From his website:
If you know reggae music, you know Clinton 'Basie' Fearon. Clinton Fearon is counted among Jamaica's most talented musicians by peers and professionals in the Reggae music industry. His infectious bass riffs, guitar licks, percussion accents and powerful vocals make Bassie a living legend amongst reggae musicians and fans.
As a youth, Bassie went to Kingston to eventually become the well-known bassist, vocalist and lyricist for The Gladiators as well as a house musician for Coxsonne Dodd’s Studio One and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark Studio. Fearon recorded many of Perry's best known songs, including Roast Fish and Cornbread which features one of Fearon's most famous bass lines. He also composed some everlasting basslines for Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many many others.
One More River
Clinton Fearon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more river to cross
But when the sun says goodbye
To the morning then they'll be
No more river to cross
One more river to cross
One more river to cross
Will reach the other side
One more river to cross
The master's cup is full and running over
While violence seem to be taking over
But not until the sun say goodbye
To the morning before they'll be
No more river to cross every day
Another river to cross
Another river to cross
Only the chosen few
Will reach the other side
One more river to cross
By Preto
Clinton Fearon's One More River is a classic reggae song about the struggles and challenges in life. The repeat of "One more river to cross" throughout the song symbolizes the hardships one has to endure in their lifetime. The lyrics suggest that life is full of challenges, and we must always be prepared to face them. The line "Only the chosen few will reach the other side" implies that not everyone will be able to overcome these challenges, and only the strongest will succeed. The use of the words "master's cup" and "violence" in the second verse possibly refers to the imbalance of power and oppression that exists in society.
The line "But not until the sun says goodbye to the morning before they'll be no more river to cross every day" is particularly insightful because it suggests that every day has its struggles, but one must keep pushing forward until they have overcome every obstacle in their path. The song offers a message of hope that if we keep striving, we will eventually reach our destination, represented by the other side of the river.
Line by Line Meaning
One more river to cross
There is still a challenge to overcome
One more river to cross
Despite having overcome many obstacles, there is still another challenge ahead
But when the sun says goodbye
To the morning then they'll be
No more river to cross
Eventually, all challenges will be overcome and there will be peace
Only the chosen few
Will reach the other side
Success is not guaranteed and only some will be able to overcome the challenge
The master's cup is full and running over
While violence seem to be taking over
Despite success, the world around us may still be chaotic and violent
Not until the sun say goodbye
To the morning before they'll be
No more river to cross every day
Every day brings new challenges and obstacles, which will continue until peace is achieved
Another river to cross
Another river to cross
Despite having overcome the previous challenge, another one has already appeared
Only the chosen few
Will reach the other side
Success is still not guaranteed and only some will be able to overcome the next challenge
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.