Gregory Anthony Isaacs ⋆ 15 July 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica ⋆ 25 Oct 2010 in… Read Full Bio ↴Gregory Anthony Isaacs ⋆ 15 July 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica ⋆ 25 Oct 2010 in London UK ⋆ was a Jamaican singer and songwriter. He recorded an enormous amount of songs in the genres (regular) reggae, lovers rock, roots reggae. His nickname was the Cool Ruler. By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers, regularly touring the US and the UK. Well-known songs are Night Nurse, Mr Cop, My Only Lover, Tune In, and Love Is Overdue. He became an international star 1978 after signed to Virgin Record's Front Line, and appeared in the movie Rockers with the song Slave Master. The two Front Line albums Cool Ruler and Soon Forward did, however, not sell as good as expected from someone regarded to be the third or fourth reggae artist in the world after Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and maybe Jacob Miller (singer in the band Inner Circle). Drug problems with cocaine and crack cocaine in the early 80s decelerated Isaacs carrier substantially, but not completely. He released 73 studio albums with original material, and over 500 compilation or remix albums. He worked together with almost all big Jamaican music producers of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

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Gregory Isaacs (born on 15 July 1951 in Fletchers Land, Kingston, Jamaica and died on 25 October 2010 in London) was a Reggae singer and songwriter. Gregory Anthony Isaacs is known as "The Cool Ruler" for his seductive crooning vocal style. Gregory attributed his greatest musical influences to R&B greats Sam Cooke and Percy Sledge, in addition to Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe.

In the late 1960s, Gregory first performed in a vocal trio called The Concords, after being encouraged by Byron Lee. By 1970 the group had split up. He subsequently formed his own label, African Museum.

In the late 1970s he emerged as one of the most prolific and popular recording artists in Jamaica. He released a number of self-produced singles on his own African Museum (JA) label with Errol Dunkley. Much of Isaacs' output reflected the 'conscious' themes of Roots Reggae, but Isaacs was equally adept at interpreting more mainstream Lovers Rock material. Early hits include "My Only Lover", "Sinner Man" and "Mr. Cop", recorded at Lee Perry's Black Ark Studio.

A period in the 1970s with the GG's label and its producer Alvin Ranglin produced hits like "Border" and "Number One".

Personal problems affected him, particularly battles with a cocaine addiction and a possession charge, which prevented him from touring in North America for a significant part of his career, until a pardon could eventually be secured.

Isaacs recorded with a number of producers, including the Riddim Twin's (Sly & Robbie) Taxi Records, who gave them their first hit with 1979's "Soon Forward" , After a series of releases with Sly & Robbie, Gregory built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. In addition to these local Jamaican labels, The Cool Ruler had had releases on Trojan, VP, Virgin's Front Line and English producer Tad A. Dawkin's Tad's Records. Isaacs would would eventually sign with Chris Blackwell's Island Records which resulted in the international release of Night Nurse (1982) and Out Deh! (1983).

Perhaps his most popular recordings in his native Jamaica are "All I Have Is Love", "Mr. Brown" and "Hard Drugs", the latter being an anti-drug anthem that dominated radio in the late 1980s and was released as a hidden track on England's Tad Records All I Have Is Love, Love Love LP.

In the 1990s Gregory's African Museum label continued to release all of Gregory Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. He continued to record and perform live in the 2000s, and it has been estimated that Isaacs has released over 500 records in his career, which includes singles and compilations.

Isaacs, who was 59 years old, died of lung cancer on 25 October 2010 at his home in London where he spent part of his time. A sad loss to the world.

Bad Da
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?
What did I do to break your heart?

Tell me the story from the start
Play it cool, oh yeah, come on baby

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Come on and tell me why you wanna say bye, bye
Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?

Oh, oh, bad ya, oh, oh bad ya, oh bad ya
What did I do to break your heart?
Tell me the story from the start
Oh yeah, tell me baby, I wanna know

Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?

Oh bad ya, oh, oh, bad ya
Oh bad ja, oh, oh bad ya

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gregory Isaacs's song Bad Da are about a breakup and the confusion surrounding it for the singer. The song starts off with a repetition of "bad da," which can be interpreted as a lamentation or acknowledgment of the unfortunate situation at hand. The singer expresses their confusion and disbelief at the breakup, questioning why the other person wants to change their plans and leave. The chorus repeats the phrase "oh no, I just can't understand" as the singer tries to wrap their head around the situation.

The singer then pleads with the other person to tell them the story from the start and to "play it cool," possibly in an attempt to keep the conversation civil and find a way to work things out. However, the other person still wants to say "bye, bye," and the singer is left asking what they did to break their heart. The song ends with another repetition of "bad ya," emphasizing the sadness and disappointment of the situation.

Overall, the lyrics to Bad Da explore the confusion and heartbreak of a breakup, with the singer trying to make sense of what happened and find a way to move forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Expressing confusion and disbelief at the situation

Oh no, I just can't understand
The singer is struggling to comprehend the reason for their lover's change of heart

How come you want a change of plans?
Asking the lover why they have decided to end the relationship

What did I do to break your heart?
Wondering what actions on the singer's part led to their lover's decision to leave

Tell me the story from the start
Asking the lover to explain the entire situation and back story behind their breakup

Play it cool, oh yeah, come on baby
Trying to remain calm and composed while discussing the matter with the lover

Come on and tell me why you wanna say bye, bye
Urgently and desperately requesting information as to why the relationship has ended

Oh yeah, tell me baby, I wanna know
Reiterating the singer's desperate desire for an explanation

Oh bad ya, oh, oh bad ya, oh bad ya
Continuing to express disbelief and sadness at the situation

Oh bad ja, oh, oh bad ya
Using a variation of the phrase to emphasize the emotional turmoil being experienced

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WINSTON HOLNESS, GREGORY ISAACS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Bad DaGregory Isaacs Lyrics

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Bad Da
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics