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.
Shanty Town
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O-o-seven
At ocean eleven
And now rudeboys have a go wail
'Cause them out of jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
'Cause them must get bail, ohh
A shanty town
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A shanty town
Dem rude boys out on probation
A shanty town
Them a rude when them come up to town
A shanty town
O-o-seven
O-o-seven
At ocean eleven
And the rudeboys a go wail
'Cause them out of jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
'Cause them must get bail
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A shanty town
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A shanty town
Dem rude boys out on probation
A shanty town
Them a rude when them come up to town
A shanty town
Police get taller
A shanty town
Soldier get longer
A shanty town
Rudeboy a weep and a wail
A shanty town
Rude boys a weep and a wail
A shanty town
The song "Shanty Town" by Jimmy Cliff is an iconic piece of Jamaican ska and reggae music. The lyrics describe the reality of shanty towns, the poorer neighborhoods of Jamaican cities where crime, poverty, and violence are common. The song starts with the mention of "ocean eleven," a clear reference to the legendary heist movie, and then moves on to the description of the life in the shanty towns. The "rudeboys," young men involved in gangs and criminal activities, are represented as the ones who know that they will eventually end up in jail, but they still carry on with their criminal activities. For them, getting arrested and bailed out is an integral part of their lifestyle, and that is why they "cannot fail."
The lyrics go on to talk about the violence that exists in the shanty towns, with lines like "dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail." The chorus repeats the words "shanty town" several times, emphasizing the main subject matter of the song. The last verse talks about the increased presence of police and soldiers in the shanty towns, highlighting the struggle between law enforcement and criminal activity.
Overall, "Shanty Town" is a poignant commentary on the social and economic conditions of Jamaican cities in the 1960s. It highlights the tension and violence that exist in these areas and sheds light on the reality of life for the people who live there.
Line by Line Meaning
O-o-seven
Refers to the famous James Bond character known for his quick wit and ability to get out of tough situations, setting the tone for the song as a portrayal of a similarly clever environment.
At ocean eleven
Refers to the 1960 film about a group of Las Vegas robbers who execute a heist, suggesting that the song includes similar nefarious activity occurring within a specific place, in this case, a shanty town.
And now rudeboys have a go wail
Acknowledges the presence of rough, violent youth and their behavior that's expected to lead them into trouble, to begin with.
'Cause them out of jail
Suggesting there's been an event where they were previously incarcerated, and are now out into the world and committing an infraction.
Rudeboys cannot fail
Reiterating the fact that these groups are persistent, dependable, and resilient in their behavior.
'Cause them must get bail, ohh
Bail becomes the consequence for their repeated offenses, which they can obtain every time they are arrested, and fails to deter their illegal behavior.
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A repeated reference to the criminal behavior of the rude boys, which evolves from thievery to attacking and eventually, whimpering and moaning due to the consequences of their crimes.
A shanty town
The location in which the events in this drama occur - that of poverty, driven by the misdeeds of the inhabitants.
Dem rude boys out on probation
Specifically highlights that their criminal behavior led to their release into society, which doesn't seem to deter further criminal activity.
Them a rude when them come up to town
Suggests that their brutish behavior is typical of the rude boys' nature and favored modus operandi, even when they reach living areas where it isn't customary.
Police get taller
The apparent growing influence and power of the police force over the shanty town inhabitants.
Soldier get longer
The growing presence of military personnel, most likely indicating a state of emergency or heightened security measures.
Rudeboy a weep and a wail
The continuation of their unruly behavior leading to its consequences, creating negative self-pity on their part.
Rude boys a weep and a wail
The same as above.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DESMOND DEKKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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