Of Jamaican descent, and the second youngest of nine children, he was born in Lewisham, London. He is known as the 'King of Lovers Rock'. His music is sometimes closer to R&B, and pop, than to reggae music itself. His first major album was the self-titled Maxi Priest (1988) along with his cover of Cat Stevens' Wild World established him as one of the British reggae top singers this internationally acclaimed vocalist, is the only UK reggae act to score an American Billboard Number One. That was with a track entitled "Close To You", which was released in 1990.
In addition, a duet with Roberta Flack - "Set The Night To Music", also reached the U.S. Top Ten in 1991. In the latter half of his lengthy recording career, he has favoured working alongside other established, or up and coming, artistes. For example, Maxi Priest has worked with Sly & Robbie, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Jazzie B, Apache Indian, Roberta Flack and Shabba Ranks.
All Kinds Of People
Maxi Priest Lyrics
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One man's feed is another man's poison
One man's joy is another man's pain
One man's strength is another man's weakness
And it takes all kinds of people
All kinds of people in this world
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
One man's chains is another man's freedom
One man's curse is another man's prayer
One man's dream is another man's nightmare
And it takes all kinds of people
All kinds of people in this world
To make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
So many questions waiting for the answer
So many people waiting for their ship to come in
And salvation to begin, hey, hey, hey
One man's hell is another man's heaven
One man's enemy is another man's friend
One man's woman is another man's lover
And it takes all kinds of people
All kinds of people in this world
To make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
So many questions waiting for the answer
So many people waiting for their ship to come in
And salvation to begin, hey, hey, hey
One man's hell is another man's heaven
One man's enemy is another man's friend
One man's woman is another man's lover
And it takes all kinds of people
All kinds of people in this world
To make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Father, we thank thee
The lyrics of the song "All Kinds of People" by Maxi Priest touch upon the idea of diversity and the acceptance of differences among individuals. The opening lines of the song suggest that what one person might consider a blessing, another could perceive it as a curse. The song acknowledges the existence of different viewpoints and opinions, recognizing that what one person might perceive as joy, another could see it as pain. The song continues to state that each individual has his own strengths and flaws, and in a world that is diverse, these traits are what make us unique and necessary.
The chorus emphasizes that it is the coexistence of all types of people that makes the world go round, and that to create a better world, we need to embrace and respect these differences. The lines, "So many questions waiting for the answer, so many people waiting for their ship to come in" suggest that every individual is looking for something in life, and their perspectives can be different.
The song concludes with a plea for gratitude, thanking God for this diversity of people and perspectives, and acknowledging that it takes all kinds of people to make the world work.
Line by Line Meaning
One man's feed is another man's poison
What is beneficial for one person may be harmful for another
One man's joy is another man's pain
What brings happiness to one may cause sadness to another
One man's strength is another man's weakness
What is a strong point for one may be a weak point for another
One man's chains is another man's freedom
What one person may see as restrictive, another may see as liberating
One man's curse is another man's prayer
What one person may perceive as a bad situation, another may find a reason to hope in
One man's dream is another man's nightmare
What one person may aspire to achieve in life, another may fear greatly
So many questions waiting for the answer
So many people waiting for their ship to come in
And salvation to begin, hey, hey, hey
Many people are seeking answers and hope for a better future
One man's hell is another man's heaven
What one person may feel is a terrible situation, another may find comfort in
One man's enemy is another man's friend
Someone who is disliked by one person may be well-liked by another
One man's woman is another man's lover
The same person can be seen very differently by different people
And it takes all kinds of people
All kinds of people in this world
To make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
The diversity of people in the world is what makes it vibrant and able to progress
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
Make this world turn around
Make this world a better place
We should all work together to make the world a better place for everyone
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ELLIOT MAXI BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind