Food For Thought
by UB40

Album: Signing Off (1980)
Charted: 4
Play Video
  • 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

    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

    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 Writer/s: Ali Campbell, Brian Travers, Earl Falconer, Jim Brown, Michael Virtue, Norman Hassan, Robin Campbell, Terrence Oswald Wilson
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Pat from MkI always heard it correctly as Ivory Madonna, but ironically I saw it as an optimistic song about the rebirth of Christ to help mankind.
  • Peti from LhAlways knew it was Ivory Madonna but never payed attention to what it was about. My sister sent me the song this morning so I looked up the lyrics (I thought she was trying to tell me something) and understood it straight away. The song is perfectly perfect. Rings true to what is happening in the world to this day. I now have a deeper love for this song. A lot of interesting facts here especially about their name.
  • Brian Foley from Auckland, New ZealandGreat song, with meaning, very unique sound, unfortunately after their album 'signing off', which this song featured on, the band drifted off into doing covers of other artists.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.