Jimmy Cliff OM (Jamaican Order of Merit) born as James Chambers (1 April 19… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Cliff OM (Jamaican Order of Merit) born as James Chambers (1 April 1948, St. Catherine, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known among mainstream audiences for songs like "Sittin' in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want," "Many Rivers to Cross" and the title track from The Harder They Come, a film soundtrack which helped popularise reggae across the world.
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.
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.
King Of Kings
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
The Lion say "I am king in this range"
"No more kings must be in this backyard"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
Elephant say "I am King 'cause I'm strong"
The Giraffe say "I am King 'cause my neck is long"
"There's no doubt that you are all wrong"
The Lion say "I am king 'cause I'm double strong"
"I'm king of kings and Lord of Lords in this land
No more back talk, and any of you
'Cause I'm king
From the beginning, I was made king"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
"I'm King of kings and Lord of Lords in this land
No more back talk, and any of you
'Cause I'm king
From the beginning, I was made king"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
And this mean the lion say "I'm the king"
"King of kings and Lord of Lords
I reign in this land"
"King of kings and Lord of Lords
The Lion say
The Lion say "I am king in this range"
"No more kings must be in this backyard"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
Elephant say "I am King 'cause I'm strong"
The Giraffe say "I am King 'cause my neck is long"
"There's no doubt that you are all wrong"
"I'm king of kings and Lord of Lords in this land
No more back talk, and any of you
'Cause I'm king
From the beginning, I was made king"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
"I'm King of kings and Lord of Lords in this land
No more back talk, and any of you
'Cause I'm king
From the beginning, I was made king"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
The Lion say "I am king and I reign"
And this mean the lion say "I'm the king"
"King of kings and Lord of Lords
I reign in this land"
"King of kings and Lord of Lords
The Lion say
that he alone holds the power in this land. He proclaims that there shall be no more kings in his backyard and that he is the only one worthy of the title. The other animals, such as the elephant and giraffe, try to challenge his claim, stating their own strengths as reasons why they too should be king. However, the Lion shuts them down, insisting that his double strength and divine right to rule from the beginning make him the true king of all kings in this land.
On a deeper level, these lyrics could represent the struggle for power and authority that exists not just in the animal kingdom, but in human society as well. It speaks to the notion that those who are strongest, most well-adapted, or most deserving are the ones who rise to positions of power, and that once they hold that power, they are determined to keep it at all costs. It highlights the obsession with power and control that humans can have, and how that can lead to conflict and oppression.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Cliff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@roybean7166
I live in south Africa, have loved Jimmy cliffs music many, many years. Have most of his albums, vinyl. Have not heard this before. Beautiful, melodious voice.
@samuelnatabbrey9654
I love Jimmy and his songs for real, this was sang at age 20, so natural and melodious.
@donhue4546
he was 16
@yarteyey
Jimmy Cliff is just too great. Listening to this song sends cold shivers down my spine. It's just melodious, spiritually inclined. Jimmy, may God give you long life for you to continue to give us such spiritual food..... Jah bless.
@oddbod8655
Keep the faith and keep skankin folks.Love it.Thank you Jimmy.
@barbaraagard111
That's our lion Mr Jimmy Cliff!
@mervinlevy5643
This song is well penned....love the comedy , the arrangement is great, just a nice simple song with a sweet melody❤️🎶✅🇯🇲👍😍🎸🎼
@colinberresford5506
Love this since around 1964..
@Sealice1663
early 60s ska was the beat man.....the maytals....jimmy cliff....pioneers
@MrGustavoagonzalez
Truly rasta... King of king.. The Lion of juda Ras(head) jesus... Praise Jah