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 Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The harder they'll fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
The harder they'll 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'll fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
Harder they'll fall, one and all, yeah
Ooh, yeah, ooh yeah
Whoa, yeah, oh yeah
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 now, what's mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they'll fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
Harder they'll fall, one and all
Hey, the harder they come
The harder they'll fall one and all
What I say, now? what I say, now?
All
All
What I say, now? what I say? one time
the harder they come
Harder they'll fall, one and all
Ooh, the harder they come
The harder they'll fall, one and all
The lyrics to Jimmy Cliff's iconic song "The Harder They Come" speak to the struggles of the working class and oppressed individuals who strive for a better life in the face of adversity. The opening lines, "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", likely refers to the idea of a reward for good behavior in the afterlife that offers little comfort in the face of daily hardships.
However, the song also offers a message of perseverance and resistance against such oppression. Referring to those who try to bring him down, Cliff sings, "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." The artist chooses to fight for what he wants, even if it's a difficult path, singing, "And I keep on fighting for the things I want, though I know that when you're dead you can't." In other words, he'd rather live a life of meaning and struggle than be controlled or enslaved.
The chorus provides the most significant take away from the lyrics, driving home the idea that the harder someone pushes down or oppresses another, the harder they will come back with strength and resilience. "The harder they come, the harder they'll fall, one and all," Cliff sings, emphasizing a message of hope and the ability to rise again from difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah, oh yeah
The singer is expressing enthusiasm and agreement with what he is about to say
Well they tell me of a pie up in the sky
The singer is referring to a religious idea of an afterlife where rewards are promised
Waiting for me when I die
The singer is skeptical about this idea and suggests that it is only a promise for after death
But between the day you're born and when you die
The singer is emphasizing the time between birth and death, suggesting that one's life must be lived in this time
They never seem to hear even your cry
The singer is suggesting that life is difficult and often unfair, where people's problems are ignored or unheard
So as sure as the sun will shine
The singer acknowledges the inevitability of the future
I'm gonna get my share now, what's mine
The singer believes that they deserve something good in their life
And then the harder they come
The singer suggests that the more difficult the situation, the more determined they are to succeed
The harder they'll fall, one and all
The singer believes that anyone who opposes them will eventually be defeated
The oppressors are trying to keep me down
The singer believes that someone is trying to lower their standing in society
Trying to drive me underground
The singer believes that someone is actively trying to harm them or get rid of them
And they think that they have got the battle won
The singer suggests that their opponents believe they are winning
I say forgive them Lord
The singer acknowledges a higher power and suggests that they should forgive their opponents
They know not what they've done
The singer suggests that their opponents do not understand the harm they are causing
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
The singer emphasizes their determination to fight for themselves and their beliefs
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
The singer acknowledges the inevitability of death
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
The singer suggests that they would rather be dead and free than alive but oppressed
Than living as a puppet or a slave
The singer suggests that they are being forced to do things they do not want to do
Hey, the harder they come
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize their belief that determination will lead to success
Harder they'll fall, one and all
The singer repeats their belief that anyone who opposes them will eventually be defeated
What I say, now? what I say, now?
The singer repeats their message to emphasize their point
All
The singer concludes the song with a final repetition of their message
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
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?