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.
House Of Exile
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Day of sadness and a day of joy
You could see in the day of feasting
Life isn't just a little play-like toy
So your day arrived when you least expected
'Cause you always thought you were well protected
Now you feel like a fish out of water
Oh remember you said it wouldn't happen to you
Now you're thinking how to start a new
A drowning man will catch at a straw
You were warned but you wouldn't take heed
Everything in creation must obey a law
It's true in words as it is in deed
You were so puffed up in your pomps and pride
You're exposed you got none to hide
Yes, you used to look down on the folks beside you
Never they think you would have come down too
Remember they said you got to reap what you sow
Simple truth everybody know
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Everything in creation must obey a law
It's true in words as it is in deed
The lyrics to Jimmy Cliff's "House of Exile" delve into the themes of karma, hubris, and the inevitability of consequences. The opening lines of the song establish the cyclical nature of life, where there are moments of abundance and scarcity, joys and sorrows. The lines "Day of sadness and a day of joy / You could see in the day of feasting / Life isn't just a little play-like toy" underscore the idea that life is not a game and that every action has a corresponding outcome.
The next set of lines are directed towards someone who has experienced a downfall or misfortune they never expected. The lines "Now you feel like a fish out of water / So now you're wondering what's the matter" highlights the feelings of alienation and confusion that come from a sudden change in circumstances. The song then goes on to warn against the danger of arrogance and pride, as these beliefs can lead to a false sense of security. The lines "Yes, you used to look down on the folks beside you / Never they think you would have come down too" emphasize the need for humility and compassion towards others.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that what you sow, you will eventually reap, and everything in creation must obey a law. The final lines of the song, "Oh what are you on a house of exile / Watching you now on your own last mile" suggest that the subject of the song is facing the consequences of their actions and is on the brink of losing everything.
Overall, "House of Exile" is a cautionary tale about the importance of being mindful of one's actions and their impact on others, and the ultimate consequences that come with arrogance and pride.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a day of feasting and a day of famine
Life is full of ups and downs
Day of sadness and a day of joy
Just like happiness, sadness is also a part of life
You could see in the day of feasting, Life isn't just a little play-like toy
It's important to realize that life is not just about having fun and enjoyment
So your day arrived when you least expected
Unexpected events can happen anytime in life
'Cause you always thought you were well protected
Feeling secure can make you vulnerable to unforeseen events
Now you feel like a fish out of water
Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a new situation
So now you're wondering what's the matter
Confused about what's happening and why
Oh remember you said it wouldn't happen to you
Don't be overconfident as anything can happen to anyone
Now you're thinking how to start a new
Trying to find a way to move forward from the unexpected situation
A drowning man will catch at a straw
In desperate times, people will cling to anything that seems hopeful
You were warned but you wouldn't take heed
Ignoring the warnings and negative feedback of others can lead to trouble
Everything in creation must obey a law
Life follows certain rules and patterns
It's true in words as it is in deed
Actions speak louder than words
You were so puffed up in your pomps and pride
Being arrogant and full of oneself can lead to downfall
You're exposed you got none to hide
With no secrets left, your true self is revealed
Yes, you used to look down on the folks beside you, never they think you would have come down too
Don't underestimate others as anyone can face unexpected situations
Remember they said you got to reap what you sow
Your actions have consequences, and you'll have to face them sooner or later
Oh what are you on a house of exile, watching you now on your own last mile
Feeling isolated and alone in a difficult situation with no clear end in sight
Everything in creation must obey a law
Reiterating the notion that life follows certain rules and patterns
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@singhstax
There's a day of feasting and a day of famine
Day of sadness and a day of joy
You could see in the day of feasting
Life isn't just a little play-like toy
So your day arrived when you least expected
'Cause you always thought you were well protected
Now you feel like a fish out of water
So now you're wondering what's the matter
Oh remember you said it wouldn't happen to you
Now you're thinking how to start a new
A drowning man will catch at a straw
You were warned but you wouldn't take heed
Everything in creation must obey a law
It's true in words as it is in deed
You were so puffed up in your pomps and pride
You're exposed you got none to hide
Yes, you used to look down on the folks beside you
Never they think you would have come down too
Remember they said you got to reap what you sow
Simple truth everybody know
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Oh what are you on a house of exile
Watching you now on your own last mile
Everything in creation must obey a law
It's true in words as it is in deed
@user-io1vp2du5x
My mother's favorite and my favorite too, we use to listen to it in the 80 in Ndola Zambia and the good part is that JC visited Kitwe my birth place and played his music at Nkana stadium,by then I was a kid but dad saw him. The second time time he came to kitwe he never played he was just visiting and lodging at Eden burgh hotel in the year 200. By then I was a student. Now at 51 still enjoying JC music.
@richardbwanika2166
Wow what a small and strange world! I am 51 too, and this was the music I grew up on while in exile in Kenya from the Amin years in Uganda. Other fellow exiled Ugandans would come over on Sundays for goat grilling, and my dad and mom would play this 45 record on their record player. Now years later I play it to my nephews and nieces in Massachusetts as I tell them our family history. It is wonderful to know another fellow African holds good memories over this Jimmy Cliff album. Greetings
@OluwafunmilayoShomade
I like all His music s
@charitydr.musamba9675
Am also Zamian birn in Ndola but grew up in Livingstone. We had records of KC
@kachigwendembela
What a reggae star he is. He came to Zambia when I was 15,my late brother Geoffrey took me to his show. And this was his favorite song. Long live Jimmy
@lungisaniganyaza2687
Jah bless 🙏🙏🙏
@alexfrank718
Jimmy Cliff came to my country Nigeria in early 1970's , Enugu City on a music tour to play, I was in primary school then, now am qualified graduate Mechanical Engineer and in my late fifties and a grand father am still enjoying the music, it's evergreen!
@josephlucas1534
You 've said brother, you 've said it. They don't produce music like this any more
@helenessien3729
Same here, same here exactly the same age
@JohnDoe-gx7rn
Enjoy ,Alex Frank , memories don't leave like people do ,they always stay with YOU , respect .