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 Street
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
For a moments of my youth
I know deep down inside me
You've always shared the truth
But life is brief and fickle
And all that starts must end
So la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
We've seen a lot together
Sometimes good but mostly bad
Through every change of weather
You're the only one I've had
But life is brief and fickle
And all that starts must end
So la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
The dream that we all live in
The plans we try to make
The treasures we are giving
Are more than we can take
But life is brief and fickle
And all that starts must end
So la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
Baby, I can't live without you
Life is nothing without you
Don't you know?
But life is brief and fickle
And all that starts must end
So la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
The lyrics of "Reggae Street" by Jimmy Cliff are a heart-wrenching plea to a loved one not to leave. The singer is expressing his love and devotion for his partner, telling her that life without her is pointless. He acknowledges that they have been through difficult times but emphasizes that they have always had each other. He is aware that life is short and uncertain and that everything must come to an end eventually. The song's repetitive la-la-la refrain emphasizes that words may not be enough to express the depth of the singer's feelings.
The song captures the essence of the reggae genre, where the music is not only a form of artistic expression but also a medium for social commentary. The song's message is universal and relatable, with its themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life. It is an emotional song that showcases Jimmy Cliff's unique vocals and songwriting ability, as he manages to convey the depth of his emotions without becoming overly sentimental.
Overall, "Reggae Street" is a poignant song that explores the complexity of human relationships and the transient nature of life. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating, meaningless syllables that represent the fleeting nature of life
Baby, I can't live without you
The singer's dependence on their partner for their sense of purpose and identity
Life is nothing without you
The belief that life loses all meaning when the singer's partner is no longer present
Don't you know?
A plea for the partner to understand the artist's intense emotions and need for them
You've always been beside me
Recognition of the partner's unwavering support throughout the artist's life
For a moments of my youth
A brief period of the singer's life during which they were together with their partner
I know deep down inside me
The singer's gut feeling that their partner has always been truthful and reliable
You've always shared the truth
Recognition of the partner's honesty in their interactions with the artist
But life is brief and fickle
Acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of life and its uncertainties
And all that starts must end
A recognition that all things, including relationships, have a finite lifespan
We've seen a lot together
Acknowledgement of shared experiences, good and bad, between the partner and speaker
Sometimes good but mostly bad
Recognition that negative experiences were more frequent than positive ones
Through every change of weather
Recognition that the partner has been present throughout the ups and downs of the singer's life
You're the only one I've had
Recognition of the partner as the only constant in the singer's life
The dream that we all live in
A recognition that everyone has their own perception of life, their own goals and desires
The plans we try to make
Recognition of the plans and goals people set for themselves in their lives
The treasures we are giving
Acknowledgment of the material and emotional gifts that people give to one another
Are more than we can take
Recognition that people often overestimate their ability to handle their own lives and the lives of others around them
Baby, I can't live without you
Repetition of the singer's dependency on their partner for their sense of self-worth and fulfillment
Life is nothing without you
Repetition of the belief that life loses all meaning without the artist's partner
But life is brief and fickle
Reiteration of the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life
And all that starts must end
Reiteration of the finite lifespan of all things
Don't you know?
Repetition of the plea for the partner to understand the singer's intense emotions and need for them
Writer(s): Jimmy Cliff
Contributed by London B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
b
°··{royal gregory Warner white}··°
(aka)··{royal bicycle white}··
(aka)··{edison takapu wright}··
(aka)··{kelekolio eliseni takapu}··
°0[world confederate prisoner]0°
escort date: Summer2021
(soon to be free)
°^(ba'e hold on lovely)^°
°.·^{the official}^·.°
izinha com z
2022/2023 essa musica é imortal na mente dos bons apreciadores de musicas perfeitas!
Fabiano Acordi
Reggae romântico que se diz né muito massa esse som sou de 83 e lembro muito dessa música no início da década de 90
Kennedy Arrais
Já eu me lembro da banda do meu Pai tocando essa musica, particularmente ele fazendo o solo de guitarra dessa música lá pelos idos de 89/90 ... Tempos bons !
Marcos Caldera
Som de uma epoca inesquecivel
Nilton Cesar De Souza
O jimy Cliff fez muito sucesso no Brasil na década de 90.
Café Com Farinha Oficial
Esse cabloco é um verdadeiro guerreiro.
Vangi Andrelina
Eu amo as músicas desse cara
Hercules Skinny
Pure and clean music.
Themba Dube
Well said.
Adriano Nascimento
Isso é música