Jimmy Cliff’s “Many Rivers to Cross” Lyrics Meaning
Jimmy Cliff wrote “Many Rivers to Cross” during a particularly troubling time in his life. He was a Jamaican immigrant living in Europe (as evident by his reference of “the white cliffs of Dover”). And the reason he migrated across the pond was in search of a music career that simply was not taking off. The various problems he was going through on all levels frustrated him, and it was said frustration that served as the impetus to penning this tune. Indeed the “many rivers to cross” are a reference to the variety of difficulties Jimmy Cliff was challenged with at the time.
But as is also lyrically evident, he was not the type to give up. Indeed his “pride” would not allow him to do so. What he is likely saying in this regard is that, considering for a time he really didn’t have a music career to speak of, he was contemplating giving up the whole endeavor altogether. In fact he goes as far as to state that in its stead he was thinking of “committing some dreadful time”. And whenever a legitimate person’s thoughts sink that low, you know that they are indeed inflicted with some serious depression.
So by the time the track climaxes, the listener is able to ascertain that the singer is a person of experience. Despite being relatively young (21 years old) at the time, Jimmy Cliff already knew how it felt to be “washed up for years”. And this isn’t a song of victory per se. Rather the vocalist is well aware that comparable challenges lie ahead of him also. But being a true survivor, he has opted to accept this reality rather than trying to run away from it.
Facts about “Many Rivers to Cross”
“Many Rivers to Cross” was written exclusively by Jimmy Cliff and produced by Leslie Kong, the Chinese-Jamaican who introduced Jimmy to the music business.
It was released in 1969 via Trojan Records. And it was originally featured on Jimmy Cliff’s self-titled album that came out that same year (which is also known as “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”).
The song would later be featured on the soundtrack of a 1972 film entitled “The Harder They Come”, in which Jimmy Cliff himself starred. And throughout the years it would retain a pop media presence, being featured on a number of television shows and at least one other movie.
Indeed “Many Rivers to Cross”, according to Rolling Stone, is one of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. This is despite the fact that the classic did not chart the first time around, though it did eventually do so, in France, in 1993.
It has been covered by a bunch of artists, some of whom experienced more chart success with it than Jimmy Cliff. For instance, UB40 covered the tune in 1983 to moderate success, peaking at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Cher also managed to do so with her cover in 1993. And in 2008, a rendition by Annie Lennox earned this Jimmy Cliff classic its first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.
Coldplay’s “Fix You” was partly inspired by this classic.
This song was featured in FALLING SKIES first season. Will Patton hears it playing in the science lab and tells Uncle soso not to play it anymore. Uncle says the music relaxes the scare people hold up in the high school from the aliens. Patton says you can play any thing you want to on that old record player but NOT THIS ONE. Later you see Patton listening to this wistfully thinking of the family he lost through divorce and killed by aliens. Will Patton played the part of an old battle hardened soldier. They never die they survive but not well. That is when I remember hearing this back when I was still in high school. My senior year. But it was not a song 17 an 18 year olds could relate to back then.
Now I am 70. I hear those lyrics and they are so poignant. I was wondering why an American would mention the ” cliffs of Dover”. Now I know why. I always sing a different lyric to it. I’m not sittin’ in a pile of clover.