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.
Dear Mother
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kind, devoted and true
Dear mother I'm sending to you
Best wishes and all the day through
May your days be cloudless and clear
Bringing to you true happiness
Each day and night of the year
And I love her so
More than any other
Anywhere I go
Do you have a dear mother
Kind, devoted and true
Dear mother may all that is fair
Come to you right through the year
While I was a child you were my god
You were always dear to me and always were by my side
She's my mother
And I love her so, yes I do
More than any other
Anywhere I go
Do you have a dear mother
So devoted and true
Dear mother I'm sending to you
Best wishes and all the day through
May your days be cloudless and clear
Bringing to you true happiness each day and night of the year
She's my mother
And I love her so, yes I do
More than any other
Anywhere I go, talking 'bout my mother
She's my mother
And I love her so
More than any other, woman in this world
Anywhere I go
She's my mother
The lyrics to Jimmy Cliff's song "Dear Mother" express love and gratitude towards a mother figure. The song opens with a question, asking if the listener has a kind and devoted mother before declaring the singer's own love for his mother. The singer wishes his mother happiness and a life free of troubles, and reminisces about her constant presence throughout his childhood. The chorus repeats the declaration of love and loyalty towards the singer's mother, reminding the listener that she is the most important woman in his life.
The message of "Dear Mother" is simple and universal; it expresses a heartfelt appreciation for the love and care of a mother. The lyrics suggest a deeply personal connection between the singer and his mother, and convey a sense of comfort and safety that can only come from a loving parent. The song is not only a tribute to the singer's own mother, but also serves as a reminder of the importance of maternal love and support.
Overall, "Dear Mother" is a touching and emotional tribute to the bond between a mother and her child. Through its heartfelt lyrics and soulful delivery, the song captures the essence of the love and gratitude that so many people feel towards their mothers.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you have a dear mother
Asking if one has a mother who is kind, caring, and loving.
Kind, devoted and true
Describing the qualities of a dear mother who is affectionate, dedicated, and trustworthy.
Dear mother I'm sending to you
Sending greetings and expressing love to one's mother.
Best wishes and all the day through
Wishing the mother happiness and success throughout the day and year.
May your days be cloudless and clear
Wishing the mother a life free from worries and troubles.
Bringing to you true happiness
Wishing the mother genuine joy and contentment in her life.
Each day and night of the year
Wishing the mother happiness every day and every night of the year.
She's my mother
Expressing that the person singing the song has a mother.
And I love her so
Expressing great affection and love towards one's mother.
More than any other
Saying that the love towards one's mother is greater than towards any other person.
Anywhere I go
Continuing to express love and admiration towards one's mother no matter where one travels or goes.
So devoted and true
Describing the mother's commitment to her child and her genuine nature.
While I was a child you were my god
Expressing the mother's importance in the child's life and how revered she was during childhood.
You were always dear to me and always were by my side
Stating that the mother was always present in the child's life and was always cherished.
Woman in this world
Referencing the fact that the mother is a woman in this world who is loved more than any other.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alistaliko Phiri
The song reminds me of the love my mother gave me. May her soul rest in peace.
Aframaco
Beautiful song , Cliff’s early recordings of his career were unique in themselves!
Certainly a different kind of “individual” reggae!
He does supreme justice to Joe Higgs’s Dear Mother here!
Marcos Jocely dos santos dos santos
O Jimmy Cliff, é um cantor Fantástico, maravilhoso, simplesmente Best of the Best
Basil Ollivierre
I've just lost my grandmother of 96 yrs on Friday. Ever since I've been playing this song and everytime I play it I can't keep the tears from flowing.
R.I.P GRANNY
WE ALL LOVE YOU
May the Angels continue to watch over you while you sleep.
sisslims29 guess
2020 and we are having a Quarantine Mother's Day. This song was in my head all morning and I could not remembered the lyrics except for one line. Then boom, it came to me. Thank you Jimmy Cliff for this beautiful Mother's Day song.
Maria Juliana
Jimmy Cliff é fantástico!
Monimang Khumalo
My mom loved this song so much. Every time i listen to it i can feel her presence may your soul rest in peace my dear mother.
Eugênia Chagas da Silva
E essa mesma
smith hakeem
I lose my mom 3 yrs a go RIP Mom
Fgg Gfhh
Monimang Khumalo c