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.
You've Got a Friend
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep you head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at you door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
The lyrics to Jimmy Cliff's "You've Got a Friend" speak to the enduring power of friendship and the comfort it can bring in times of greatest need. The song tells the listener that no matter what difficult or trying circumstances they face, they will always have someone to turn to for support and encouragement. The lines "When you're down and troubled / And you need a helping hand / And nothing, nothing is going right," perfectly encapsulate the sense of emotional despair that can often accompany hardship. But then the song shifts to a place of hope and comfort, as the lyrics suggest that a friend is only a call away: "Close your eyes and think of me / And soon I will be there / To brighten up even your darkest night."
The lyrics go on to promise that the singer will always be there for the person, no matter what the season or difficulty they face. The lines, "If the sky above you / Grows dark and full of clouds / And that old north wind begins to blow / Keep you head together / And call my name out loud / Soon you'll hear me knocking at you door," encourage the listener to remain strong and focused, even when everything seems to be going wrong. And the chorus, which repeats the phrase "you've got a friend," reinforces the bond of friendship and the idea that this support can help sustain someone through even the most challenging of times.
Ultimately, "You've Got a Friend" is a song about the power of human connection and the importance of being there for one another. By reminding the listener that they have someone to rely on during difficult times, the lyrics seek to provide comfort and solace in a world that can often seem dark and isolating. Through its stirring melody and heartfelt lyrics, the song reminds us that, no matter how alone we may feel, we always have the potential to reach out and find a friend.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're down and troubled
When you're feeling sad and hopeless
And you need a helping hand
And you need someone to support you
And nothing, nothing is going right
And everything in your life seems to be going wrong
Close your eyes and think of me
Picture me in your mind
And soon I will be there
And I'll come to be with you
To brighten up even your darkest night
To make you feel better even when you're feeling your worst
You just call out my name
Just say my name
And you know wherever I am
And you know that no matter where I am
I'll come running to see you again
I'll come to be with you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
No matter the season
All you have to do is call
All you need to do is ask for help
And I'll be there
And I'll come to be with you
If the sky above you
If it seems like everything around you
Grows dark and full of clouds
Is becoming negative and overwhelming
And that old north wind begins to blow
And life feels cold and harsh
Keep you head together
Stay calm
And call my name out loud
And ask for my help
Soon you'll hear me knocking at you door
I'll be there for you very soon
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
Isn't it great that you have someone who is there for you
When people can be so cold
When other people can be uncaring
They'll hurt you, and desert you
They might cause you pain and then leave you feeling abandoned
And take your soul if you let them
And they could take away your joy if you allow them to
You've got a friend
But you have me, someone who will always be there for you
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Isn't it wonderful to have someone in your corner
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Isn't it amazing to have a supportive friend
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
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