"Many Rivers to Cross"
One of flip sides of the 1978 German release
Single byJimmy Cliff
from the albumJimmy Cliff andThe Harder They Come
Released	1969
Genre	Reggae
Length	2:44
Label	Trojan
Songwriter	Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff singles chronology
"Waterfall" (1969) "Many Rivers to Cross" (1969) "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" (1969)

"Many Rivers to Cross" is a song written and recorded in 1969 byJimmy Cliff. It has since been recorded by many musicians, most successfully byUB40,Cher,Harry Nilsson, andAnnie Lennox.

Cliff 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. "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 withthe Beatles andthe Stones," he toldThe Daily Telegraph. "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 theWhite 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]

Cliff stated he was working on his second album forIsland 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 [Blackwell] said, ‘OK, let's put this one in to fill out the album.’"

This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use anorgan, which helps to supplement thegospel feel provided by thebacking vocalists. He released the song, withproduction work byLeslie Kong, on his 1969album,Jimmy Cliff. It was also released on the 1972soundtrack album for the filmThe Harder They Come, in which Cliff also starred.Rolling Stone ranked it No. 325 on their list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[1]

The 1998 Sri Lankan songNadee Ganga Tharanaye sung byChitral Somapala is based on, and takes its melody from, Many Rivers to Cross.^[3]

"Many Rivers to Cross"
Side A of the UK seven-inch single
Single byUB40
from the albumLabour of Love
B-side	"Food for Thought"
Released	28 November 1983 (1983-11-28)[5]
Genre	Reggae fusion
Length	4:31
Label	DEP International (UK)
Songwriter	Jimmy Cliff
Producers	UB40 Ray "Pablo" Falconer
UB40 singles chronology
"Please Don't Make Me Cry" (1983) "Many Rivers to Cross" (1983) "Cherry Oh Baby" (1984)
Official video
"Many Rivers to Cross" onYouTube

"'Many Rivers to Cross" is the third single from the albumLabour of Love by thereggae groupUB40. This single peaked at the number 16 on theUK Singles Chart and the number 48 inNew Zealand.

• 7-inch single^[6]

1. "Many Rivers To Cross" – 3:48
2. "Food for Thought " – 4:40

• 12-inch maxi-single^[7]

1. A1."Many Rivers To Cross" (Full Length Version) – 4:35
2. A2."Food for Thought " – 4:40
3. B2."Johnny Too Bad" (Unexpurgated Version – Not onLabour of Love) – 5:28

UB40

• 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

• European 7-inch and cassette single

1. "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
2. "Who You Gonna Believe" – 4:42

• European CD single

1. "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
2. "Who You Gonna Believe" – 4:42
3. "All Because of You" – 3:28
4. "Perfection" – 4:29

• UK second live cover versions CD single

1. "Many Rivers to Cross" – 4:09
2. "Tougher Than the Rest" – 4:43
3. "Fire Down Below" – 4:28
4. "Takin' It to the Streets" – 4:05

• Jimmy Cliff official website
• Jimmy Cliff discography at Discogs

• Songs about Dover, Kent
• 1969 songs
• 1969 singles
• 1983 singles
• 1993 singles
• Cher songs
• Geffen Records singles
• Jimmy Cliff songs
• Song recordings produced by Leslie Kong
• Trojan Records singles
• UB40 songs
• Songs written by Jimmy Cliff
• Song recordings produced by John Lennon

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