Doctor Ross (October 21, 1925 – May 28, 1993), aka Doctor Ross, the harmoni… Read Full Bio ↴Doctor Ross (October 21, 1925 – May 28, 1993), aka Doctor Ross, the harmonica boss, was an American blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player and drummer — a one-man band — who was born Charles Isaiah Ross, in Tunica, Mississippi.

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

Sweet Home Chicago
Dr. Isaiah Ross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have been everywhere
There is no place like home sweet home

A mi say once upon a time mi live a long from home
Far far from home
Far far from home
Say mi travel everywhere but home is the best
Mi no bother how nice Jah Jah know mi have to go

Ya home ya home
Lorda mercy sweet home
Ya home ya home
Lorda mercy sweet home

There is no place like home sweet home
Home, home, home sweet home

As time go on
Say me get boring cause is long from home
Long long from home
No matter where mi go
Sweet home is the best
When mi lie pan the bed
Mi think think Jah Jah know
Ya home ya home
Lorda mercy sweet home
Ya home ya home
Lorda mercy sweet home

There is no plaace like home sweet home
Home, home, home sweet home

Mother land
Our land
I, I
Mother land

Our land
I, I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dr. Isaiah Ross's song "Sweet Home Chicago" express the longing and appreciation for home. The singer states that they have traveled extensively, yet there is no place like home. They reminisce about a time when they lived far away from home, emphasizing the distance and longing they felt during that period. Despite experiencing different places and acknowledging their beauty, the singer firmly believes that home is the best.

The repetition of the phrase "Ya home ya home, Lorda mercy sweet home" emphasizes the emotional connection and sense of relief that comes from returning home. The lyrics convey the idea that no matter how nice or intriguing other places may be, there is a unique comfort and satisfaction in being at home.

The mention of the "Mother land" and "Our land" implies a deeper cultural or ancestral connection to the notion of home. This could suggest that the singer feels a strong attachment to their roots and heritage, highlighting the importance of a place that holds their history and identity.

Overall, the lyrics of "Sweet Home Chicago" celebrate the concept of home and convey the deep longing, appreciation, and sense of belonging that comes from returning to one's familiar surroundings.

Line by Line Meaning

I have been everywhere
I have traveled to many places

There is no place like home sweet home
Home is the best place, better than anywhere else

A mi say once upon a time mi live a long from home
I used to live far away from home

Far far from home
Very far from home

Say mi travel everywhere but home is the best
Although I have traveled everywhere, home is still the best

Mi no bother how nice Jah Jah know mi have to go
No matter how nice it is, I know I have to leave and go home

Ya home ya home
Yes, home is where I belong

Lorda mercy sweet home
Oh Lord, how wonderful home is

As time go on
As time passes

Say me get boring cause is long from home
I get bored because I am far from home

Long long from home
Very far from home