Three Tunes - Jimmy Cliff Style

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(Edited)

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I heard Jimmy Cliff first from my older brother in the 1980s. There is so much to say about Jimmy Cliff. He became the voice of Reggae in the 1980s and had a heavy burden to carry but he did really well keeping true to the music over the years. He didn't remain a one hit wonder, but he continued to learn. He took the stage with Bob Marley, but was also on stage with Tim Armstrong of the Clash singing Guns of Brixton.

There was so much Jimmy Cliff accomplished it is very difficult for me to pick only three tunes.

Reggae Man

There are so many classic Jimmy Cliffs i could have started with, but this one is the only one that says "Jimmy" so clear. This is classic reggae like it should be played with the whole band.

This was a young Jimmy Cliff and in the song you can pick up on his guttural utterances. He reminisces on his visit to Ghana and is filled with joy coming to his roots.

No Woman No Cry - Tribute

This was for the 1999 "Bob Marley All-Star Tribute" along the Oracabessa Bay in Jamaica. Here I am relaxed as Erykah Badu and her girls back up Jimmy. They share a common bond at the mic and there is a point where you can almost feel Bob Marley's spirit as they chant prayerfully, "Everything's gonna be alright."

Human Touch

This was a new song Jimmy wrote during pandemic quarantine times. His guitar fits his voice really well. At first it almost sounded like a ukulele. Then looking at the frets and the nylon strings that's some kind of classical guitar reminding me of the first acoustic guitars I practiced on.

So many years passed and Jimmy's still got that touch. At the end Jimmy gives us a philosophical biology lesson. By this point the music has got to touch a nerve.

For people like Jimmy Cliff I can't leave without posting a bonus video.

Bongo Man (Rivers of Babylon)

When Reggae singers talk about Babylon they are not talking about the ancient world. They are talking about the corrupt, oppressive colonial world. They are looking to Zion to escape the grips of Babylon. At some points Jimmy gets close to Zion in his music as he shouts the chant for freedom.

The story here came purely from my feelings listening to these three songs without any assistance from AI. The cover picture was taken with my camera this February. It's the closest recent picture I have of anything remotely Caribbean.

The three tune Tuesday is initiated by @ablaze more than a hundred weeks ago. Check out more Tuesday tunes here.

ttt threetunetuesday pob vyb jimmycliff reggae music touch
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28 comments
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I love No Woman no Cry. I'm not a reggae person but I do like a few. These are great songs you shared!! Thank you!

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I'm glad Jimmy Cliff is still around and we can enjoy his music today. Have a great day @deraaa. What tunes are playing on your side?

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Oh mine was rap. I am a rap/pop person. But that doesn't stop me from listening and appreciating other forms of music. Especially when they have great lyrics and form. I like Jazz too. The star of my post was NF. He's my favorite artist as his songs revolves around the things of life especially with people like me. People with some kind of abnormality (or weirdness!😂)

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I bloody love him.

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Beautiful,

Absolutely spoke it like it is.

I feel like this every time I try to wake up in the morning.

He is right:

The world is upside down

The only solution is love.

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I've never heard this! It's gorgeous, thankyou!!! Golly alright ..

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I grew up listening to stuff like this from my dad's record collection.

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I love Jimmy's music. I never heard him do a version of No Woman No Cry before.

When I go "inward" I like to listen to his music, because his lyrics speak volumes and tell of many challenges he has faced to become a world citizen.

Some of my absolute favs are:

  • We all are one
  • Sitting in Limbo
  • Roots Woman
  • Special
  • Reggae Night

Treat the youths right, was a tune that my neighbour blasted out every day when I was a child, so I struggle to listen to it these days.

But in general, if I'm at a crossroads in my life, his tunes help keep me sane:)

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Thank you for sharing your story @millycf1976

I will check out each of those songs today, even "Treat the youths right." It seems that your neighbor was a little rebel. I have heard of worse neighbors.

There is a big smile on my face when I listen to early Jimmy Cliff and later on in life he is still smiling, but the message has always been real. Something I didn't know about him that I learned was that he had a concert together with the Clash. He was not stuck in only Reggae, but tried other styles. Still, I enjoy the earlier songs the most. You seem to be more familiar with his songs than I am.

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He was not stuck in only Reggae

That's true.

Listen to this with your eyes closed.
I was sat on a mini bus going to school as a little girl. I was listening and pondering the lyrics of the song. At the end of it, the radio announcer said it was Jimmy Cliff and I could not believe it... I've always loved this song, and when I was living in the Philippines where I faced much racism, I reflected on this song many times.

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Absolutely beautiful story^^

@millycf1976

I think my middle school boy will love this song.

A lot of similarities.

!LUV

!WINE

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My dad introduced me to Jimmy because of how much he played it.
I especially love "My friend's wife." And "Time will tell." These are some of my favorites. You did wonderful sharing the songs of this great man.

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It looks like Jimmy Cliff is loved by people all over the world. It's nice to grow up listening to Reggae. "Time will tell" is very chill. Love it. My dad mostly listened to folk and rock. My brother was more into 80s music. !LUV

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These are awesome! I was not expecting the third acoustic song, which was surprising, but just as awesome. These are songs to definitely sit and listen to!

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That's right @wwwiebe ,

Human touch is both heart moving and humorous. I'm been feeling Blue on Tuesday afternoons these days and I just kind of felt Jimmy Cliff understands the feeling and puts it in words and music that everybody can understand.

Wahjahka

A self-taught person. People who can only learn from their own experiences

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Now that's the music you need on a Sunday morning, when you are feeling tired and need a bit of a lift me up, no better man than Jimmy!!! A feast of music right there my friend, thanks as always!

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