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.
Who Feels It Knows It
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And who feels it know it
Who feels it knows it
No dont sit by your window
Gazing at the streets
Sorrying for your self cause you've got nothing to cat
Git up and move and start trying trying trying.
Just git up and move
Get right in the groove (rep.)
For linger you linger, cry you must cry
Now dont point your fingers and you'll get bye
Dont be no moonshine-darling and sit down and cry.
Please dont you give up now before you give it a try
Before you give it a try
Before you give it a try, try, try
And dont you give up now dont give
up now dont give up now. Dont you
Give up now before you give it a try
before you give it a try, try, try.
Papa no want, no want no want,
No want, no more bondage
For its a long time he's been in slavery.
Mama no want, no want no want,
No more pain, pain and worry
For its a long time now she's been unhappy
And Who feels it knows it
Who feels it knows it
Every night and every day
Who feels it knows it
By their blood and sweat they pay
Who feels it knows it yea
But linger you linger cry you must cry
No dont point you fingers and you'll get bye
Dont be no moon-shine darling and sit down and cry
And please dont you give up now before you give it a try
Give it a try, try, try.
Give it a try, try, try,
And dont you give up now don't you
Give up now don't give up now
Before you give it a try, before you
Give it a try, try, try (rep.).
The song 'Who Feels It Knows It' by Jimmy Cliff embodies an inspiring and motivational message about perseverance and struggle. It speaks to the idea that every person has their own burdens that they must carry, and those who understand this concept fully are the ones who have felt the weight of it themselves. The opening line, "Every man thinks his burdens the heaviest" acknowledges that every individual has their own struggles and some may believe that theirs are more challenging than anyone else's. The chorus, “Who feels it knows it” is a succinct summary of the message.
The song encourages listeners not to let their burdens or challenges hold them back. Instead, it encourages them to get up and move forward, even if it seems tough. Lyrics such as "There's a light within you, so let it shine," and "Please don't you give up now before you give it a try," serve to uplift the listener and encourage them to keep striving, even in the face of difficulty. The final verse of the song shifts focus to those who have been in bondage or struggle for a long time, saying that they too can overcome their pain and worries. Overall, the message of the song is one of hope and perseverance in the face of personal struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Every man thinks his burdens the heaviest
Each individual believes that their struggles are the most challenging.
And who feels it know it
Only those who have experienced the hardships and difficulties can truly understand and empathize with others going through similar situations.
No dont sit by your window
Don't stay in one place, feeling sorry for yourself and watching the world go by, take action.
Gazing at the streets
Observing others around you and feeling envious or hopeless about your own situation.
Sorrying for your self cause you've got nothing to cat
Feeling sorry for yourself because you don't have what others have, and believing that this is the reason for your unhappiness.
There's a light within you, so let it shine
You possess the potential to overcome adversity and improve your life, so focus on cultivating and harnessing your strengths and positive qualities.
Git up and move and start trying trying trying.
Take action and strive to improve your situation incrementally, through repeated efforts and dedication.
For linger you linger, cry you must cry
If you keep dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions, you will remain stuck and unable to make any progress.
Now dont point your fingers and you'll get bye
Don't blame others for your struggles, but rather take responsibility for your life and work to make positive changes.
Dont be no moonshine-darling and sit down and cry.
Don't let negative emotions sap your strength and determination, but rather channel your energy into productive actions.
Please dont you give up now before you give it a try
Don't lose hope prematurely, but rather persist in your efforts to improve your life.
Papa no want, no want no want, No want, no more bondage
Many have suffered for a long time under oppressive conditions and systems, and desire freedom and liberation from them.
For its a long time he's been in slavery.
Some have been subjugated and controlled for decades or lifetimes, and fight for their rights and independence.
Mama no want, no want no want, No more pain, pain and worry
Others have experienced constant hardship, pain, and anxiety, and seek relief and peace in their lives.
For its a long time now she's been unhappy
Some have been weighed down by sadness, stress, or trauma for extended periods of time, and hope for greater happiness and fulfillment.
Every night and every day
People across the world experience ongoing struggles and difficulties on a daily basis.
By their blood and sweat they pay
Many sacrifice their physical and emotional well-being to fight for their rights, liberation, and better lives.
Who feels it knows it yea
Those who have endured and overcome significant hurdles in life possess a unique understanding and insight that others may not.
Give it a try, try, try.
Persist in your efforts to improve your life, no matter how challenging the road may seem.
Give it a try, try, try,
Reiterated call to never give up on working towards your goals.
And dont you give up now don't you
Reassurance to continue fighting for a better life for yourself.
Before you give it a try, before you
Encouragement to set out and try and make positive changes.
Contributed by Molly V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PatriciaBegeleus-iu4ro
I'm here in 2024 listening
@beejayking4real
Each time I listen to this track, from day one of it's release to date, my eyes swell with tears. Thank you, my hero, Jimmy Cliff.
@amoakootengkwaku4399
Well spoken
@naturalrealist2229
Awwwww, only who feels it, knows it.
@jimeroro-mene2079
His music is immortal.... Sound does not die !
@siverafuza8398
Jimmy Cliff is a legend in his own right. His songs are songs you can easily sing along and relate to. I love the the backing singers on this one.
@ronaldkayame136
Good family memories come with Jimmy,s raggae vibes . They have been many raggae stars , but to me he stands out.I listened to his music from when I was 6 and through the years to today it feels the same and I know it will live on
@neymarexe
# one jimmy cliff lov❤all your songs 😅 never tired of listening to them day and night
@andywishihadtheopportunity4706
There cannot be two Jimmy Cliff. King of reggae indeed.
@mablekalima1559
Inspiring kind of music. Music that soothes the soul