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.
Fundamental Reggay
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you like sound
Some people like rhythm
Well just stick around
This is the music
For all who love beat
Soup in their nature
And move every feet
This is fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
It's got some calypso
Just like in rock afro
Classical notion
To steal your emotion
So get around children
Tell mommy and poppy
You found a solution
To make everyone happy
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
Take it a
This is fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
I know you love music
I know you like sound
Some people like rhythm
Well just stick around
This is the music
For all who love beat
It's got some calypso
Just like in rock afro
This is fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
Children, fundamental reggae
The lyrics of Jimmy Cliff's song "Fundamental Reggae" can be interpreted as an invitation to people who love music and rhythm, to listen to his reggae music. The song starts with the artist acknowledging the universal appeal of sound and rhythm, with a particular emphasis on those who love to move to the beat of music. Cliff then introduces his music as fundamental reggae, a genre that combines calypso and rock afro with classical elements. The lyrics suggest that this fusion of music is designed to evoke strong emotions in listeners and be a solution for making everyone happy.
In essence, the song encourages listeners to embrace the beats and sounds of fundamental reggae and to share it with anyone who might appreciate it. The singer is confident that once people get around to listening to it, they will appreciate the music and will acknowledge it as the fundamental roots of reggae. Furthermore, it can be seen that the purpose of the song is not only to share a love for music but also to bring people together through the medium of fundamental reggae.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you love music
Acknowledging that the listener is a lover of music
I know you like sound
Acknowledging that the listener appreciates good sounds
Some people like rhythm
Noting that some people are drawn to specific musical elements
Well just stick around
Encouraging the listener to keep listening to this type of music
This is the music
Introducing fundamental Reggae as a genre of music
For all who love beat
Stating that this type of music is for those who enjoy the beat
Soup in their nature
Indicating that dancing and moving to music is inherent or natural to some people
And move every feet
Emphasizing the physical nature of this type of music
It's got some calypso
Describing the specific musical influences found in fundamental Reggae
Just like in rock afro
More description of the various influences in the genre
Classical notion
Implying that the genre is rooted in traditional musical ideas
To steal your emotion
Suggesting that the music can be powerful and emotional
So get around children
Addressing listeners in a playful way, inviting them to listen and enjoy
Tell mommy and poppy
Suggesting that the music is appropriate for all ages
You found a solution
Implying that the music can have a positive and unifying effect on people
To make everyone happy
Emphasizing the power of music to bring joy and happiness to people
Fundamental reggae
Repeating the name of the genre to emphasize it
Oh, take it with ya'all the way
Encouraging the listener to fully embrace and enjoy the music
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eddymanijean6794
I know you love music
I know you like sound
Some people like rhythm
Well just stick around
This is the music
For all who love beat
Soup in their nature
And move every feet.
This is: fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh take it with ya'all the way
It's got some calypso
Just like in rock afro
Classical notion
To steal your emotion
So get around children
Tell mommy and poppy
You found a solution
To make everyone happy
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh take it with ya'all the way
Take it-a
This is: fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Oh take it with ya'all the way
I know you love music
I know you like sound
Some people like rhythm
Well just stick around
This is the music
For all who love beat
It's got some calypso
Just like in rock afro
This is: fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
Fundamental reggae
@dieteroetzel8071
when I was young!! I still have this LP!with almost 65 years of age Reggae still keeps my hips swinging! :-)
@nicolastumba2469
The first time we heard this word "REGGAE" in Africa ,it was JIMMY.
@stanleystamiri6965
When I heard this song at my young age in the 70's I still didn't' even know anything about reggae then but I liked it so much to the extend that my parents called it my song.
@samuelekanem1654
Wow !
The memory of my days in Hope Waddell remains indelible. Lawrence Ime Okon where are you ?
@nelsonmkisi6069
Oh.sweet.reggae.I.rember.to.me.I.heard.this.song.in.1979
@lawrencenjawe1935
UNLIMITED (ALBUM) was my introduction to reggae in early 70s like everyone in Africa.
@skyemasterson1111
East Central State, Nigeria. The '70s.
@dinahammah7648
Give your music to us Jimmy Cliff, your fans
@miclexis
Unlimited was my introduction to island music......unforgetable
@justinankuwa9390
❤💃love ya JC!!!