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.
Can't Turn Away
Maxi Priest Lyrics
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Tears of all mankind
Oh children on the sidewalk
Oh before their time
There seems to be injustice
So many people live in poverty
A lack of dedication
Oh it's like a mountain on the streets
[Chorus]
Oh I just can't turn away
I just can't turn away 2x
A sense of desperation
Tears like a dove
Said I thought we had religion
Why isn't that enough
The sense of mass destruction
Always had to ???
Starvation in the third world
This isn't how it's meant to be
[Chorus]
Now it's criminal when you come to think about the world we're living always on the brink
Like a time bomb we can still escape
Make a first move it's not too late
Politicians made this mess so let's clean it out, take a world of stress
For the sake of children, you know what I mean
Everybody's got a right to dream 2x
It's like an ocean
Ooh you gotta catch the wave
Try your best to beat the system
Oh before you hit for real
Smoke spasm from the oil wells
And I can't see the sun from where I am
There's a breakdown in the ozone
This couldn't be a part of nature's plan
[Chorus]
The lyrics in Maxi Priest's song Can't Turn Away speak to the plight of people around the world, particularly those who are suffering due to poverty and injustice. The opening line "I can hear them crying, tears of all mankind" sets the tone for the rest of the track. The verses are filled with poignant descriptions of suffering such as "children on the sidewalk, oh before their time" and "starvation in the third world, this isn't how it's meant to be." What emerges from the lyrics is a sense of frustration with a world where these problems persist despite the fact that religion and governments claim to care about the well-being of their citizens.
The chorus, "Oh I just can't turn away" is a powerful statement of empathy and solidarity. It suggests that the singer cannot ignore the suffering in the world, even if they themselves are not directly affected. And the final verse offers a call to action, urging people to "make a first move" and work together to create a better world for future generations. The lyrics are both inspiring and thought-provoking, reminding the listener of the importance of empathy and moral responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear them crying
Maxi Priest is saying that he can feel the pain and sadness of people crying around the world.
Tears of all mankind
The tears represent the collective sorrow and grief of humanity.
Oh children on the sidewalk
Maxi Priest is referring to the innocent children who are living on the streets and are not getting the care that they need.
Oh before their time
The children are forced to grow up too quickly due to their difficult living conditions and they are missing out on their childhood.
There seems to be injustice
Maxi Priest is observing that there is a lot of injustice in the world, and things are not fair for everyone.
So many people live in poverty
This line draws attention to the large population of people who are living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet.
A lack of dedication
This phrase means there is a lack of commitment and effort to make a change in the world and fix the problems.
Oh it's like a mountain on the streets
Maxi Priest feels that the problems are so big and overwhelming, they seem like a huge mountain that's impossible to overcome.
Oh I just can't turn away
Maxi Priest is acknowledging that he cannot simply ignore the problems of the world and must do something to help.
A sense of desperation
Maxi Priest feels that there is an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair surrounding the issues in the world.
Tears like a dove
This is a poetic way of describing the tears of people, which can be as innocent and pure as a dove.
Said I thought we had religion
Maxi Priest is questioning why religion hasn't brought about more positive change in the world.
Why isn't that enough
Maxi Priest is saying that if religion is meant to guide and inspire people, why aren't more people working to fix the problems of the world?
The sense of mass destruction
Maxi Priest is commenting on the destruction caused by war and other conflicts, which often cause widespread damage and suffering.
Always had to ???
This line is difficult to interpret as the words are unclear, but it may refer to the fact that war and conflict always seem to be happening and are hard to prevent.
Starvation in the third world
This line speaks to the widespread starvation and hunger that affect many people in impoverished nations.
This isn't how it's meant to be
Maxi Priest is expressing his belief that the world should not be this way and that we must work to make things better.
Now it's criminal when you come to think about the world we're living always on the brink
Maxi Priest is saying that the state of the world is so dire, it's almost criminal, especially considering how close we are to the brink of disaster.
Like a time bomb we can still escape
Maxi Priest is saying that the situation is like a time bomb, but there is still time to escape before it's too late.
Make a first move it's not too late
Maxi Priest is urging people to take action and make a change before it's too late.
Politicians made this mess so let's clean it out, take a world of stress
Maxi Priest feels that politicians have contributed to the problems in the world, and it's up to the people to clean up the mess and make things better.
For the sake of children, you know what I mean
Maxi Priest is saying that we must make a change for the sake of future generations and to protect the innocent children who are suffering now.
Everybody's got a right to dream
This line means that everyone deserves to dream and have hopes and aspirations for their future.
It's like an ocean
Maxi Priest is comparing the world to an ocean, with its vastness and complexity.
Ooh you gotta catch the wave
This line means that we must ride the waves of change and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.
Try your best to beat the system
Maxi Priest is encouraging people to work hard and try their best to overcome the obstacles of the world.
Oh before you hit for real
This line is advising people to take action and make a change before the problems of the world become even more severe and dire.
Smoke spasm from the oil wells
This line is referring to the pollution and environmental damage caused by oil drilling and extraction.
And I can't see the sun from where I am
This line suggests that there is so much pollution and smog that the sun cannot be seen clearly.
There's a breakdown in the ozone
Maxi Priest is saying that the ozone layer, which is important for protecting the earth, is deteriorating.
This couldn't be a part of nature's plan
Maxi Priest is saying that the negative effects of human actions on the environment cannot be what nature intended, and we must work to reverse the damage.
Oh I just can't turn away
This line is repeated from the chorus and reiterates that Maxi Priest cannot ignore the problems of the world and must work to create change.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GARY BENSON, WINSTON SELA, MAXI PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind