Cliff moved to Kingston in 1962. After he released two singles that failed to make much of an impression, his career took off when his "Hurricane Hattie" became a hit, while he was aged just 14; it was produced by Leslie Kong, with whom Cliff would remain until Kong's death. Later local hit singles included "King of Kings", "Dearest Beverley" and "Pride and Passion". In 1964, Cliff was chosen as one of the Jamaican representatives at the World's Fair, and Cliff soon signed to Island Records and moved to Britain. Island initially (and unsuccessfully) tried to sell Cliff to the rock audience, but his career took off in the late 1960s. His international debut album was Hard Road to Travel, which received excellent reviews and included "Waterfall", a Brazilian hit that won the International Song Festival.
"Waterfall" was followed in 1969 by "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Vietnam" in 1970, both popular throughout most of the world. Folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan even called "Vietnam" the best protest song he'd ever heard. Wonderful World included a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World", which was a success in 1970.
Leslie Kong died of a heart attack in 1971. The soundtrack to the reggae film The Harder They Come was a huge success that sold well across the world, but did not break Cliff into the mainstream. After a series of albums, Cliff took a break and traveled to Africa, exploring his newfound Muslim spirituality. He quickly returned to music, touring for several years before he recorded with Kool & the Gang for Power & the Glory (1983). (During the 1981 River Tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band added Cliff's little-known "Trapped" to their live set; it achieved great prominence when included on 1985's We Are the World benefit album.) The follow-up, Cliff Hanger (1985) won a Grammy Award, though it was his last major success in the U.S. until 1993. He continued to sell well in Jamaica and, to a lesser extent, the UK, returning to the mainstream pop charts in the U.S. and elsewhere with a version of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" on the Cool Runnings film soundtrack in 1993 .
In 2002, Cliff released his new album, Fantastic Plastic People in Europe, after first providing free downloads using Delacove's People Music Media p2p software. This album featured collaborations with Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox, and Sting as well as new songs that were very reminiscent of Cliff's original hits. In 2004 Cliff completely reworked the songs, dropping the traditional reggae in favor of an electronica sound, for inclusion in Black Magic.
Cliff has also covered the famous African song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
His recording of 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' was used as a campaign anthem by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the 1990 election in Nicaragua (they lost). It was also adopted by the British Conservative Party during their annual conference in October, 2007. It is unclear whether Mr Cliff endorsed either party. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame March 15,2010.
007
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
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0-0-7
At ocean eleven
And now rudeboys have a go wail
Cause them out of jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
Cause them must get bail
A Shanty Town
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem rudeboys get a probation
A Shanty Town
And rudeboy bomb up the town
A Shanty Town
0-0-7
0-0-7
At ocean eleven
And the rudeboys a go wail
Cause them out of jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
Cause them must get bail
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem rudeboys get a probation
A Shanty Town
And rudeboy bomb up the town
A Shanty Town
Police get taller
A Shanty Town
Soldier get longer
A Shanty Town
Rudeboy a weep and a wail
A Shanty Town
The lyrics of Jimmy Cliff's song "007" depict the chaos and violence of Shanty Town, a real-life impoverished neighborhood in Jamaica. The title refers to the famous fictional spy James Bond, as the number 007 is his agent number. In the song, 007 represents the rudeboys, young men who were known for their criminal activities and rebellion against authority. The lyrics describe how the rudeboys, after being released from jail, continue their criminal ways by looting, shooting, and bombing up the town. They are determined not to fail and must get bail, no matter the cost.
The song also speaks to the larger societal issues that give rise to the rudeboy culture. The police and soldiers are portrayed as ineffective and unable to bring peace to Shanty Town, and the rudeboys are crying out for some sort of change. The lyrics suggest that there is little hope for improvement considering the state of the neighborhood and the failing justice system. The song is a powerful commentary on the social issues in Jamaica during the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
0-0-7
Referring to James Bond, a fictional spy known for his skill and success
At ocean eleven
Referencing the popular movie about a heist, insinuating that the situation is like a high-stakes crime
And now rudeboys have a go wail
The criminals are happy and celebrating because they have been released from jail
Cause them out of jail
The reason for the criminals' celebration is their release from a prison sentence
Rudeboys cannot fail
Criminals are successful and unstoppable in committing their crimes
Cause them must get bail
The criminals need to get bail to continue their criminal activities, as they cannot fail in this pursuit
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
The criminals are stealing (looting) and killing (shooting) and crying out in joy (wailing)
A Shanty Town
The setting is a poor area, often associated with crime and violence
Dem rudeboys get a probation
The criminals (rudeboys) are given probation, indicating leniency from law enforcement
And rudeboy bomb up the town
The criminals are causing chaos and destruction in the town
Police get taller
Police become more prevalent and intimidating in the area
Soldier get longer
Military forces become more involved in attempting to control the situation
Rudeboy a weep and a wail
The criminals are now crying and mourning instead of celebrating, suggesting that the situation has become more dangerous and challenging for them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DESMOND DEKKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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