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.
Children's Bread
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And give it to the dogs
Took the children's bread
And give it to the dogs
They took the children′s bread
And give it to the dogs
Makin' so many peoples lives so hard
In came all the rats
Stole away the cheese
And doing as they please
Jack Spratt ate all the fat
His wife ate all the lean
And so between the both, you see
They licked the platter clean, so
They took the children's bread
And give it to the dogs
They took the children′s bread
And give it to the dogs
They took the children′s bread
And give it to the dogs
Makin' so many peoples lives so hard
We′re singing
Now there's a gathering on Main Street
Shuffling on Wall Street
To a new drum beat
Turning up the heat, now
Now the weak get strong
Singing a new song
Time has come for us to right the wrong
They took the children′s bread, hey
And give it to the dogs
They took the children's bread
And give it to the dogs
I say they took the children′s bread
And give it to the dogs
Makin' so many peoples lives so hard
We're singing
They took the children′s bread, hey
And give it to the dogs
They took the children′s bread
And give it to the dogs
They took the children's bread
And give it to the dogs
Makin′ so many peoples lives so hard, hey
Makin' so many peoples lives so hard, hey
Makin′ so many peoples lives so hard
Jimmy Cliff's song "Children's Bread" is a poignant commentary on the harsh realities of life and the way in which those in power turn a blind eye to the struggles of the most vulnerable. The first verse begins with the stark observation that "they took the children's bread and gave it to the dogs," highlighting the cold-heartedness of those in authority who hoard resources and squander them on their own gain without regard for those who go hungry. The repeated refrain in the song emphasizes the impact of such actions, making the lives of ordinary people so much harder. The second verse portrays a world in which the rich get richer while the poor struggle to survive, with the rats stealing the cheese and Jack Spratt and his wife fighting over the scraps of food. The song highlights the injustices that occur on a daily basis and the need for people to come together to fight against those who exploit and oppress them.
Overall, "Children's Bread" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the experiences of people who struggle to make ends meet in a society that values power and wealth above all else. The song's message is particularly relevant in today's world, where income inequality continues to grow and those at the bottom of the economic ladder are left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
They took the children's bread
The powers that be took away what rightfully belonged to the innocent and vulnerable
And give it to the dogs
They gave it to those who did not deserve it or truly need it
Makin' so many peoples lives so hard
Causing immense suffering and struggle for many individuals and communities
Now while those cats get fat
While the wealthy and powerful enjoy their riches
In came all the rats
Those who are willing to take advantage of and exploit others followed suit
Stole away the cheese
They took what little resources were left for the struggling masses
And doing as they please
Acting with complete disregard for the needs and well-being of others
Jack Spratt ate all the fat
The few at the top took everything they could get their hands on
His wife ate all the lean
Even those who were not at the very top still took what they could and left nothing for others
And so between the both, you see
Both the rich and those slightly less well-off contributed to this injustice
They licked the platter clean, so
They left nothing behind for those who were truly in need
Now there's a gathering on Main Street
A movement of the people is taking shape
Shuffling on Wall Street
This movement is challenging and resisting the system that has perpetuated this injustice
To a new drum beat
This movement is powered by a new sense of purpose and urgency
Turning up the heat, now
This movement is putting pressure on those in power to make change
Now the weak get strong
Those who were once powerless are starting to gain strength and voice
Singing a new song
This movement is calling for something new and better
Time has come for us to right the wrong
The time has arrived for those who have suffered to receive justice and for those responsible for their suffering to be held accountable
Writer(s): Anthony Williams Ii
Contributed by Julian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ross
A very good song on an outstanding album.
Wendy Joseph
Brilliant Album... Excellent Song....
edzsjuelaj
Amazing !!!!!!!🥰💞
Nicki Brick
You've got to be crazy not to like this.
Eder Milharese
The Best ( Brazil )
Satan
tim armstrong is a motherfucking genius