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.
The Bigger They Come The Harder They Fall -
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for me when I die
But between the day you're born and when you die
They never seem to hear even your cry
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share of what's mine and then
The bigger they come
Ooh, the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down
Trying to drive me underground
And they think that they have got the battle won
I say, "Forgive 'em Lord they no not what they've done"
'Cause as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share of what's mine and then
And then the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
Ooh, the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
Though I know that when you're dead you're can't
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
Than living as a puppet or a slave
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now what's mine and then
And then the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
Ooh, the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
Hey, the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
Ooh, the bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
The bigger they come
The harder they fall one and all
The song "The Harder They Come The Harder They Fall" by Jimmy Cliff is a song about resistance against oppressors and fighting for what you believe is rightfully yours. It speaks of the struggle that occurs in life between birth and death, where no one seems to hear your cry. The idea of a "pie in the sky" waiting for you when you die is dismissed as unrealistic when you consider all the difficulties and obstacles you have faced to get where you are now. The song also discusses the struggle against oppressors who try to keep the individual down, but the individual refuses to give in to them. The bigger they come, and the harder they fall, one and all, is a powerful refrain that emphasizes the inevitability of downfall for those who try to suppress the individual.
The song is an anthem for those who are fighting against oppression and for human rights. It provides inspiration for individuals to stand up for their rights and not give in to oppressors. The song also carries a message of hope, that no matter how big the enemy may be, they will eventually fall, the individual will come out on top. This message is powerful and resonates with many people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they tell me of a pie in the sky
People talk about a reward in the afterlife
Waiting for me when I die
That supposedly will be waiting for me
But between the day you're born and when you die
But being alive
They never seem to hear even your cry
No one listens to you
So as sure as the sun will shine
Therefore, I know
I'm gonna get my share of what's mine and then
I will fight for what I deserve and achieve it
The bigger they come
The more powerful they are
The harder they fall one and all
The more devastating their defeat will be
Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down
The powerful are oppressing me
Trying to drive me underground
Trying to silence me
And they think that they have got the battle won
And they believe they have won
I say, "Forgive 'em Lord they no not what they've done"
I pray for their forgiveness as they are ignorant of their actions
'Cause as sure as the sun will shine
Because I know for certain
I'm gonna get my share of what's mine and then
I will triumph and achieve what I am entitled to
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
I keep striving for my goals
Though I know that when you're dead you're can't
Even though I am aware that I can't achieve anything once I'm dead
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
I'd rather be true to myself even after death
Than living as a puppet or a slave
Than living life controlled by those who oppress me
So as sure as the sun will shine
So I know for sure
I'm gonna get my share now what's mine and then
I will gain what is rightfully mine and then be at peace
Hey, the bigger they come
Hey, the more powerful they are
The harder they fall one and all
The more devastating their defeat will be
Ooh, the bigger they come
The more powerful they are
The harder they fall one and all
The more devastating their defeat will be
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LucianoPinheiro78
The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky
Waiting for me when I die
But between the day you're born and when you die
They never seem to hear even your cry
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now, what's mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
Harder they fall, one and all
Well, the oppressors are trying to keep me down
Trying to drive me underground
And they think that they have got the battle won
I say forgive them Lord, they know not what they've done
'Cause as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now, what's mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
Harder they fall, one and all
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
Than living as a puppet or a slave
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share right now, what's mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
Harder they fall, one and all
@DavisEvansHealy
I am really saddened that I had to delete racist comments for the first time since uploading this track 11 years ago.
We are dealing with complex issues regarding power around the world that social media has reduced into polarised 100 character shit slinging matches where there is no discourse.
Every comment that labels a murdered man as a criminal, or calls for the death of all police just further divides us and over simplifies key issues that deserve better.
Listen, appreciate, empathise, talk and we will move forward, otherwise we will continue to be puppets and slaves.
@letitflow1120
the propagandists tryin to keep us down, trying to drive us underground, and they think that they've got the battle won, i say forgive them Lord they know not what they've done
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
Than living as a puppet or a slave
amen brother
@420bluegirl
@@letitflow1120 AMEN
@seancallander8278
Hard core, but I appreciate what your saying
@Act2cam
The harder they come...
@shawnwilson1514
I dont care what race, creed,or religion you are, but if you don't feel this deep down in your soul then you don't have one!
@sharpskinhead6977
As a man who struggled with depression and madness along the life, trying to keep myself righteous while dreaming about liberty and social justice for everyone, i must say this song helped me endure some dark episodes of my life. They came hard and harder they fell. thank you Jimmy Cliff, and thank you Jamaica for all the reggae.
@AdamsApple1
it's getting better <3 Yahuah's got you!
@cringystingy8025
Lmao wtf
@qtpysusie459
You too, eh?