If It Happens Again

"If It Happens Again"
Single by UB40
from the album Geffery Morgan
B-side	"Nkomo A Go-Go"
Released	10 September 1984 (1984-09-10)[1]
Genre	Reggae fusion
Length	3:39
Label	DEP International A&M
Songwriter(s)	UB40
Producer(s)	UB40 Howard Gray
UB40 singles chronology
"Cherry Oh Baby" (1984) "If It Happens Again" (1984) "Riddle Me" (1984)

"If It Happens Again" is a song and single written and performed by British group, UB40.[2] It was featured on their album Geffery Morgan and was released in 1984 reaching 9, on the UK charts, staying for eight weeks.[3] It also made 9 on the Irish charts[4] and 8 on the Dutch charts.[5]

"If It Happens Again" was originally an instrumental called "Bouncing Around" dating back to when the band formed in 1978.[6] The lyrics were later written as the group's response to Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party's victory in the 1983 UK election. It contains the lines "If it happens again I'm leaving, I'll pack my things and go... I won't say I told you so" and is considered a protest song of the time.[7]

Track listing

7": DEP International / DEP 11

1. "If It Happens Again" – 3:39
2. "Nkomo A Go-Go" – 3:14

12": DEP International / DEP 10-12

1. "If It Happens Again" (Dance Mix) – 6:26
2. "Nkomo A Go-Go" (Dance Mix) – 4:56

12": A&M / SP-12112 (US)

1. "If It Happens Again" (Extended Version) – 6:25
2. "If It Happens Again" (Single Version) – 3:40
3. "Nkomo A Go-Go" – 4:56

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1984) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 55 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 56 Ireland (IRMA)[11] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 28 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 9 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] If It Happens Again / Nkomo A Go-Go 69

Year-end charts Chart (1984) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 64

References

1. "Doling it out". Record Mirror. 1 September 1984. p. 4.
2. "If It Happens Again". www.discogs.com. 10 September 1984. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
3. "UK Official charts - UB40". www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
4. "UB40 chart history - Ireland". www.irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
5. "UB 40 Chart History - Netherlands". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
6. Campbell, Ali; Campbell, Robin (2006). Blood and Fire: The Autobiography of the UB40 Brothers. Arrow. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-09-947654-2.
7. "Thatcher's pop legacy - protest songs or the charity single?". www.channel4.com. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
9. "UB40 – If It Happens Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9590." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If It Happens Again". Irish Singles Chart.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
13. "UB40 – If It Happens Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
14. "UB40 – If It Happens Again". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
15. "UB40: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
16. "UB40 Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
17. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
18. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 September 2021.