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.
Reggae Down Babylon
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I can't hang around no more
It's getting to the point
Really have to open up the door
Times are changing
You better use your sense
Use what you've got
From coincidence, hear me now
Sooner or later when your backs against that wall
Sooner or later you'll have to be the one you are
And you just might find that you're out of time and it's just too late
Oh, hear me now, hear me now, hear me now
Heavy burden gets you down
And pressure is all around
Sit around and hesitate
Say you're waiting for a lucky break
Life's for living
Better use your sense
Use what you've got
From coincidence, hear me now
Sooner or later you're gonna have to stand up tall
Sooner or later when your backs against that wall
Sooner or later you'll have to be the one you are
Or you just might find that you're out of time and it's just too late
Oh, hear me now, hear me, oh, hear me
Heavy burden gets you down
Pressure is all around
You sit around and hesitate
Say you're waiting for the lucky break
Life's for living
Better use your sense
Use what you've got
From coincidence, oh, hear me now
Sooner or later you're gonna have to stand up tall
Sooner or later when your backs against that wall
Sooner or later you'll have to be the one you are
Or you just might find that you're out of time and it's just too late
Oh, hear me now, baby
The lyrics of Jimmy Cliff's song Reggae Down Babylon are a call to action and a warning against complacency in times of change. The first verse establishes the sense of urgency, where the singer can no longer tolerate the status quo and must take action. He emphasizes the need to "use what you've got" and to pay attention to coincidence, indicating that opportunities for change and progress are often available if one is attentive enough to seize them. The chorus echoes this message, stating that sooner or later, one must stand up for themselves and be true to who they are, or risk running out of time.
The second verse reiterates this message, emphasizing the weight of the burden and the presence of pressure all around. The singer warns against hesitating and waiting for a "lucky break," instead urging the listener to live life fully and use their common sense. In other words, change cannot simply be waited for - one must actively seek it out and take advantage of opportunities to make progress.
Overall, Reggae Down Babylon is a powerful message of empowerment and a call to action in times of change. It reminds listeners that they have agency in their lives and encourages them to seize opportunities for growth and progress rather than waiting for circumstances to change on their own.
Line by Line Meaning
It's getting to the point
The situation is becoming increasingly intolerable
Where I can't hang around no more
I cannot endure this anymore
Really have to open up the door
I must take action to change my circumstances
Times are changing
The world is transforming rapidly
You better use your sense
You must utilize your intelligence and wisdom
Use what you've got
Make the most of what you possess
From coincidence, hear me now
Your success may come from unexpected sources
Sooner or later you're gonna have to stand up tall
You will eventually need to assert yourself
Sooner or later when your backs against that wall
When you feel trapped and outnumbered
Sooner or later you'll have to be the one you are
You must embrace your true identity
And you just might find that you're out of time and it's just too late
If you delay, you may miss your chance
Heavy burden gets you down
Excessive responsibility can overwhelm you
Pressure is all around
There is a lot of stress and tension in life
Sit around and hesitate
To procrastinate in making an essential decision
Say you're waiting for a lucky break
To persist in the hope of a fortunate turn of events
Life's for living
The purpose of life is to experience it fully
Better use your sense
It is wiser to rely on your intellect and reasons
Sooner or later you're gonna have to stand up tall
You must show courage and assertiveness at some point
Or you just might find that you're out of time and it's just too late
Otherwise, opportunities may expire and never return
Oh, hear me now, baby
Listen to me carefully, my friend
Contributed by Nathaniel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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!