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 Can Get It If You Really Want It
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last, mmh, yeah
Persecution you must fear
Win or lose you're about to get your share
You can get it though hard it may seem now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last, I know it
Listen, Rome was not built in a day
Opposition will come your way
But the harder the battle, you see
Is the sweeter the victory now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last
(You can get it if you really want) I know it
(You can get it if you really want) don't I show it
(You can get it if you really want) don't give up now
(You can get it if you really want) keep on trying
The lyrics of "You Can Get It If You Really Want" by Jimmy Cliff encourages listeners to never give up on their dreams, despite facing various obstacles in the process. The song expresses the idea that if one tries persistently, they can ultimately achieve success regardless of their background or circumstance. The songwriter begins the piece with the assertion that "you can get it if you really want", a line that is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of believing in oneself and putting forth effort to achieve desired goals.
In the following verse, the songwriter acknowledges that there may be difficulties along the way, and that one may encounter opposition while pursuing their dreams. However, the message of the song is that the harder the challenge, the greater the sense of satisfaction that comes with overcoming it. The repetition of the phrase "try and try" underscores the message that persistence is key, and that giving up is not an option.
Overall, the song is a hymn to the human spirit and the idea of "never say never." It encourages people to remember that the path to success is often thorny and winding, but it is important to retain faith and trust in oneself even when things seem difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
You can get it if you really want
Anything is achievable if you have the determination
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You have to make repeated attempts and not give up easily
You'll succeed at last, mmh, yeah
Ultimately, you will achieve success
Persecution you must fear
You should be cautious and prepared to face opposition
Win or lose you're about to get your share
There will be both successes and failures along the way
Got your mind set on a dream
You have a clear and specific goal in mind
You can get it though hard it may seem now
Achieving your goal may be difficult, but it is possible
Listen, Rome was not built in a day
Things take time to develop and come together
Opposition will come your way
Challenges and obstacles will arise on your path
But the harder the battle, you see
The more difficult the struggle, the greater the sense of achievement
Is the sweeter the victory now
Success is more gratifying after overcoming significant challenges
(You can get it if you really want) I know it
The singer is confident in the message that anything is possible with hard work and determination
(You can get it if you really want) don't I show it
The singer's own life is evidence of the validity of the message
(You can get it if you really want) don't give up now
Don't lose heart or quit because the goal is within reach
(You can get it if you really want) keep on trying
Keep working hard and don't give up until you achieve success
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cormoran1971
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
Look here
Persecution you must bear
Win or lose you've got to get your share
Got your mind set on a dream
You can get it, though harder they seem now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
I know it, listen
Rome was not built in a day
Opposition will come your way
But the hotter the battle you see
It's the sweeter the victory, now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
I know it
Don't I show it?
So don't give up now
But keep on trying
@The.Joy.Of.Life.Is.Life.Itself
~●~ L y r i c s ~●~
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last, mmh, yeah
Persecution you must fear
Win or lose you're about to get your share
Got your mind set on a dream
You can get it though hard it may seem now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last, I know it
Listen, Rome was not built in a day
Opposition will come your way
But the harder the battle, you see
Is the sweeter the victory now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last
(You can get it if you really want) I know it
(You can get it if you really want) don't I show it
(You can get it if you really want) don't give up now
(You can get it if you really want) keep on trying
~●~
@learningwithharry4996
I listened to this daily during one of the hardest grinds of my life out of crippling poverty into a dream job.
"You succeed at last..."
And I did. Thank you Jimmy.
@TAMBOFABIO
I'm happy that you overcame that difficult moment, you are stronger now.
@albertdesalvo7273
Congratulations!👍😃
@paullangland8787
I saw "The Harder They Come" movie by accident at an art cinema in San Francisco at its premiere, 1973. Hardly anyone had heard of reggae in the USA. Afterward seeing the film, and in a delighted shock, I was so LIT that I ran over to Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, near the art cinema. I ran to a swing set nearby and swung wildly while wildly singing the soundtrack as best I could at the top of my lungs for a LONG time! I was screaming too!
God Bless, Jimmy Cliff and the band. The introduction of reggae and Jamaican music to me. XOXO
@pb7353
Nice share: thanks :)
@justpetey
Nice share indeed!
@devadelegend2592
No matter how hard it may get. Know that u is unstoppable.
@JkComedy444
Ayyyeeee
@jplee4592
You to my Brother, and Thank You Sir! Much Love!
@enochofori4883
2024 and I'm here getting my inspiration from Jimmy