I grew up in the church and had always questioned what they were telling me. Jimmy Cliff More Quotes by Jimmy Cliff More Quotes From Jimmy Cliff I write songs on a universal basis. I was born out of the earth of Jamaica which I consider to be a part of Atlantis, the sunk continent, but that's my thing. But I write songs on a universal basis, not like Jamaican songs. Jimmy Cliff jamaica writing song The love is the part of us that can never go. It's the essence that was always there, so that can never go. Jimmy Cliff essence love-is We need that expression. Whether we want to call it protest or not, we need to express and echo the echoes of the people. Artists need to do that. Jimmy Cliff echoes artist expression Certain artists have a role to echo the echoes of the people and that's what I'll be doing on my next album. Jimmy Cliff echoes artist people I visit studios. Just to get the feel, the smell, and see what other people are doing. Not only listening to the radio, but going to studios, greeting musicians and artists, just getting a vibe. Jimmy Cliff smell artist people I'm an artist. And I'm happy that I was there at the commencement of this music, this Jamaican music, to put my contribution and help to establish it. Jimmy Cliff jamaican-music artist helping It was one of my dreams as a child, growing up in my little village with my cousins. We used to walk together, and I used to say, when you look at the world map, 'This town is there, that town is there, that river is there.' I used to say, 'One day, I'm going to travel these places.' Jimmy Cliff walk dreams day you It's important for me to go back into the ghetto, where I'm from. I still get my oxygen from there. I don't live in the ghetto anymore, but every time I go back, I'm still seeing the same things that I lived. Jimmy Cliff live me important time Christian values were important at home. Cleanliness. Don't steal. Don't lie. Those were the rules, and they were strictly enforced. Especially the stealing and lying. When you broke the rules, you got a beating. I always broke the rules a lot. Jimmy Cliff lie you important home The first thing I wanted to be was an actor, even before I wanted to be a singer, before I discovered I could sing. Jimmy Cliff sing actor singer first I have a career, which is important, but my family is the priority. First family, and then career. It's a delicate balance. Jimmy Cliff career balance family important I regret I didn't ever learn how to fly a plane. I had the opportunity when I started to make some money, and I regret I didn't really take the time out and put the effort in and do that. Jimmy Cliff fly money opportunity time I used to do a little acting in school. It was my first love, and I really thought I would be doing it as a career. I really wanted to complete that part of my ambition. Jimmy Cliff thought ambition love school With acting, you have to become someone else. That's the fun part of it for me - to step outside of yourself and become a character. I guess being Jimmy Cliff is a little bit of a character, too. Jimmy Cliff yourself me you character Someone like Katy Perry - I like her writing because I listen to music as a songwriter. I like a lot of her songs - like, 'Firework' is a song that I think I could write. Jimmy Cliff someone think music song There are goals that I had set out for myself as an artist. I have accomplished some of them - becoming accepted all over the world - however, other parts of my goals have not been completed. Jimmy Cliff goals myself artist world I'm the kind of person who likes to hang out and observe what's going on in the streets, or in certain places. I used to do that a lot. But having to become an international superstar, I can't do that comfortably! But it's all positive, you know. Jimmy Cliff person know you positive My most important relationships were with my father and grandmother. Jimmy Cliff most grandmother important father I grew up twelve miles outside of Montego Bay. In my early teens, I went to Kingston. It was like a different planet for me. In the country, people are kind. In the city, people are hard an' cold, like the concrete and steel. Jimmy Cliff city me country people When I lived in the U.K., I recorded a lot of ska and rock-steady styles of Jamaican music. But people there weren't accepting it. So I began using a faster reggae beat. Jimmy Cliff beat reggae music people
