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ROLLING STONES LYRICS

The Harder They Come

Recorded as a Stones song in August/September of 1978, but it ended up never released by the Stones. Mick Jagger sang harmony vocals with Keith Richards on the track, and the song contains a very heavy reggae sounding organ played by Ian McLagan, sounding a lot like the organ heard in the original song by Jimmy Cliff. Keith rerecorded the song and released it as a solo B side single for "Run Rudolph Run" in December of 1978.

The Harder They Come
(Jimmy Cliff)

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
You know, they never seem to hear even your cry

Chorus:
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now what is mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they fall
One and all
The harder they come
The harder they fall
One and all

And the oppressors are trying to track me down
They're 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

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

LYRICS