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.
10 Sitting In Limbo
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I know it won't be long
Sitting here in limbo
Like a bird without a song
Well, they're
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the dice to roll
Sitting here in limbo
Got some time to search my soul
Well, they're
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
I don't know where life will lead me
But I know where I've been
I can't say what life will show me
But I know what I've seen
Tried my hand
At love and friendship
But all that is passed and gone
This little boy is moving on
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the tide to flow
Sitting here in limbo
Knowing that I have to go
Well, they're
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
I can't say what life will show me
But I know what I've seen
I can't say where life will lead me
But I know where I've been
Tried my hand
At love and friendship
But all that is passed and gone
This little boy is moving on
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the tide to flow
Sitting here in limbo
Knowing that I have to go
Well, they're
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, limbo
Sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, limbo
Limbo, limbo
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Don't know if it's got to be so
Don't know if it's got to be so (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo))
Sitting in limbo, sitting here in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
But I know we won't belong now
I know we won't belong (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Hey, yeah (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Ah ha ha ha ha (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Ah ah ah ah ha (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
In Jimmy Cliff's song Sitting In Limbo, the lyrics depict a sense of waiting and uncertainty. The singer is in a state of limbo, waiting for something to happen. Throughout the song, the singer expresses a sense of resilience, even in the face of resistance. Despite not knowing where life will lead them, the singer knows where they have been and what they have seen. The song includes the repetition of the phrase "sitting in limbo," emphasizing the feeling of being stuck and waiting for something to change.
The line "like a bird without a song" creates an image of aimlessness and lack of purpose. The singer is searching for direction and waiting for something to bring meaning to their life. The repetition of the line "putting up resistance, but I know that my faith will lead me on" emphasizes the idea of overcoming obstacles and remaining steadfast in the face of adversity.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of hope and optimism, despite the feeling of being stuck in limbo.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting here in limbo
Feeling stuck without any clear direction or progress
But I know it won't be long
Remaining optimistic that progress and change will come soon
Like a bird without a song
Feeling aimless and unfulfilled without a sense of purpose or direction
Putting up resistance
Meeting opposition or obstacles that prevent forward momentum
But I know that my faith
Staying committed and faithful to one's beliefs or goals
Will lead me on
Believing that perseverance and determination will eventually result in progress
Waiting for the dice to roll
Remaining in a state of uncertainty and hoping for a favorable outcome
Got some time to search my soul
Taking advantage of the opportunity for self-reflection and introspection
I don't know where life will lead me
Feeling uncertain about the future and what it holds
But I know where I've been
Reflecting on past experiences and using them to inform current decision-making
I can't say what life will show me
Acknowledging the unpredictability of life and its many potential outcomes
Tried my hand at love and friendship
Having experienced both success and failures in relationships and emotional connections
But all that is passed and gone
Acknowledging that past experiences cannot be changed or undone
This little boy is moving on
Deciding to let go of the past and focus on moving forward
Waiting for the tide to flow
Remaining patient and waiting for a natural progression or forward movement
Knowing that I have to go
Recognizing that a change or departure is necessary for personal growth or progress
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo
Repeating the same feeling of stagnation and uncertainty
Don't know if it's got to be so
Questioning if the current state of limbo is necessary or if it can be overcome
But I know we won't belong now
Looking forward to a future where progress and belonging are achieved
Ah ha ha ha ha
Expressing a carefree or lighthearted attitude despite difficult circumstances
Ah ah ah ah ha
Repeating the same carefree expression
Limbo, limbo
Repeating the word that symbolizes the feeling of uncertainty and stagnation
Sitting in limbo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Repeating the refrain to emphasize the main feeling of the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UBC
Written by: GUILLERMO BRIGHT-PLUMMER, JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iwe Okeoghene Blessing
on No. 1 Rip-Off Man
Chorus
One more, one more, one more, one more
Verse
I got one more song I must sing
Ting-aline, freedom ring
I got one more song I must sing
A simple song, so sing along
Repeat chorus
I got one more story to tell
Mystery, my story
I got one more story to tell
True story, my glory
Repeat chorus
I got one more arrow in my bow
As I let it go, just watch my flow
I got one more arrow in my bow
To the target, and it's a hit
Repeat chorus
Bridge
Hey baby don't you go away
I want you to listen
What I have to say
It's not over, till it's over
I'm a natural lover
Hey mister, get out of my way
This is not no time to play
Hey mister get out of my way
I got to live for another day, All we got
Chorus
One more(life to live)
One more(love to give)
One more(cliff to climb)
One more(it's my time)
I got one more bullet in my gun
And I can't run, till the deal is done
I got one more bullet in my gun
And I won't run, till the deal is done
Repeat chorus
I got one more shot at the prize
So don't be surprised, open your eyes
I got one more shot at the goal
Straight from my soul
And I'm in control
Repeat chorus till fade
Iwe Okeoghene Blessing
on No. 1 Rip-Off Man
Rip off man
Edwin Nyirenda
on Brother
Brother - Jimmy cliff
Will you patronize me – brother
Do you recognize me – brother
Do you believe what your teacher said
Or is it the food that your preacher fed
Why you minimize me – brother
Oh brother
Joseph and his brothers – left Canaan
They saw the little brother – in Egypt
They both had the same cause and the same purpose
They come about the same hurt that they got back the most
Do you understand me – my brother
Oh brother
Brother (X4)
Let us help the fallen – sister
She will love to call you – mister
Do you see the need for unity
To bring about respect and dignity
Don’t you understand me – my brother
Brother
Will you patronize me – brother
Do you recognize me – brother
Is it the things that your teacher said
Or is it the food that your preacher fed
Why you minimize me – my brother
Oh brother
Are you my brother now hey hey yeah oh yeah hey hey
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother
Are you my brother now hey hey hey hey
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother
You don’t wanna understand me now oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother