Many Rivers To Cross – English Lyrics

• By: Jimmy Cliff
• Album: Wonderful World, Beautiful People

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" offers a poignant and accessible entry into Jamaican Patois and the heart of reggae music. The song's clear, heartfelt lyrics articulate a universal story of struggle and resilience, making its vocabulary of emotion and perseverance easy to grasp. What makes this song special is its unique blend of reggae rhythms with a soulful, gospel feel, creating a timeless anthem that has inspired listeners worldwide for decades to keep going, no matter the obstacles.

[English]

Many rivers to cross

But I can't seem to find my way over

Wandering, I am lost

As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Many rivers to cross

And it's only my will that keeps me alive

I've been licked, washed up for years

And I merely survive because of my pride

But the loneliness won't leave me alone

It's such a drag to be on your own

My woman left and she didn't say why

Well, I guess I have to try

Many (many) rivers to cross (rivers to cross)

But just where to begin? I'm playing for time

There'll be times (many) I find myself (rivers to cross)

Thinking of committing some dreadful crime

Yes, I got many (many) rivers to cross (rivers to cross)

But I can't seem to find my way over

(I've got) wandering, I am lost (many rivers to cross)

As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rivers /ˈrɪvərz/ A1	noun - large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream
cross /krɒs/ A2	verb - to go from one side of something to the other noun - a mark or shape consisting of two lines that cross each other
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a road, track, path, or street for travelling along
wandering /ˈwɒndərɪŋ/ B1	verb - moving from place to place without a fixed plan or purpose
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts
travel /ˈtrævl/ A2	verb - make a journey, typically of some length or abroad
cliffs /klɪfs/ B1	noun - a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all wavelengths of visible light; the opposite of black.
will /wɪl/ B1	noun - the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action
keeps /kiːps/ A2	verb - continue or cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living; not dead
years /jɪərz/ A1	noun - the time taken by the earth to make one revolution round the sun
survive /səˈvaɪv/ B1	verb - continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship
pride /praɪd/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of one's close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired
loneliness /ˈləʊnlinəs/ B2	noun - sadness because one has no friends or company.
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to go away from
begin /bɪˈɡɪn/ A1	verb - to start
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law
dreadful /ˈdredfl/ B2	adjective - extremely bad or serious

Key Grammar Structures

• Many rivers to cross

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to cross" is an infinitive used to express the purpose of the many rivers. It explains why there are many rivers - they are there "to cross".

• But I can't seem to find my way over

  ➔ "Seem" + infinitive

  ➔ The structure "can't seem to + verb" expresses difficulty or an inability to do something. In this case, the speaker is finding it difficult "to find" their way.

• Wandering, I am lost

  ➔ Participle clause expressing reason (reduced adverbial clause)

  ➔ "Wandering" acts as a participle clause, explaining the reason why the speaker is lost. It's equivalent to saying "Because I am wandering, I am lost".

• And it's only my will that keeps me alive

  ➔ Cleft sentence with "that"

  ➔ This is a cleft sentence where "it's only my will" is the focused element, emphasized by the "that" clause. It highlights that the speaker's will is the single reason for their survival.

• I've been licked, washed up for years

  ➔ Past participle as adjective, elliptical construction

  ➔ "Licked" and "washed up" are past participles functioning as adjectives describing the speaker's state. The phrase "I've been" is implied before "washed up", creating an elliptical construction.

• And I merely survive because of my pride

  ➔ "Because of" + noun phrase

  ➔ "Because of" introduces a noun phrase ("my pride") to indicate the reason for the speaker's survival. It's similar to saying "I merely survive due to my pride."

• It's such a drag to be on your own

  ➔ Exclamatory sentence with "such", "to be" infinitive

  ➔ The structure "It's such a + adjective + noun + to + infinitive" expresses a strong feeling about something. Here, it emphasizes how unpleasant it is "to be" alone.

• There'll be times I find myself thinking of committing some dreadful crime

  ➔ Future tense with "will", gerund as object of preposition, adjective + noun

  ➔ "There'll be" is a contraction of "There will be", indicating a future possibility. "Thinking of committing" uses a gerund ("committing") as the object of the preposition "of". "Dreadful crime" uses the adjective "dreadful" to describe the noun "crime".