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.
Majority Rule
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Regra da maioria que tem regra
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que raf fe regra
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
E se é bom no Zimbábue
Então é bom na Tanzânia
Bom na Namíbia e bom na Jamaica
Bom na Jamaica e em todo o universo
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
Regra da maioria que deve governar
A maioria governa que tem fe hule
E governa no Afeganistão e governa na Polônia
Governar na Inglaterra e governar no Japão
Governar na América e governar na Rússia
Então porque não governar na África
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
E a voz do povo é a voz dos mais
Alto
E nesse julgamento você não pode mentir
De cabo ao Cairo do nosso governo
E nós governamos do nosso parlamento
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria tem hafe fe regra
Regra da maioria em uma terra no mundo
Em uma terra em um mundo
Em uma terra em todo o universo
Em uma terra em um mundo
Em uma terra em todo o universo
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Regra da maioria que tem regra
No leste, ao norte, ao sul, ao oeste
Ao norte, no leste, no oeste, no sul
Regra da maioria que deve governar
E a maioria manda que ela mande
Regra da maioria que deve governar
Dizer! maioria tem fe regra
The song "Majority Rule" by Jimmy Cliff is a call for people to embrace the importance of democracy as a governing system. The repeated chorus of "Regra da maioria que deve governar" emphasizes the idea that the majority should rule, not just in one place, but in every country across the world. Cliff sings "E governa no Afeganistão e governa na Polônia, Governar na Inglaterra e governar no Japão, Governar na América e governar na Rússia, Então porque não governar na África?" stating that if democracy can work in those countries, then it can work everywhere, including Africa. He asserts that the voice of the people is the voice of the majority, therefore, their opinion should be the one that counts.
The song also highlights the idea that as long as the majority operates with integrity, it will effectively and efficiently exert its influence in the government. Cliff further emphasizes this point by stating that the majority must be truthful during the decision-making process. Hence, democracy can only function effectively when people are transparent and truthful.
Overall, the song is a powerful message calling for democratic principles to be upheld in every corner of the world, stating that every nation can function democratically, and the majority should be the ones to lead.
Line by Line Meaning
Regra da maioria que deve governar
The majority should hold the power to govern.
Regra da maioria que tem regra
The majority has the power to make the rules.
E se é bom no Zimbábue
If something is good in Zimbabwe,
Então é bom na Tanzânia
then it's good in Tanzania,
Bom na Tanzânia, então é bom na Namíbia
good in Tanzania, then it's good in Namibia,
Bom na Namíbia e bom na Jamaica
good in Namibia and good in Jamaica,
Bom na Jamaica e em todo o universo
good in Jamaica and in the whole universe.
A maioria governa que tem fe hule
The majority rules that have faith and hope.
E governa no Afeganistão e governa na Polônia
It rules in Afghanistan and rules in Poland.
Governar na Inglaterra e governar no Japão
It rules in England and rules in Japan.
Governar na América e governar na Rússia
It rules in America and rules in Russia.
Então porque não governar na África
So why not rule in Africa?
E a voz do povo é a voz dos mais
The voice of the people is the voice of the majority.
Alto
(Speak) loudly.
E nesse julgamento você não pode mentir
And in this judgment, you cannot lie.
De cabo ao Cairo do nosso governo
From Cape to Cairo of our government.
E nós governamos do nosso parlamento
And we govern from our parliament.
Regra da maioria em uma terra no mundo
The rule of the majority in one land in the world.
Em uma terra em um mundo
In one land in one world.
No leste, ao norte, ao sul, ao oeste
In the east, north, south, and west.
Ao norte, no leste, no oeste, no sul
To the north, east, west, and south.
E a maioria manda que ela mande
And the majority commands that it shall command.
Dizer! maioria tem fe regra
Say! The majority has the power to rule.
Writer(s): Jimmy Cliff
Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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