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.
Love Solution
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh love (Love Solution)
Love Solution
(Love Solution, love solution)
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Oh love (Love Solution)
Love Solution
Trials and crosses in our way
Pretty soon they'll have to fade away
With a little dedication, and sweet devotion, oh yeah
'Cause it's alright, so hold tight
Yes it's alright, so hold tight
Hold tight, alright
Love is a man's solution
Loving is a woman's solution
Spread it over every nation
Tell it to the young generation
Love is a boy's solution
And loving is a girl's solution
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Oh love (Love Solution)
Love solution
(Love solution, love solution)
I was born as a man from a woman
And a woman was made for a man
So put your little hands in mine
There's no hills or mountains we can't climb
So it's alright, just hold tight
Yes it's alright, just hold tight
Hold tight, alright
Love is a man's solution
Loving is a woman's solution
Spread it all over the world
Tell it to every boy and girl
Yeah, love is a boy's solution
And loving is a girl's solution
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Oh love (Love Solution)
Love solution
(Love solution, love solution)
And so as it revolves, there's no problems we can't solve
Put your little hands in mine and we'll fly, we'll fly, yeah
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Oh love
Love solution
(Love solution, love solution)
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Oh love
Love solution
(Love solution)
Spread it, all over the world
Tell it, to every boy and girl
Spread it, tell it (Love solution), spread it
All over the world
(Tell it)
(Love solution)
Spread it, tell it (Love solution)
(Love solution, oh yeah)
(Love solution)
Hey
(Love solution)
Oh yeah
(Love solution)
Oh love
(Love solution)
(Love solution)
Oh yeah
In "Love Solution", Jimmy Cliff sings about how love can solve the problems and obstacles that arise in life. He believes that dedicating oneself to love can conquer trials and crosses one may face. He acknowledges that both men and women possess the power of love and that it is a solution for both genders. Cliff emphasizes that spreading the message of love is important and necessary for every nation and every generation.
The lyrics are a call to action for everyone to join together and make the world a better place through love. The use of the phrase "hold tight" provides reassurance that things will be okay as long as one trusts in love. Cliff also highlights the unity between men and women in this quest for love, stating that they were made for each other.
"Love Solution" is a song with a positive and uplifting message that encourages people to believe in the power of love. It reminds us that love can conquer all and brings people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah (Love Solution)
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement about the Love Solution
Oh love (Love Solution)
Declaring love as the source of the Love Solution
Love Solution
The Love Solution itself, which is unknown at this point
(Love Solution, love solution)
Repeating the Love Solution as a key phrase to promote it
Trials and crosses in our way
Obstacles we face in life
Pretty soon they'll have to fade away
A positive outlook on overcoming these obstacles
With a little dedication, and sweet devotion, oh yeah
The mindset needed to overcome obstacles and achieve the Love Solution
'Cause it's alright, so hold tight / Yes it's alright, so hold tight / Hold tight, alright
Encouragement to persevere and not give up
Love is a man's solution
Men can solve problems through love
Loving is a woman's solution
Women can solve problems through love
Spread it over every nation
The Love Solution can help people of all nations
Tell it to the young generation
The Love Solution must be passed on to younger people
Love is a boy's solution
Boys can solve problems through love
And loving is a girl's solution
Girls can solve problems through love
I was born as a man from a woman / And a woman was made for a man
Acknowledgement of the origins of human life and relationships between men and women
So put your little hands in mine / There's no hills or mountains we can't climb
Together, we can overcome any obstacle, no matter how challenging
Love is a man's solution / Loving is a woman's solution
Reiteration that both men and women can solve problems through love
Spread it all over the world / Tell it to every boy and girl
Emphasizing the importance of sharing the Love Solution with as many people as possible
Yeah, love is a boy's solution / And loving is a girl's solution
Final reminder of the Love Solution's gender-inclusive nature
And so as it revolves, there's no problems we can't solve
Regardless of how complex the problems we face may be, we can overcome them through the Love Solution
Put your little hands in mine and we'll fly, we'll fly, yeah
Reiterating that together, we can beat any obstacle
Spread it, all over the world / Tell it, to every boy and girl / Spread it, tell it (Love solution), spread it / All over the world
Repeating the importance of spreading the Love Solution to everyone around the world
(Tell it) / (Love solution)
The final call to action for people to share and spread the Love Solution
(Love solution, oh yeah) / (Love solution) / Hey / (Love solution) / Oh yeah / (Love solution) / Oh love / (Love solution) / (Love solution) / Oh yeah
Repeating the Love Solution to emphasize the song's core message
Writer(s): J. Cliff
Contributed by Scarlett P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rita Maria
Músicas da hora enriquecedora de mente e alma.
'Atu Louaki Lasitani
I grew up with this song ...I love the lyrics 👌
Love is a man solution and loving is a woman solution
sunflower jam
My favorite song..love it..goosebumps! !
Erivelton Pereira
linda maravilhosa canção 🎶🎵
Luciano Leite
Jimmy Cliff uma voz melodiosa em Love solution. cada canção sua é uma delicia. Bongo man, I can see clearly now, Hot shot, toda sua alegria em Samba Reegae e Reegae Night. Simplesmente maravilhoso!
EZY.I iperenise
Its 2021 and still jamming to this👌🍻🔥
Samuel Magu
Missing my mum listening to this track. She taught me to appreciate good music. R.I.P mum. You were the best!
Jeween Muchucheu
Can’t get enough of this song ♥️⭐️♥️⭐️♥️
Ea Tauese
2021 n I'm 51yrs old n still jamming Jimmy Cliff music..❤️🤗
Tarzan T
Love this song when I was young and still loving it now!!