He started to record very young under various names (Prince Winston, Winston Cool or Youth Winston). He mainly met success in the mid to late 1970s, with his best known album being Best Dressed Chicken in Town (1978), a Greensleeves Records collection of tracks recorded in the mid-70s, featuring Alimantado toasting over singers such as John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Jackie Edwards and Horace Andy. Alimantado became popular with punk rockers in the '70s following Johnny Rotten praising him in an interview. He was mentioned in The Clash song Rudie Can't Fail in the line "Like the doctor who was born for a purpose".
Alimantado's biggest hits were "A Place Called Africa" and "Born for a Purpose".
Still Alive
Dr. Alimantado Lyrics
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Beneath the moonlight and the sun
Driving through the plains in a heartfelt broken night
Driving through the shape of things that dim the evening light
Building an arch to sail through the comfort of our pain
The cities of our past and the places in our dreams that we left so much in vain
As if we'd ever tried to find the something in our wake
There's a shadow on the wall
There's a shadow on the wall
There's a shadow on the wall
It tells me if I'm still walking tall
Dream on our way together a shade of unicorn
And dream on together, dream together that that all is not forlorn
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
And we dream
That we're alive
That we're still alive
That we're alive
That we're still alive
That we're alive
The opening lines of Dr. Alimantado & The Rebels' song "Still Alive" set a mood of a long and arduous journey. The singer of the song has been driving for a while, and the reference to both moonlight and sun implies that it has been a journey lasting for more than one day. As the journey continues through the night, the lyrics suggest that it is not just a physical journey, but also an emotional one. There are things that dim the evening light, and the travelers are building an arch to "sail through the comfort of our pain." The cities of their past and the places they dreamed of but could not achieve are behind them, leaving them with only "something in our wake." The woman in the car comments "Sweet dreams," which could be a moment of hope or resignation, and then lowers her "broken faded gaze."
The repeated refrain, "There's a shadow on the wall," underscores the sense of unease and the feeling that something is not right with the world. The shadow is a metaphor for something ominous that might be closing in on the singer. The shadow will tell the singer if he is still "walking tall," which could also mean that it is a metaphor for self-doubt and insecurity.
The song ends on a note of hope, however. The singer dreams of "a shade of unicorn," which suggests that he is wishing for something magical and impossible to come into his life. And he persists in dreaming and hoping, even though the journey has been hard, and the world seems threatening.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been driving oh so long
We have been traveling for a long time
Beneath the moonlight and the sun
During both day and night
Driving through the plains in a heartfelt broken night
Traveling through open fields during an emotional, difficult time
Driving through the shape of things that dim the evening light
Encountering obstacles that make it hard to see in the darkness
Building an arch to sail through the comfort of our pain
Creating a way to move past the hurt and find solace
The cities of our past and the places in our dreams that we left so much in vain
Referring to the places and people we've lost along the way
Sweet dreams she said as she lowered her broken faded gaze
Asking for pleasant thoughts to comfort during tough times
As if we'd ever tried to find the something in our wake
Reflecting on the struggle to find meaning or happiness in the past
There's a shadow on the wall
Feeling the presence of something dark and ominous
It tells me if I'm still walking tall
Suggesting that the shadow makes one question their strength and resilience
Dream on our way together a shade of unicorn
Hoping to find happiness and magic in the journey ahead
And dream on together, dream together that that all is not forlorn
Hoping to find a sense of purpose and possibility in the future
And we dream
Continuing to have hope for the future
That we're alive
Being grateful for the present moment and the fact that we are still living
That we're still alive
Recognizing the struggles faced and overcome, but still finding hope
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Malte Riesch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind