"Many Rivers to Cross" is a song written and recorded in 1969 by Jimmy Cliff. It has since been recorded by many musicians, most successfully by UB40, Cher and Annie Lennox.
| "Many Rivers to Cross" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 One of flip sides of the 1978 German release | ||||
| Single by Jimmy Cliff | ||||
| from the album Jimmy Cliff and The Harder They Come | ||||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | Trojan | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Cliff | |||
| Jimmy Cliff singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editCliff was aged 25 when he wrote and recorded the song in 1969. He has said he wrote the song due to the trouble he was having making it as a musical artist after moving to the United Kingdom. He commented, "When I came to the UK, I was still in my teens. I came full of vigor: I'm going to make it, I’m going to be up there with the Beatles and the Stones. And it wasn’t really going like that, I was touring clubs, not breaking through. I was struggling, with work, life, my identity, I couldn't find my place; frustration fueled the song."[1]
Regarding the line, "Wandering I am lost, as I travel along the White Cliffs of Dover," Cliff stated, "...that came from the number of times I crossed the channel to the continent. Most of the time it was France but sometimes it was Germany. It was a very frustrating time. I came to England with very big hopes and I saw my hopes fading. And that song came out of that experience."[2]
Song information
editCliff stated he was working on his second album for Island Records, but held the song back because he did not think a ballad would be appropriate. He waited until he came to New York to mix the record and add overdubs and backing vocals. He was walking from his residence to the studio, which took 15 minutes, and finished composing the song in his head. On the last day of the session, as the union backing musicians were preparing to leave, Cliff asked if he could play a song idea he had. He said, "I started singing, the band came in, and that was it. Once. That was it. And then Chris said, ‘OK, let's put this one in to fill out the album.’"
This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use an organ, which helps to supplement the gospel feel provided by the backing vocalists. He released the song, with production work by Leslie Kong, on his 1969 album, Jimmy Cliff. It was also released on the 1972 soundtrack album for the film The Harder They Come, in which Cliff also starred. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 325 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1]
The 1998 Sri Lankan song Nadee Ganga Tharanaye sung by Chitral Somapala is based on, and takes its melody from, Many Rivers to Cross.[3]
Charts
edit| Charts (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[4] | 37 |
UB40 version
edit| "Many Rivers to Cross" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side A of the UK seven-inch single | ||||
| Single by UB40 | ||||
| from the album Labour of Love | ||||
| B-side | "Food for Thought" | |||
| Released | 28 November 1983[5] | |||
| Genre | Reggae fusion | |||
| Length | 4:31 | |||
| Label | DEP International (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Cliff | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| UB40 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official video | ||||
| "Many Rivers to Cross" on YouTube | ||||
"'Many Rivers to Cross" is the third single from the album Labour of Love by the reggae group UB40. This single peaked at the number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and the number 48 in New Zealand.
Track listing and formats
edit- 7-inch single[6]
- "Many Rivers To Cross" – 3:48
- "Food for Thought " – 4:40
- 12-inch maxi-single[7]
- A1."Many Rivers To Cross" (Full Length Version) – 4:35
- A2."Food for Thought " – 4:40
- B2."Johnny Too Bad" (Unexpurgated Version – Not on Labour of Love) – 5:28
Personnel
editUB40
- James Brown – drums, syncussion
- Ali Campbell – vocals, guitar
- Robin Campbell – guitar, vocals
- Earl Falconer – bass
- Norman Hassan – percussion, vocals
- Brian Travers – saxophones
- Michael Virtue – keyboards
- Astro – toasting, rhyming, percussion
Additional personnel
- Mo Birch – vocals
- Jaki Graham – vocals
- Jackie Mittoo – additional keyboards
- Ruby Turner – vocals
Charts
edit| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] | 48 |
| UK Singles Chart[9] | 16 |
Cher version
edit| "Many Rivers to Cross" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Cher | ||||
| from the album Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 | ||||
| Released | 4 January 1993 [10] | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Cliff | |||
| Producer(s) | Cher | |||
| Cher singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Track listing
edit- European 7-inch and cassette single
- "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
- "Who You Gonna Believe" – 4:42
- European CD single
- "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
- "Who You Gonna Believe" – 4:42
- "All Because of You" – 3:28
- "Perfection" – 4:29
- UK second live cover versions CD single
- "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
- "Tougher Than the Rest" – 4:43
- "Fire Down Below" – 4:28
- "Takin' It to the Streets" – 4:05
Charts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 37 |
Annie Lennox version
editCharts
edit| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart[12] | 47 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] | 80 |
References
edit- ^ a b McCormick, Neil (12 July 2012). "Jimmy Cliff interview: 'I still have many rivers to cross'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "The Quietus - Features - A Quietus Interview - Many Rivers Crossed: Jimmy Cliff Interviewed". Thequietus.com. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ Pilapitiya, Sureshni (26 August 2019). “A legend of our times that revolutionized the Sri Lankan music scene… Chitral “Chity” Somapala”. Esteem Magazine. Retrieved on 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers To Cross" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Roaring Forties". Record Mirror. 26 November 1983. p. 8.
- ^ Many Rivers to Cross (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). UB40. Virgin Records. 1984. 9.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Many Rivers to Cross (UK 12-inch Maxi Single liner notes). UB40. Virgin Records. 1984. 9-12.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "UB40 – Many Rivers to Cross". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "UB40 - Many Rivers To Cross". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Cher - Many Rivers To Cross". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ "Annie Lennox - Many Rivers To Cross". Acharts.us. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Leona Lewis Returns To No. 1 On The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 15 October 2011.