Released in 1971 on the album The Harder They Come, this Jimmy Cliff classic suddenly seems oddly relevant today in a way that surely was not intended.

So, for Jen & Vicki, Bernadette & Krystal, Brent & Elaine, James & Chio, and everyone else dutifully waiting out their 14 days in self-isolation after returning from travel abroad, this one’s for you.

Lyrics

Sitting here in limbo
But I know it won’t be long
Sitting here in limbo
Like a bird without a song
Well, they’re
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the dice to roll
Sitting here in limbo
Got some time to search my soul
Well, they’re
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
I don’t know where life will lead me
But I know where I’ve been
I can’t say what life will show me
But I know what I’ve seen
Tried my hand
At love and friendship
But all that is passed and gone
This little boy is moving on
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the tide to flow
Sitting here in limbo
Knowing that I have to go
Well, they’re
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
I can’t say what life will show me
But I know what I’ve seen
I can’t say where life will lead me
But I know where I’ve been
Tried my hand
At love and friendship
But all that is passed and gone
This little boy is moving on
Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the tide to flow
Sitting here in limbo
Knowing that I have to go
Well, they’re
Putting up resistance
But I know that my faith
Will lead me on
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, limbo
Sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, limbo
Limbo, limbo
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, sitting in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo)
Don’t know if it’s got to be so
Don’t know if it’s got to be so (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo))
Sitting in limbo, sitting here in limbo (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
But I know we won’t belong now
I know we won’t belong (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Hey, yeah (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Ah ha ha ha ha (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Ah ah ah ah ha (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)
Sitting in limbo, limbo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (limbo, limbo, limbo, limbo)