He was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in St. Andrew, Jamaica and grew up in Kingston, where he attended the Alpha Boys' School. After his mother took ill and died, his father moved him to St. Mary's, and then to St. Thomas, where he apprenticed as a tailor before returning to Kingston and taking a job as a welder, singing around his workplace while his co-workers encouraged him. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle). Neither were impressed by his talents, and the young man moved on to Leslie Kong's Beverley record label, where he auditioned before Derrick Morgan, then the label's biggest star.
With Morgan's support, Dekker was signed but did not record until 1963 because Leslie Kong wanted to wait for the perfect song, which "Honour Your Father and Mother" was felt to be.
“Honour Your Father and Mother” was a hit and was followed by “Sinners Come Home” and “Labour for Learning,” as well as a name change (from Desmond Dacres to Desmond Dekker). His fourth hit, however, made him into one of the island's biggest stars. It was “King of Ska,” a rowdy and jubilant song on which Dekker was backed by The Cherrypies (also known as The Maytals). The song remains well known among ska fans. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, who became his backing band, The Four Aces.
Dekker and the Howards recorded a number of hits including “Parents,” “Get Up Edina,” “This Woman,” and “Mount Zion.” Until 1967 Dekker's songs were polite and conveyed respectable, mainstream messages. In that year, however, he appeared on Derrick Morgan's “Tougher Than Tough,” which helped begin a trend of popular songs glamourizing the violent rude boy culture. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular tunes though he did introduce lyrics which resonated with the rude boys starting with one of his best-known songs, “007 (Shanty Town)”. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon and also became an established hero in the United Kingdom's mod scene. “007 (Shanty Town)” was a Top 15 hit in the UK, and he toured that country with a posse of mods following him.
Dekker continued with songs in the same vein such as “Rude Boy Train” and “Rudie Got Soul”, as well as continuing with his previous themes of religion and morality in songs like “It's a Shame”, “Wise Man”, “Hey Grandma”, “Unity”, “It Pays”, “Mother's Young Girl” and “Sabotage.” His “Pretty Africa” is a long-standing favourite among his fans and may be the earliest popular song promoting repatriation. Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).
In 1968 Dekker's “Israelites” was released, appearing on both the U.S. and UK singles chart, and eventually topping the latter and peaking in the Top Ten of the former. He was the first Jamaican performer to enter U.S. markets with pure Jamaican music, though he never repeated the feat. Equally, the track became the first reggae song to top the UK chart. That same year saw the release of “Beautiful and Dangerous,” “Writing on the Wall,” “Music Like Dirt”, “Bongo Girl,” and “Shing a Ling.” In the same year, Dekker was mentioned as "Desmond" by his friend Paul McCartney in The Beatles' song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", when it was released on 'The White Album'.
1969 saw the release of “It Mek,” which first saw only lukewarm success but was re-recorded and became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. He also released “Problems” and “Pickney Gal,” both of which were popular in Jamaica but saw only limited success elsewhere.
Mid career (the 1970s)
In the 1970s Dekker spent most of his time touring and moved to the UK, where he continued to record. Among his best known releases of this period was “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” written by Jimmy Cliff, which Dekker had not wanted to record but was convinced to do so by Leslie Kong. Dekker's recording of the song uses the same instrumental backing track as Cliff's original.
Kong, whose production had been an instrumental part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971 and both his protegés lost direction for a period before returning to music.
Dekker continued recording, but with only limited success until he began working with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. His first hit with the pair was 1975's “Sing a Little Song” which climbed in to the British Top Ten. Dekker was unable to follow its success, however, and did not chart in the UK for some time (except for the Top Ten re-charting of “Israelites” in 1975). Dekker also found only a limited audience in Jamaica.
At the end of the 1970s Dekker signed with Stiff Records, a punk label linked with the Two-Tone movement, a fusion of punk and ska. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker's backing band. His first single was “Israelites,” a Top Ten Belgian hit, and was followed by “Please Don't Bend,” Jimmy Cliff's “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Book of Rules.” His next album was Compass Point, produced by Robert Palmer. Though Compass Point did not sell well, Dekker was still a popular live performer and he toured with The Rumour.
Later life
In the early 1980s, as the Two Tone movement died out, he saw his fortunes dwindle and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Only a single live album was released in the late 80s, but a new version of “Israelites” reawakened public interest in 1990, following its use in a Maxell advertisement. He re-recorded some old singles, and worked with The Specials for 1992's King of Kings', which used hits from Dekker's musical heroes, including Derrick Morgan.
He also collaborated on a remix version of his classic “Israelites” with reggae artist Apache Indian.
Death
Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon , England, aged 64. He was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter.
Many Rivers to Cross
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't seem to find
My way over Wandering I am lost
As I travel along
White cliffs of Dover But this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
My woman left me
She did not say why
But it's only my will
That keeps me alive I've been licked
Washed up for years
And I merely survive
Because of my pride But this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
My woman left me
She did not say why
So I guess, I'll have to try Many rivers to cross
But just where to I begin
I'm searchin for time But this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
My woman left me
She did not say why
So I guess, I'll have to try Many rivers to cross...
Desmond Dekker's "Many Rivers to Cross" speaks about a man who is wandering through life feeling lost and alone. The artist uses a metaphor of many rivers to suggest that there are many obstacles in his path and he cannot seem to find a way over. The white cliffs of Dover likened to symbolize the journey of the artist- a metaphorical journey that has highs and lows, hills and valleys. The artist suggests that his loneliness is like an unwelcome shadow that always follows him- a burden that he can never seem to shake.
The song conveys a deep sense of sadness and desperation. The artist feels like he has been defeated and washed up for years. The only thing that keeps him alive is his will to survive, to keep his head up high even when the woman he loved betrayed him. The songwriter is saying that despite everything, he has to keep trying. He has to find a way to cross those rivers, to find a new path in life, and move forward.
"Many Rivers to Cross" has become a cultural touchstone around the world, with its message of hope and resilience resonating with people of all ages and backgrounds. The song has appeared in countless movies, TV shows, commercials and even video games. It continues to be a popular choice for various artists to cover.
Line by Line Meaning
Many rivers to cross
There are many obstacles and challenges to overcome in life.
But I can't seem to find
Despite my efforts, I am unable to find a solution or way to overcome these challenges.
My way over Wandering I am lost
I am lost and unsure of which direction to take in life.
As I travel along White cliffs of Dover
As I journey through life, I encounter beautiful and majestic sights but still feel lost and alone.
But this loneliness won't leave me alone
Despite my surroundings, I still feel a deep sense of loneliness and isolation.
It's such a drag to be on your own
Being alone and without companionship is a difficult and challenging experience.
My woman left me She did not say why
My partner has left me without explanation or reason, leaving me feeling lost and confused.
So I guess, I have to try
I must persevere and keep trying despite the difficulties in my life.
But it's only my will That keeps me alive
My determination and willpower are the only things keeping me going.
I've been licked Washed up for years
I have faced repeated failures and setbacks for a long time.
And I merely survive Because of my pride
My sense of pride and refusal to give up are the only reasons I am still hanging on.
But just where to I begin I'm searchin for time
I am unsure of where to start my journey towards overcoming my challenges, and I am searching for more time to figure it out.
Many rivers to cross...
Despite the difficulties I face, I must keep moving forward and continue to overcome each obstacle as it comes.
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.