JIMMY CLIFF – “REBEL IN ME”: THE FINAL MESSAGE FROM A REGGAE LEGEND
Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican icon who brought reggae to the world, has passed away at the age of 81. As fans around the globe mourn his loss, one song suddenly rises again with overwhelming emotional power: “Rebel In Me.”
Released in 1992, the track was never his biggest commercial hit—but it has become one of the most revisited songs since his passing. It feels like the closest thing to a personal manifesto Jimmy Cliff left behind.
A rebel not against the world—but against despair
In “Rebel In Me,” Jimmy Cliff sings to the inner force that kept him alive through decades of change and struggle.
“Born to be a rebel,
But the rebel in me
Has no fear of losing.”
Hearing these lyrics now carries a renewed weight. Jimmy Cliff was, in every sense, the “positive rebel” who refused to surrender to limitations, stereotypes, or expectations. His rebellion was hope.
The man who opened the world to reggae
Jimmy Cliff was not just a singer; he was the bridge that carried reggae beyond Jamaica’s borders. Thanks to his starring role in The Harder They Come (1972), and hits like “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Vietnam,” and “Many Rivers to Cross,” global audiences discovered the soul of Jamaica long before reggae became mainstream. Bob Dylan once said that “Vietnam” was “the greatest protest song ever written.” Jimmy Cliff later became one of only two reggae artists to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame while still alive.
“Rebel In Me” — a portrait of his spirit
While some see it as a simple, easy-going reggae track, “Rebel In Me” reveals a deeper layer when listened to again:
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A man pushing back against fear
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A songwriter challenging conformity
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A soul determined to stay authentic
Today, fans revisit the song to understand the heart of a legend.
A peaceful farewell in Jamaica
According to family statements, Jimmy Cliff passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. No controversy. No drama. Only music, the way his life had always been. Even late in life, he continued jotting down melodies and rehearsing quietly at home.
Kingston lights up for Jimmy Cliff
In Kingston, speakers across streets played his classics as fans lit candles and gathered to sing along. Young reggae artists honored him online:
“We can walk today because he walked the world before us.”
The legacy of strength and resilience
Generations of musicians—from Ziggy Marley to Jimmy Cliff’s own musical protégés—have said that the greatest lesson he taught wasn’t musical:
It was the courage to rise again. That is the essence of “Rebel In Me.” A reminder that every person carries a fire that must never be extinguished.
A goodbye that isn’t truly goodbye
Though the world has lost a legend, his music continues to speak with warmth, courage, and clarity. Jimmy Cliff may have left the stage of life, but the “rebel” he sang about lives on in every beat of reggae, every voice rising from Jamaica, and every heart that ever found strength in his songs.
Rest in power, Jimmy Cliff. Your rebel spirit lives forever.