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.
In the Springtime
Maxi Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can see nature full and free
High up in the trees
You can hear the birds them singing songs of freedom
Out in the open
Everything there is fresh and clean
Unlike the life I'm here living
Living together one and all
I wanna be
The way I wanna be
That is the way I wanna be
Like the birds in the tree yeh
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
Singing songs of freedom
Singing songs of freedom
Living in the city
No chains around my feet
But still I am not free
No handcuffs on my hand
But I've got my dignity
I wanna be
The way I wanna be
That is the way I wanna be
Like the birds in the tree yeh
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
Singing songs of freedom
Singing songs of freedom
See as a youth living in the city
Can't get no work
Can't get no job
Can't get no money to put in my pocket
I can't get a thing to have of my own
That's why I wanna be free
That's why I wanna be free
Like the bird in the tree
Like the bird in the tree
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
Singing songs of freedom
Singing songs of freedom
Yes in the springtime
You can feel nature full and free
High up in the trees
You can hear the birds them singing songs of freedom
Out in the open
Everything there is fresh and clean
Unlike the life I'm here living
All creatures great and small
Living together one and all
I wanna be
The way I wanna be
Just like the birds in the trees
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
Maxi Priest’s song, “In the Springtime” speaks about the freedom and beauty of nature during the spring season, which stands in contrast to the life of constraint that the singer experiences in the city. The lyrics advocate for freedom and particularly, the freedom to be oneself, without the constraints or limitations that society often imposes on individuals. Through the analogy of the bird, which is free to fly and sing songs of freedom, the singer expresses his desire to be free and express himself without limitations.
The first stanza of the song speaks directly about the beauty of nature in the springtime, where one can see and hear the fullness of nature, particularly the birds singing songs of freedom. The second stanza contrasts with the first, with the singer expressing his desire to live life on his own terms, breaking free from societal constraints that limit his freedom, even though he is physically free. The third stanza alludes to the difficulties of life in the city, particularly for the youth, who are unable to find work, and thus, lack the financial freedom to pursue their dreams.
Overall, the song speaks about the universal human desire for freedom, particularly, the freedom to be oneself, live life on one’s terms, and break free from societal constraints. It is a call to be true to oneself, to live authentically without limitation, and to seize the freedom that life offers.
Line by Line Meaning
In the springtime
During spring, the beauty and freedom of nature is at its peak
You can see nature full and free
One can observe the full splendor of the natural world during this season
High up in the trees
The birds are perched in the branches, a symbol of freedom and peace
You can hear the birds them singing songs of freedom
The birds are not just chirping, they are expressing their free spirit through song
Out in the open
In nature, there are no boundaries or constraints on one's existence
Everything there is fresh and clean
The environment is not polluted or degraded by human activities
Unlike the life I'm here living
The singer feels constrained and restricted by his urban existence
All creatures great and small
All forms of life are valued and respected in nature
Living together one and all
Animals coexist in harmony without greed or competition
I wanna be
The singer desires to not just exist, but to thrive and be free
The way I wanna be
The singer desires to live life on his own terms and not be bound by societal expectations
That is the way I wanna be
The singer is resolute in his desire for personal liberty
Like the birds in the tree yeh
The birds serve as a tangible symbol of freedom
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
The birds' song is a pure expression of their free spirit
Singing songs of freedom
The birds' chirping is a cry for liberation and autonomy
Living in the city
The singer is currently confined to an urban, industrial setting
No chains around my feet
The singer is not physically restrained, but still feels a sense of captivity
But still I am not free
The singer is unable to shake the feeling of being trapped
No handcuffs on my hand
The singer is not in legal trouble, but still feels constrained
But I've got my dignity
The singer refuses to let his circumstances take away his pride and self-worth
See as a youth living in the city
The singer is reflecting on his upbringing in an urban environment
Can't get no work
The singer had difficulty finding employment
Can't get no job
The singer struggled to find meaningful work
Can't get no money to put in my pocket
The singer was financially unstable and lacked security
I can't get a thing to have of my own
The singer was unable to acquire personal possessions or property due to his economic status
That's why I wanna be free
The singer desires freedom as a way to escape poverty and financial instability
Yes in the springtime
The springtime serves as a constant reminder of the beauty and freedom of nature
You can feel nature full and free
During this season, one can experience the beauty and peace of nature on a deep level
Just like the birds in the trees
The birds serve as a symbol of liberation and the desire for autonomy
They're going tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet etc.
The birds' chirping is a simple, joyful expression of freedom
Writer(s): Max Alfred Aka Priest Ma Elliott, Robinson, Henry
Contributed by Ryan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shining Star
Can't believe this was in the 80's. Sounds so fresh and clean
Athenz Minz
... to this day!!
sharon p
That's so true this song will be around forever, never gets old just sounds better and better everytime I hear it. 💚❤
rose bud
Can’t get enough of you Maxi Priest more blessings Legend 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🎤
Friendy Advice
Brilliant song, loved this song for years!!!!
Beverly Rodgers
This was the first song I heard from Maxi and decades later I'm still enjoying it.
Donovan ‘M’
Outside of ‘caution’ this must be Maxi’s sweetest song! Big tune. Thanks
Phresh Ideas + Designs
I love this track so much! Easy listening.
romanyman
I want music to be as joyous as this again ! Great stuff !
Ralph Jackson
Joyous is the word 👍.