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.
Raggae Down Babylon
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is what she had to say:
"Reggae makes me feel alright
I want to do it with you tonight"
So we took a stroll out on the town
Find the hottest spot around
Then we start jammin' to the sound
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
I bet they think they have seen the end
While we were coasting around the band
Checking on some friends we know
Come, let's go to our
So we took a stroll out on the town
Find the hottest spot around
Then we start jammin' to the sound
Am it down reggae them down
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
I bet they think they have control
From all of the people with rock 'n' roll
I bet they think they can hide the truth
From all the people from here our roots
When they think that they have had their way
Here we come, it's a brand new day
Now they had listen what we have to say
Now we start to reggae them down
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
The song "Reggae Down Babylon" by Jimmy Cliff is a powerful statement against oppression and inequality, as well as a celebration of reggae music as a force for positive change. The lyrics describe a girl who loves reggae music and wants to dance to it with the singer. Together, they go out to find a place to listen to some great reggae music and dance to the sound of it. The refrain "Reggae down Babylon" and "Reggae down Apartheid" is a call to action to use reggae music as a tool to bring down the oppressive systems of Babylon and Apartheid, which represent the powerful and corrupt forces that seek to control the people.
The song is not just about enjoying the music, but also about using it to fight against oppression and inequality. In the second verse, the lyrics speak of how they are checking on friends and inviting them to join them in listening to reggae music as a way to stand against the oppressive systems that seek to control them. The final verse speaks of how those in power may think they control the people, but the people will no longer be oppressed or silenced. They will speak out, and they will use reggae music to do it. The chorus repeats the call to action to "Reggae down Babylon" and "Reggae down Apartheid" as a way to use the power of music to fight against injustice.
Overall, "Reggae Down Babylon" is a powerful statement of resistance and solidarity using the power of reggae music. The uplifting message in the song encourages people to use music as a tool to fight for their rights, stand up against oppression, and celebrate the joy and unity that comes from being together and dancing to reggae music.
Line by Line Meaning
This girl walk up to me one day
One day, a girl approached me
This is what she had to say: "Reggae makes me feel alright
I want to do it with you tonight"
She told me that reggae music makes her feel good and she wanted to listen and maybe dance to it with me that night
So we took a stroll out on the town
Find the hottest spot around
Then we start jammin' to the sound
Jam it down reggae them down
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
We decided to take a walk around town until we found the best spot for some reggae music. Once we did, we started dancing to it and really getting into it, trying to spread the message of reggae and its power. We want to bring down Babylon and Apartheid with the help of reggae music
I bet they think they have seen the end
While we were coasting around the band
Checking on some friends we know
Come, let's go to our
The people in power might think that they have already won, but we were chilling by the band and catching up with some friends. Then, we decide it's time to go somewhere else
Now they had listen what we have to say
Now we start to reggae them down
They need to listen to what we have to say because reggae music is our tool to bring them down. We started reggae-ing them down
I bet they think they have control
From all of the people with rock 'n' roll
I bet they think they can hide the truth
From all the people from here our roots
When they think that they have had their way
Here we come, it's a brand new day
Those in control probably think they can silence us and control everything we say and do. They might even try to hide the truth from us, but we are from these roots and we won't let them have their way. We're here to start fresh and bring in a new day
Reggae down Babylon (Reggae down Babylon)
Reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) reggae down Babylon
(Reggae down Babylon) reggae down Apartheid
(Reggae down Apartheid) do it again
Repeat of the chorus, re-emphasizing the importance of using reggae music to bring down systems of oppression
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antitipu2040
REGGAE DOWN BABYLON
Jimmy Cliff
Author: James Chambers
Album: Hanging Fire
Released: 1988
A girl walked up to me one day.
This is what she had to say.
She said:
"Reggae makes me feel all right.
I want to do it with you tonight."
So we took a stroll out on the town.
Look for the hottest spot around.
Then we started jammin' to the sound.
We ram it and we jam it
and we reggae and we reggae them down.
Oh! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
She said:
"I bet they think they have seen the end.
While we were coasting around the bend.
Checking on some friends we know."
She said:
"Come let's go to a go go!"
So we took a stroll out on the town.
Found the hottest spot there's around.
Then we start to reggae to the sound.
We ram it and we jam it
and we ??? when we reggae them down.
Oh! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Hey! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
A make we do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
She said:
"I bet they think they have control
over the people with rock and roll."
I said:
"I bet they think they can hide the truth.
Holding the people from their roots."
When they think they have it all their way.
Here we come and it's a brand new day.
Now they better listen what we have to say.
You should a see us
when we start to reggae them down.
Oh! We reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Hey! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
@antitipu2040
REGGAE DOWN BABYLON
Jimmy Cliff
Author: James Chambers
Album: Hanging Fire
Released: 1988
A girl walked up to me one day.
This is what she had to say.
She said:
"Reggae makes me feel all right.
I want to do it with you tonight."
So we took a stroll out on the town.
Look for the hottest spot around.
Then we started jammin' to the sound.
We ram it and we jam it
and we reggae and we reggae them down.
Oh! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
She said:
"I bet they think they have seen the end.
While we were coasting around the bend.
Checking on some friends we know."
She said:
"Come let's go to a go go!"
So we took a stroll out on the town.
Found the hottest spot there's around.
Then we start to reggae to the sound.
We ram it and we jam it
and we ??? when we reggae them down.
Oh! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Hey! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
A make we do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
She said:
"I bet they think they have control
over the people with rock and roll."
I said:
"I bet they think they can hide the truth.
Holding the people from their roots."
When they think they have it all their way.
Here we come and it's a brand new day.
Now they better listen what we have to say.
You should a see us
when we start to reggae them down.
Oh! We reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Do it again!
Hey! Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Reggae down Babylon!
(Reggae down Babylon!)
Reggae down apartheid!
(Reggae down apartheid!)
Do it again!
@AislanSousa
Uauu muito obrigado, a anos que procuro essa letra e não encontro. Muito obrigado
@antitipu2040
@@AislanSousa welcome Brother
@jeanmarikouakou
Q@qqqqqqqqqqqo
@jeanmarikouakou
Àààaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaàà
@filipekotoisuva1460
Still the best , December 2023❤
@sarvinmaharaj6724
Made my Sunday 👌🆒️🙌👌🆒️
@xsonoshee8120
First discovered this in Barbados during a DJ set at the hotel by the pool!
Hasn't left me since... <3
@williammiguellugovillalobo295
Excelent song remember 80s in Barranquilla, Colombia. Greetins.
@nicolasduclos7563
I like you Aislan Sousa. Thank you, you make us exist!