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.
Terror
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well it was Hell in Heaven
A Hell of a day
In the US of A
Terror hit the World Trade Center
In New York City
In the city of Washington
I saw it on T.V.
I thought that I was watching a movie
Like it was World War III
In the land of the brave and the home of the free
Where was 007
September 11th
And Superman
When they called 911
Now there's a war against terror, terror
Terror fighting terror
Terror, terror
Oh what a horror
Now there's a war against terror, terror
Terror fighting terror
Terror, terror
Oh what a horror
Terror, terror, terror
We must have a better tomorrow
We must have a better tomorrow now
September 11th
Another war in Heaven
All who were there
Said it was a living nightmare
But for every action
There has to be a reaction
This is the law of nature
Now we're living in the future
So when you're digging a ditch
I think you better dig two
One for the other man
And one for you
And when you're pointing a finger
When three points back at you
Be sure your hands are clean
I think you know what I mean
'Cause when you war against terror, terror
Terror fighting terror
Terror, terror
Oh what a horror
Terror, terror
Biological
Terror, terror
Environmental
Terror, terror, terror
We must have a better tomorrow
We must have a better tomorrow now
11th of September
The world will always
The year 2001
A new era begun
This was a wake-up call
To nations great and small
Terror been with you all the time
But you never paid it no mind
Oh, it's the Armageddon
A clash of civilization
With terror fighting terror
Tell me who can be the hero
I read it in Revelation
That there would be lamentation
A tale of God and the Devil
But good must overcome evil
The song Terror by Jimmy Cliff is about the horrific events that took place on September 11th, 2001, when the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. were attacked by terrorists. In the first verse, Cliff describes how it was a "hell of a day in the US of A" and that "terror hit the World Trade Center...and the Pentagon." Watching the events unfold on TV, he felt like he was "watching a movie" and that it was "World War III" in the land of the brave and the home of the free. The chorus focuses on the war against terror and how it is a horror.
The second verse looks at the aftermath of the attacks and how every action has a reaction. Cliff suggests that we need to create a better tomorrow as we move forward from these tragic events. When it comes to war against terror, he reminds the listener that terror comes in many forms, including biological and environmental, and that we must be vigilant against all of them. The final lines of the song reference the battle between good and evil and how we must strive for good to overcome evil.
Line by Line Meaning
September 11th
Refers to the date that the terrorist attacks took place
Well it was Hell in Heaven
Implies that a place of supposed sanctuary was transformed into a terrifying nightmare
A Hell of a day
A comment on how devastating the events of 9/11 were
In the US of A
Indicates that the song is specifically talking about the United States
Terror hit the World Trade Center
Refers to the first attack that occurred on September 11th
In New York City
Specifies the location of the first attack
And the Pentagon
Refers to the second attack that occurred on September 11th
In the city of Washington
Specifies the location of the second attack
I saw it on T.V.
Refers to the widespread media coverage of the 9/11 attacks
I thought that I was watching a movie
Indicates that the singer didn't believe what they were seeing could be real
Like it was World War III
Compares the magnitude of the attacks to a world war
In the land of the brave and the home of the free
An affectionate moniker for the United States that emphasizes its strong national identity
Where was 007
Asks where the famous fictional spy was when the attacks occurred
September 11th
Repeats the date of the attacks
And Superman
Asks where the superhero was during the attacks
When they called 911
A reference to the emergency phone number and an indirect statement of helplessness in the face of the attacks
Now there's a war against terror, terror
Points out the 'war on terror' that was launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks
Terror fighting terror
Refers to the violent tactics that are sometimes used to combat terrorism, which may exacerbate the problem
Oh what a horror
A verbal expression of despair and sadness
Terror, terror
Repeats the word 'terror' for emphasis
Oh what a horror
Repeats the phrase for emphasis
Terror, terror, terror
Repeats the word three times for emphasis
We must have a better tomorrow
Calls for a brighter future free of terrorism
We must have a better tomorrow now
Emphasizes the immediacy of the call for change
Another war in Heaven
A reference to the Biblical concept of war in the spiritual realm
All who were there
Refers to the people who experienced the 9/11 attacks
Said it was a living nightmare
Describes the trauma and shock that the attacks inflicted
But for every action
A statement about the principle of cause and effect
There has to be a reaction
A further explanation of the principle of cause and effect
This is the law of nature
A declaration of the inevitability of consequences
Now we're living in the future
A statement about the present moment, which is shaped by the consequences of past actions
So when you're digging a ditch
A metaphorical statement about intentional actions and their consequences
I think you better dig two
A warning about the potential consequences of one's actions
One for the other man
A statement about the interconnectedness of people and the importance of considering others
And one for you
A directive to consider one's own interests while also considering others
And when you're pointing a finger
Refers to blame or accusations
When three points back at you
A reminder that one's own actions may also be responsible for negative outcomes
Be sure your hands are clean
A statement about the importance of one's own moral integrity in assessing blame or responsibility
I think you know what I mean
A casual expression indicating that the point has been understood
Biological
Refers to a type of terrorism that employs biological weapons
Environmental
Refers to a type of terrorism that targets the environment through pollutants or other means
The world will always
A statement about the long-lasting effects of the attacks on 9/11
The year 2001
A reminder of the year in which the 9/11 attacks occurred
A new era begun
A statement about how the attacks marked a turning point in history
This was a wake-up call
A statement about how the attacks served as a warning or call for action
To nations great and small
A call to action for all nations, regardless of size or power
Terror been with you all the time
An acknowledgement that terrorism is not a new phenomenon
But you never paid it no mind
A criticism of how terrorism was previously underestimated or ignored
Oh, it's the Armageddon
A reference to the ultimate conflict between good and evil described in the Bible
A clash of civilization
A statement about how the 9/11 attacks revealed deep cultural divides between different countries and societies
Tell me who can be the hero
A question about how to respond in the face of such a daunting challenge
I read it in Revelation
A reference to the final book of the Bible that describes the end of the world
That there would be lamentation
A statement about the sorrow and mourning that will accompany the end of the world
A tale of God and the Devil
A reference to the ongoing conflict between good and evil that is a recurring theme in the Bible
But good must overcome evil
A statement that the forces of good will ultimately triumph over evil
Contributed by William H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jethro Tabiliran
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