Let Your Yeah Be Yeah

"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah"
Single by The Pioneers
Released	1971
Genre	Reggae
Length	3:10
Label	Trojan
Songwriter(s)	Jimmy Cliff
Official audio
"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" on YouTube

"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" is a reggae song written by Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff. It was first recorded by the vocal trio the Pioneers, whose version, co-produced by Cliff, ^[1] reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971. ^{[2] [3]}

Background

The lyrics are based on Matthew 5:37; "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." ^[4]

Other recordings

• In 1973, it was recorded by American rock band Brownsville Station for their album Yeah! . Released as a single, it was the band's second song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching no. 57. ^[5]
• Cliff also released the song as a single in 1975 on Island Records, ^{[6] [7]} but it did not chart. ^[8]
• A cover of this song was recorded by Ali Campbell, the former lead singer of the British reggae band UB40, for his solo album, Big Love (1995). ^[9] It was released as a single and reached no. 25 in the U.K. ^[10]
• The Gamblers, reggae project of Booze & Glory frontman Marek Rusek, covered the song in early 2025. ^[11]

References

1. "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", Discogs.com. Accessed 25 November 2012
2. "Biography by Steve Leggett". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 March 2009.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 427. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
4. "Matthew 5:37 NKJV". Biblegateway.com.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 119.
6. "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah (Full Song & Lyrics) - Jimmy Cliff". Jiosaavn.com. 26 February 2001. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
7. "45cat - Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come / Let Your Yeah Be Yeah - Island - UK - IDJ 14". 45cat.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
8. "JIMMY CLIFF". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
9. "Ali Campbell - Big Love Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 June 2023.
10. "ALI CAMPBELL". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
11. "THE GAMBLERS – Tonight / Let Your Yeah Be Yeah". realgonerocks.com. Real Gone. 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-06-24.