The Harder They Come

The best film to come out of Jamaica ever. Tells the story of Ivanhoe Martin (Cliff), who only wants to have his music played on the radio. The music biz keeps him down with a contract that basically gives him no rights to his music, and to avoid going back on the streets he starts selling marijuana. Then he ends up gunning down a few corrupt cops, and becomes a folk hero to the youth in the ghettos of Kingston after the record label takes advantage and releases his song.

During the filming of the movie, the filmmakers were met with police and government opposition, and when it was released in Jamaica, the Labor Party was voted out of office.

The soundtrack album features songs by Cliff (including the title song), Toots & the Maytals, the Melodians, and Desmond Dekker. The title track was also covered in 2000, by shibuya-kei goddess Kahimi Karie on the One Sound 20th Century EP.

Well they tell me of a pie up in the sky
Waiting for me when I die
But between the day you're born and when you die
They never seem to hear even your cry

So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
And then the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all
Ooh the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all

Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down
Trying to drive me underground
And they think that they have got the battle won
I say forgive them Lord, they know not what they've done

'Cause as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
And then the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all
Ooh the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all

And I keep on fighting for the things I want
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
Than living as a puppet or a slave

So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
And then the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all
Ooh the harder they come the harder they'll fall,
One and all