, and recorded by Neil Diamond for his second album, "Just for You", in 1967.

Though it was UB40's reggae version of this track which became the best known since 1983, there was another reggae-influenced rendition made by Tony Tribe in 1969. The UB40 version was in a lighter reggae style. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

Astro, the former vocalist and trumpet player of UB40, stated that the band knew only Tony Tribe's version. He told the Financial Times, "Even when we saw the writing credit which said 'N Diamond,' we thought it was a Jamaican artist called Negus Diamond."

In the music video, lead singer Ali Campbell is actually drinking beer, and not red wine.

Neil Diamond performed a UB40-inspired version of the song while on tour. He used to say that it was one of his favorite covers of his songs.

UB40 performed this song at Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert in 1988.