Bunny Lee first recorded Far I in the early 70's with a tune called "The Great Booga Wooga". He went on to cut tunes for Coxsone, notably "Natty Farmyard" and a version of "Queen of the Minstrel". In 1973 the Cordell's "Simpleton" appeared on the Lion label, with the flip being a strange half-sung half-chanted version by the Prince entitled "Simpleton Skank". In 1974 he voiced "Let Jah arise" for Enos McLeod at King Tubbys, and it is Enos who can be credited with renaming the DJ as Prince Far I. After some self-productions which appeared on Pete Weston's Micron outlet, Prince Far I hit a period which included two of reggae's greatest DJ albums. Firstly the "Psalms for I" collection, a straight chant of bible word. The second landmark album was "Under Heavy Manners" for producer Joe Gibbs, engineered by Erroll Thompson. It contained the Prince's first big Jamaican hit single, "Heavy Manners", on the rhythm of Naggo Morris' "Su Su Pon Rasta".
In 1976 Prince Far I set up his own label in Jamaica -- Cry Tuff. That label issued Far I's productions in Jamaica. His UK business ran through the fledgling label Hit Run, created by Adrian Sherwood. This arrangement was almost one of master and pupil, as the Arabs/Roots Radics became Dub Syndicate with Sherwood learning the studio craft as both producer and engineer. The rhythm tracks were laid in Jamaica by Style Scott & Co, the mix and overdubs taken care of in London. "Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter III" by Prince Far I and the Arabs was originally released in the UK by that most avuncular of record shop proprietors Keith Stone of Daddy Kool. It marked the handing on of the producer's baton from Far I to Sherwood, soon to launch On U Sound at a time when many critics considered reggae to be a finished force.
Prince Far I was shot dead in Jamaica, September 15, 1983.
At The Cross
Prince Far I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide.
Where all the love I've ever found,
Comes like a flood,
Comes flowing down.
[Chorus:]
At the cross
I surrender my life.
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
and my sin washed white.
I owe all to You
I owe all to You Jesus.
There's a place where sin and shame are powerless.
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness.
Where all the love I've ever found.
Comes like a flood,
Comes flowing down.
At the cross
At the cross
I surrender my life.
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
and my sin washed white.
I owe all to You
I owe all to You Jesus.
Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You save my life
Here I bow down
Here I bow down>
The lyrics to Prince Far I's song At The Cross are a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ. The song speaks of a place where mercy reigns and never dies, a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide. It is a place where one can find all the love they have ever felt, coming down like a flood. The chorus then speaks of surrendering one's life at the cross, being in awe of Jesus, where His love ran red and washed away all sins. The song speaks of finding peace with God and experiencing forgiveness, allowing one's heart to be open to receive the love that flows like a flood from the cross.
The message of the song is clear - no matter what one's past may be, the cross offers a place of redemption and forgiveness, where sin and shame are powerless. It is through surrendering at the cross that one can experience the transformative power of love, where all burdens are laid down and one finds hope, peace, and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies,
There is a location where forgiveness has supreme authority and is eternal.
There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide.
In a certain place, there are large and profound flows of unmerited favor.
Where all the love I've ever found,
In that area, I have encountered an abundance of affection.
Comes like a flood,
This love envelopes me and overflows in abundance.
Comes flowing down.
This love is all-encompassing and constant in its descent.
At the cross
This location is the cross of Jesus Christ.
I surrender my life.
I give up my will for His plan and purpose.
I'm in awe of You
I am overwhelmed with reverence for Him.
Where Your love ran red
The place where His love was displayed through the shedding of His blood.
and my sin washed white.
My wrongdoing was absolved and erased by that sacrifice.
I owe all to You
I am indebted to Him for this act of love and grace.
I owe all to You Jesus.
I acknowledge Jesus Christ as the source of my redemption and salvation.
There's a place where sin and shame are powerless.
In this holy place, sin and guilt have no authority or control.
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness.
In this divine space, my spirit is calm and reconciled with the Creator because of His pardon.
Here my hope is found
Here, my assurance and expectation have been secured.
Here on holy ground
This location is sacred and hallowed.
Here I bow down
In humility and worship, I surrender to His authority.
Here arms open wide
In this place, His embrace of love and acceptance is all-encompassing.
Here You save my life
At this point, He rescued and sustained my soul.
Here I bow down
In gratitude and adoration, I submit to His lordship.
Here I bow down
In appreciation and reverence, I worship Him.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJI COWART, WILLIAM R. NEWELL, JENNA COWART, MATT ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind