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.
She Was So Right For Me
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was so right for me
She was so right for me
And I know, oh I know
Met her in the winter of my life
Thought that I'd make her my wife
But I didn't let the lady know
So many people just don't understand
They want to say our love is so wrong
It's never too late for a shower of rain
I'll go back and start all over again
Because she was so right for me
She was so right for me
She was so right for me
And I know, oh I know
So right when I am with her
There is so much confidence
Ooh, sometimes I miss her
Unforgettable experience
So many people just don't understand
They want to say our love is so wrong
But it's never too late for a shower of rain
Yes I'll go back and start all over again
Because she was so right for me
She was so right for me
She was so right for me
And I know, oh I know
No use to regret now
Divine love you don't forget now
'Cause I know the love we shared
Was beyond the earthly atmosphere
She was a lover, a mother and a friend
Love like this could just never end
Still so many people just don't understand
They want to say our love is so wrong
But I know that she was so right for me
She was so right for me
She was so right for me i know, oh I know
But I keep on telling you
You darling can't you see?
You was so right for me
You darling can't you see?
You was so right for me
You darling can't you see?
You was so right for me
You darling can't you see?
The song "She Was So Right For Me" by Jimmy Cliff is a romantic ballad about a lost love. Cliff reminisces about a woman he met in the winter of his life, who he thought he would marry, but he never let her know how much he loved her. He details how their love was judged by others who didn't understand their bond, but despite this, he knows that she was right for him. He now looks back on their love with a lot of fondness and reminiscence. He sings about how she was not just a lover but also a mother and a friend, and their love was beyond the earthly atmosphere. Cliff declares that Divine love is not forgettable, and he still believes that their love was so right for him.
The lyrics of this song express the beauty of love and the pain of lost opportunities. It's a poignant reminder that sometimes we need to communicate our feelings because life is too short, and it's never too late for a shower of rain, which can give us another chance. The song also echoes the idea that love is a connection that goes beyond surface beauty, as Cliff describes how his lost love was a friend and a mother to him. Overall, it's a beautifully written song that can make us all reflect on past relationships that may have slipped away due to missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
She was so right for me
The singer is expressing how perfectly his lover matched him.
And I know, oh I know
The singer is confident about his feelings.
Met her in the winter of my life
Speaker met his lover during a period of decay or decline in his life.
Thought that I'd make her my wife
The artist had the intention of marrying his lover.
But I didn't let the lady know
The artist was unable to tell his lover how much he loved her.
Just how much I love her so
This line reinforces that the singer truly loves his lover.
So many people just don't understand
There are many people who disapprove of the singer's and his lover's relationship.
They want to say our love is so wrong
People think that the artist's love for his lover is misguided or immoral.
It's never too late for a shower of rain
Just like rain can refresh the earth, it's never too late to fix things with his lover.
I'll go back and start all over again
The artist plans to make amends with his lover and start their relationship anew.
So right when I am with her
The singer is content and confident when he is with his lover.
There is so much confidence
Being with his lover makes the artist feel secure and confident.
Ooh, sometimes I miss her
The singer still longs for his lover when she's not around.
Unforgettable experience
The singer cherishes the memories he shared with his lover.
No use to regret now
There is no point in having regrets for what happened in the past.
Divine love you don't forget now
The artist believes that true love is everlasting and unforgettable.
'Cause I know the love we shared
The artist is certain about his and his lover's love for each other.
Was beyond the earthly atmosphere
The singer believes that his and his lover's love was out of this world.
She was a lover, a mother and a friend
The singer's lover played a variety of roles in his life.
Love like this could just never end
The artist's and his lover's love is indestructible.
You darling can't you see?
The artist is addressing his lover, telling her that she is perfect for him.
You was so right for me
The artist is emphasizing that his lover was truly perfect for him.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iwe Okeoghene Blessing
on No. 1 Rip-Off Man
Chorus
One more, one more, one more, one more
Verse
I got one more song I must sing
Ting-aline, freedom ring
I got one more song I must sing
A simple song, so sing along
Repeat chorus
I got one more story to tell
Mystery, my story
I got one more story to tell
True story, my glory
Repeat chorus
I got one more arrow in my bow
As I let it go, just watch my flow
I got one more arrow in my bow
To the target, and it's a hit
Repeat chorus
Bridge
Hey baby don't you go away
I want you to listen
What I have to say
It's not over, till it's over
I'm a natural lover
Hey mister, get out of my way
This is not no time to play
Hey mister get out of my way
I got to live for another day, All we got
Chorus
One more(life to live)
One more(love to give)
One more(cliff to climb)
One more(it's my time)
I got one more bullet in my gun
And I can't run, till the deal is done
I got one more bullet in my gun
And I won't run, till the deal is done
Repeat chorus
I got one more shot at the prize
So don't be surprised, open your eyes
I got one more shot at the goal
Straight from my soul
And I'm in control
Repeat chorus till fade
Iwe Okeoghene Blessing
on No. 1 Rip-Off Man
Rip off man
Edwin Nyirenda
on Brother
Brother - Jimmy cliff
Will you patronize me – brother
Do you recognize me – brother
Do you believe what your teacher said
Or is it the food that your preacher fed
Why you minimize me – brother
Oh brother
Joseph and his brothers – left Canaan
They saw the little brother – in Egypt
They both had the same cause and the same purpose
They come about the same hurt that they got back the most
Do you understand me – my brother
Oh brother
Brother (X4)
Let us help the fallen – sister
She will love to call you – mister
Do you see the need for unity
To bring about respect and dignity
Don’t you understand me – my brother
Brother
Will you patronize me – brother
Do you recognize me – brother
Is it the things that your teacher said
Or is it the food that your preacher fed
Why you minimize me – my brother
Oh brother
Are you my brother now hey hey yeah oh yeah hey hey
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother
Are you my brother now hey hey hey hey
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother
You don’t wanna understand me now oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother
Are you my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother