Ross played various forms of the blues that have seen him compared to John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson I, and is perhaps best known for the recordings he made for Sun Records in the 1950s, notably "The Boogie Disease" and "Chicago Breakdown". Ross won a Grammy for his 1981 LP Rare Blues, and subsequently enjoyed a resurgence and much critical acclaim towards the end of his career.
In 1951 he began to be heard on Mississippi and Arkansas radio stations, now nicknamed Doctor because of his habit of carrying his harmonicas in a black bag that resembled a doctor's bag, and over the next three years recorded in Memphis, Tennessee for both Chess Records and Sun Records, creating exhilarating harmonica or guitar boogies made disctinctive by his sidemen playing washboard (with a spoon and fork) and broom.
In 1954 he took a job with General Motors in Flint, Michigan, and played less. Some singles, among them his first true one-man band effort, "Industrial Boogie", filtered into blues circles, leading to a Testament Records album and a 1965 AFBF booking. While in London he recorded what would be the first LP on Blue Horizon Records. Europe loved Ross and gave him work and recording opportunities; he was never as popular at home, and in the 1980s his performing profile was barely visible.
He died in 1993, at the age of 67, and was buried in Flint, Michigan.
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Ross
COME ON HOME
Dr. Isaiah Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is like a trap, you know
Baby come home
Baby come home, I'm here
Baby come home
Baby come home, I'm here
She bought a jet, I know that
She is like a trap, you know
Baby come home, I'm here
Baby come home
Baby come home, I'm here
The lyrics to Dr. Isaiah Ross's song "Come On Home" are rich with imagery of life's journey, growth, and self-discovery. The opening lines, "Life is simply all the times / Growing children sailing down / From death to birth," evoke the cyclical nature of life and the constant process of learning and evolving. The lines "Here now watch you grow / Look through, light your shadow / Be aware of / Never ending care" suggest that self-awareness and reflection are essential for personal growth and development.
The chorus, "Come on now let's go the way / Bad and good dos just exist / As different faces / Of the same coin," suggests that life is full of ups and downs, but that ultimately, everything is connected and part of a larger whole. The lines "The secreted dream inside the heart / Calls clear with this loud voice / Come on home / Live your life" encourage listeners to follow their dreams, embrace their true selves, and live their lives to the fullest.
Throughout the song, there are references to hiding behind masks and pleasing others, suggesting that societal pressures can sometimes make it difficult to stay true to oneself. However, the repetition of the lines "Sometimes walking / Searching all alone / Just to please my [mom/friend/heart/etc.]" suggests that ultimately, it is only by staying true to oneself that one can truly find peace and happiness.
Overall, "Come On Home" is a poignant and inspiring song about the importance of self-discovery, personal growth, and staying true to oneself in the face of societal pressure and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I say remember now
This is a reminder to keep something in mind, to not forget it.
Life is simply all the times
Life encompasses everything good, bad, sad, happy, etc. It will continue regardless of what happens to us.
Growing children sailing down
We progress in life like children who grow and learn new things each day.
From death to birth
The circle of life is from birth to death and repeats itself over and over again.
Here now watch you grow
To observe someone growing means to watch them change and develop into something new.
Look through, light your shadow
See your negative aspects as a positive, and use it to your advantage.
Be aware of
Being vigilant and alert of your surroundings is necessary to avoid any harm.
Never ending care
This suggests endless support or assistance from somebody you value deeply, such as family or friends.
Sometimes walking
Life is sometimes like walking, a journey that's sometimes lonely but ultimately worth it.
Searching all alone
It's important to sometimes find oneself, can only truly depend on oneself.
The way back home again
Returning to something that is familiar and comfortable after a long time of being away from it.
I lose no time to hide yourself
There is no time to waste hiding a part of yourself that you have been keeping secret.
Behind the mask of a fake killing smile
Pretending to be happy is a way to disguise one's true emotions, leading to the death of one's true self.
Just to please my mom
People often pretend to be something they're not in order to satisfy the expectations of those around them.
Come on now let's go the way
Let's now take action and move forward.
Bad and good dos just exist
Good and bad things are a part of life and are on opposite sides of the spectrum.
As different faces
Both good and bad situations are just different variations of the same thing.
Of the same coin
Opposing ideas that are still connected to one another.
The secreted dream inside the heart
The innermost desires we hold within our hearts and are often kept hidden from others.
Calls clear with this loud voice
It's time to take action and make those innermost desires a reality.
Come on home
Returning to who you are and what you truly value.
Live your live
Living the life you want and not one that is dictated by others is important for personal happiness.
Aum yeah, I see clear again
A realization or understanding of something that was once unclear.
The narrow way is full of light
A difficult journey can often lead to illumination and clarity.
Eternal real
The truth that endures the test of time.
And made of love
Love is ever-present and everlasting.
Yeah please lead me through
Asking for guidance, support or maybe even just kindness from someone or something.
Through the darkness to the light
From negativity to positivity, from difficulty to ease.
Open up my ear and eye
Being open minded and receptive to new experiences and possibilities.
Open up my heart
Allowing oneself to be vulnerable and receptive to love and compassion.
Now yeah, I'm free again
A new beginning, shedding all the negative thoughts and bringing back the feeling of liberation.
Coming down on the eagles' wings
The realisation that one can fly high and move towards new experiences positively, without being daunted.
And rooted like a giant tree
The feeling of strength, stability, assurance that one will be grounded despite everything against them.
As the fearless cross the death
Embracing change and facing mortality with no fear.
The soul finds its counter piece
The sense of fulfilment in finding someone or something that makes one feel whole.
The Body is nothing
The physical body is insignificant and transient in the face of the vastness and depth of life.
But light
All that exists, all that matters is the light that one brings to everything that they undertake.
I just please the alone love
Someone may find pleasure and fulfilment in alone time, personally loving and valuing their own company.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Luiz Valente
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Modernbluesharmonica
Dr. Ross has always been one of my favorites, for two reasons: perfect tone--that wheezing country sound--and his own distinctive bounce-groove. He's an underappreciated player. Thanks much for posting this.
@sagnikpaul1811
Ahhh!!! The legend himself.
@darrellpetersen133
I saw him a bunch of times when I lived in Michigan. He was an old man, but still sounded the same. One time there was a photo exhibit of blues artists before the show, and he was walking around looking at them. I chatted briefly with him about some of the artists. He knew many of them, and had played with them. Including Mance Lipscomb. I said "I bet that sounded good." He said "It sure did."
@mr.rossross9177
my uncle singing that song!!!
@ValleyoftheRogue
What a lucky, lucky person you are to have had such a huge talent for an uncle.
@bobgardinger206
And he's still singing it! I wish I'd met him.
@catonthehowlingmoonrecords9529
That's wonderful! Your Uncle was a genius :)
@stonehand49
Mr.Ross Ross ...Lord I love him!!! Been a fan for years. All things at once!!! Gifted
@ionhunter
You happen to live in Flint?
@hilmarwensorra1215
yep, priceless footage by the ONE & ONLY Doctor Ross (1925 - 1993 R.I.P. Gone but NOT forgotten).