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.
Human Cry
Maxi Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cry cry ooh Lord
There's a dark place in the heart of the city
Where no one goes
People up-town won't admit it
They don't wanna know
Children on the sidewalk looking so sad
People out there they got bad intentions
[Chorus]
Human cry cry cry
Human cry from the battlefield
Human oooh Lord
Human cry oh Lord
Shattered dreams of forgotten souls
Who struggle to exist
People on the hill won't come near
Afraid to take the risk
Looking for a way out that's not there
Desperate faces everywhere so hungry
Searching for shelter
[Chorus]
Fragile the place is fragile
We're on the edge of all tomorrows
And you just can feel the tension
Tearing us apart
We're gonna let go if we lose a heart
Ooh oh the place is fragile
Say it's midnight on the street
Graffiti everywhere
And in a fortress on higher ground
People live in fear
No this ain't no distant dream
It's in our own backyard
Look all around you
[Chorus]
Maxi Priest's song "Human Cry" is a poignant commentary on the harsh realities of life in the underprivileged areas of a city. The singer sings about the existence of a dark place in the heart of the city where people never go. The people who reside in the upscale parts of the city won't acknowledge or even admit it, acting as if it doesn't exist. The children on the sidewalks look sad because they are exposed to the negative influence of the area every day. The people who reside in the area have bad intentions, and there is nothing to lose because the poverty is so high.
The chorus of the song Human Cry is a plea to human beings to break down barriers and listen to one another rather than shouting slogans. The first verse is a statement of the problem, the second is an appeal, and the third is a warning, and the choruses are an appeal. The second verse highlights the struggle of the forgotten souls up on the hill, where people refuse to go, and they are too afraid to take a risk. The area is so poor that there is no way out, and there are desperate faces everywhere. Everyone is hungry and searching for shelter, but there seems to be no end in sight.
In conclusion, Maxi Priest's Human Cry is a song that highlights the difficulties that people in poverty-stricken areas experience daily. The chorus expresses the notion that we all have a shared humanity that we must embrace, and we should work to create a better world for everyone. The lyrics are a reminder that we are vulnerable, that the world is fragile, and that we must treat it and each other with the utmost care and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Cry, human cry
People are deeply suffering and desperately calling for help
Cry cry ooh Lord
The situation is so dire that only divine intervention can save them
There's a dark place in the heart of the city
There is a hidden and dangerous part of society
Where no one goes
This place is avoided and neglected
People up-town won't admit it
The affluent and powerful refuse to acknowledge the existence of the issue
They don't wanna know
They intentionally avoid learning about the issue
Children on the sidewalk looking so sad
Even the innocent and vulnerable are affected and suffer
People out there they got bad intentions
There are people who cause harm and have ill will towards others
And there's nothing to lose
The situation is so dire that people have lost all hope and see no way out
Human cry cry cry
The suffering is overwhelming and endless
Human cry from the battlefield
People are fighting to survive in a harsh and dangerous environment
Human oooh Lord
People appeal to a higher power to rescue them from this misery
Human cry oh Lord
The plea for help is desperate and sincere
Shattered dreams of forgotten souls
People's hopes and aspirations have been destroyed and ignored
Who struggle to exist
Life is a constant battle for survival and basic needs
People on the hill won't come near
The privileged and protected refuse to engage with those in need
Afraid to take the risk
They fear that helping others may jeopardize their own safety and comfort
Looking for a way out that's not there
The situation is so dire that there seems to be no escape
Desperate faces everywhere so hungry
People are starving for basic needs, such as food, shelter, and safety
Searching for shelter
People are desperately seeking a safe haven from the harsh and dangerous environment
Fragile the place is fragile
The situation is delicate and could easily crumble and worsen
We're on the edge of all tomorrows
The future is uncertain and bleak
And you just can feel the tension
The stress and anxiety are palpable
Tearing us apart
The situation is causing division and conflict within society
We're gonna let go if we lose a heart
People are losing hope and giving up
Ooh oh the place is fragile
The situation is so delicate that it could collapse at any moment
Say it's midnight on the street
The situation is dire and dangerous, even late at night
Graffiti everywhere
The environment is polluted and vandalized
And in a fortress on higher ground
The privileged and protected live in their own secluded and fortified world
People live in fear
Even the protected live in constant fear and anxiety
No this ain't no distant dream
This is a harsh and uncomfortable reality that cannot be ignored
It's in our own backyard
The problem is not somewhere else, but right here in our community
Look all around you
The issue affects everyone and needs to be addressed urgently
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY BENSON, DENROY MORGAN, PETER ANTHONY MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind