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.
Bongo Man
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bongo
Bongo man a come
Bongo
Bongo man a come
Bongo
I'm giving you the warning
So better be prepared
When bongo man gets here
Bongo man a come
Bongo
Bongo man a come
Bongo
Better be prepared
When bongo man gets here
I'm giving you the warning
A new day is dawning
Bongo man a come (yeah, come on)
Bongo (oh yeah)
Bongo man a come
The lyrics to Jimmy Cliff's song "Bongo Man" are relatively simple, but they are nonetheless powerful. The song is essentially a warning that something big is about to happen, and people need to be prepared for it. The repeated chant of "Bongo man a come" acts as a sort of mantra or warning call, urging people to get ready for whatever is coming.
The lyrics themselves don't say what exactly people need to be prepared for, and it's unclear who or what the "bongo man" is meant to represent. However, the urgent and insistent tone of the song suggests that it's something significant, something that people can't afford to ignore or take lightly.
In many ways, "Bongo Man" is a call to arms, urging listeners to be vigilant and ready to face whatever challenges come their way. The song's simple yet powerful lyrics have made it a favorite among fans of reggae music for decades, and it continues to inspire and motivate listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Bongo
Bongo is the rhythmic percussion that the Bongo man plays.
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Bongo
Bongo is the rhythmic percussion that the Bongo man plays.
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Bongo
Bongo is the rhythmic percussion that the Bongo man plays.
I'm giving you the warning
I am advising you that something is coming.
A new day is dawning
A new beginning is rising.
So better be prepared
Thus, it is important for you to take precautionary steps.
When bongo man gets here
When the Bongo man arrives, it will mark a change.
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Bongo
Bongo is the rhythmic percussion that the Bongo man plays.
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Bongo
Bongo is the rhythmic percussion that the Bongo man plays.
Better be prepared
It is important for you to be prepared.
When bongo man gets here
When the Bongo man arrives, it will mark a change.
I'm giving you the warning
I am advising you that something is coming.
A new day is dawning
A new beginning is rising.
Bongo man a come (yeah, come on)
The Bongo man is approaching (with enthusiasm).
Bongo (oh yeah)
Bongo (an affirmative acknowledgment).
Bongo man a come
The Bongo man is coming, be ready.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: 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