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
Got To Have It
Dr. Isaiah Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was sitting in my basement I just rolled myself a taste
Of something green and gold and glorious to get me through the day
Then my friend yelled through the transom "Grab your coat and get your hat son
There's a nut down on the corner, givin' dollar bills away"
But I laid around a bit
Then I rolled myself a bauma
Then I thought about my mama
Then I fooled around, played around
Jacked around a while and then
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and it rolled right by
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned oh me oh my
Now it took seven months of urging just to get that local virgin
With the sweet face up to my place to fool around a bit
Next day she woke up rosy and she snuggled up so cosy
When she asked me how I liked it Lord it hurt me to admit
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and it rolled right by
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned oh me oh my
Now I ain't makin' no excuses for the many things I uses
Just to sweeten my relationships and brighten up my day
But when my earthly race is over and I'm ready for the clover
And they ask me how my life has been I guess I'll have to say
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and it rolled right by
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned and I missed it
I was stoned oh me oh my
(c)1975 Tro-Essex Music Ltd.
The lyrics of Dr. Isaiah Ross's song "Got To Have It," written by Shel Silverstein, describe the experience of getting high and the consequences of missing out on opportunities as a result. The singer starts by rolling a joint and getting ready to face the day. However, when his friend tells him about a man giving away money, the singer hesitates and decides to get even higher instead of going outside. He takes another hit, thinks about his mother, and wastes time until he realizes that he missed out on the opportunity for free cash.
Later in the song, the singer admits to missing out on a sexual encounter because he was too high. He reflects on his life and suggests that he cannot make excuses for the things he uses to sweeten relationships and make his life brighter. The last line of the song suggests that if he had to sum up his life, he would say that he was stoned and missed opportunities because of it.
The song seems to be a commentary on the dangers of drug use and the missed opportunities that can result from it. It also touches on the idea of regret and the consequences of living a life that is not fully engaged with reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sitting in my basement I just rolled myself a taste
I was alone in my basement, rolling and smoking marijuana.
Of something green and gold and glorious to get me through the day
I smoked weed to feel better and get through the day.
Then my friend yelled through the transom "Grab your coat and get your hat son There's a nut down on the corner, givin' dollar bills away"
My friend came over and told me to leave the house because there was someone giving away money.
But I laid around a bit
Instead of leaving the house, I stayed put and relaxed.
Then I had another hit
I smoked more marijuana.
Then I rolled myself a bauma
I rolled another joint.
Then I thought about my mama
I briefly thought about my mother.
Then I fooled around, played around Jacked around a while and then
I wasted time doing various unimportant things.
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and it rolled right by
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned oh me oh my
I was so high that I missed the opportunity to get free money that my friend told me about, and I regret it.
Now it took seven months of urging just to get that local virgin With the sweet face up to my place to fool around a bit
It took a long time to convince a girl to come to my place and have sex.
Next day she woke up rosy and she snuggled up so cosy When she asked me how I liked it Lord it hurt me to admit
The next day, the girl woke up feeling good, asking me how I felt about our time together, but I felt bad because I was high and didn't remember it well.
Now I ain't makin' no excuses for the many things I uses Just to sweeten my relationships and brighten up my day
I'm not making excuses for using drugs to improve my relationships and mood.
But when my earthly race is over and I'm ready for the clover And they ask me how my life has been I guess I'll have to say
But when I die and people ask me about my life, I will admit that I spent a lot of time high and missed some opportunities.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
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).