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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.
Bits And Pieces
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't believe it
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
I can't believe my eyes although
I don't see you no more
This has got to be a dream
And someone gonna wake me
I found myself keep wondering
Stumbling around
Can't understand where our love has gone
Oh why, oh why
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't stand it
I can't laugh no more the way
That I could with you
Don't enjoy those little things
The way that we used to
Who's gonna cheer me up, my love
When I'm feeling down
Who's gonna smile with me and kiss
Away my frown
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't believe it
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't stand it
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
That's all, that's all
I can't believe my eyes although
I don't see you no more
This has got to be a dream
And someone gonna wake me
I found myself keep wondering
Stumbling around
Can't understand where our love has gone
Oh why, oh why
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't believe it
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
Hmmm
I can't laugh no more the way
That I could with you
Don't enjoy those little things
The way that we used to
Who's gonna cheer me up, my love
When I'm feeling down
Who's gonna smile with me and kiss
Away my frown
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
Bits and pieces, that's all
And I can't believe it
Bits and pieces, that's all
That we made of our love
The lyrics of Gregory Isaac's song Bits and Pieces express the singer's disbelief and sadness over the demise of his relationship with his lover. He is struggling to come to terms with the fact that their love has been reduced to bits and pieces, implying that it has been fragmented and destroyed irreparably. He keeps wondering where their love went wrong and how they ended up with such a broken relationship. The singer reflects on the little things that they used to enjoy together, such as sharing smiles and kisses, and he longs for them to return.
The song portrays the emotions of someone struggling with heartbreak and trying to come to terms with what has happened. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, as they convey the intense emotions and confusion that come with a broken heart. The repetition of the phrase "bits and pieces" emphasizes the fragmented and incomplete nature of their love, highlighting the finality of the situation. The singer also expresses his uncertainty and disbelief, suggesting that he cannot accept that their relationship is truly over.
Overall, the song is a poignant expression of the pain of lost love, conveying a sense of sadness and longing that is felt by anyone who has ever suffered from heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Bits and pieces, that's all
Our relationship is fragmented and only consists of small parts.
That we made of our love
Our love is what created these small parts.
And I can't believe it
I am in disbelief that our love has been reduced to bits and pieces.
I can't believe my eyes although
Even though I cannot see you anymore, I am still in disbelief.
I don't see you no more
I am no longer able to see you.
This has got to be a dream
I am hoping that what is happening is just a dream.
And someone gonna wake me
I feel like someone will wake me from this dream.
I found myself keep wondering
I wonder to myself about what happened to our love.
Stumbling around
I am lost and unsure of what to do.
Can't understand where our love has gone
I don't know how our love disappeared and ended up as bits and pieces.
Oh why, oh why
I am questioning why this happened to us.
And I can't stand it
I cannot tolerate the fact that our love is now in fragments.
I can't laugh no more the way
I am not able to enjoy the same type of laughter that I shared with you.
Don't enjoy those little things
I cannot appreciate the small things in life, like I once did with you.
The way that we used to
The way we used to enjoy the small things in life is now gone.
Who's gonna cheer me up, my love
I am wondering who will be there for me when I need emotional support.
When I'm feeling down
When I am experiencing negative emotions.
Who's gonna smile with me and kiss
I am questioning who will share happy moments with me.
Away my frown
Remove the sadness from my face.
Writer(s): C. Hines
Contributed by Mason P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eras
on Good Morning
Anyone with out deh lyrics by Gregory isaacs
Garvey Ufot
on Dieting
Lord
Lord
I sit and wonder have I sinned
As I partake of my dieting, yeah
Just to know that every day, oh yeah
My whole life depend on a food tray, yeah
An happy day, a night of pain
I wonder when this a-term will end
Cos I'm a man and I've got to go
I don't know when I'm gonna get parole
But I'm a-one day
I'm a-one day
Yes, I'm a-one day
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
The place in which that I dwell, Lord knows
Was just an old iron gate in hell, yeah
But still I survive
The foolish man always build strife
Nuh want no baton stick come bruck me bone
The worldly man, leave me alone
Cos I'm a man and I've got to go
I don't know when I'm gonna get parole
But I'm a-one day
I'm a-one day
Yes, I'm a-one day
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
Uunh
One day closer to home
I sit and wonder have I sinned, Lord God
As I partake of my dieting
Hurts to know that every day, every long day
My whole life depend on a food tray
An happy day, a night of pain
I wonder when this a-term will end
Cos I'm a man and I've got to go
I don't know when I'm gonna get parole
But I'm a-one day
I'm a-one day
I'm a-one day
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
One day closer to home
To home
I need, aah
To home
One day closer
Garvey Ufot
on Dieting
The tune, 'Dieting', is absolutely, totally and completely the hottest and the coolest tune in this album. It is absolutely massive. It is my absolute best. Anyone who thinks otherwise has NOT listened to it yet. It is heartrending in its story -- Gregory's harrowing experience in prison -- hard in its riddim (Roots Radics at their best) and soul uplifting in its melody. Jesus! Are you guys kidding me? 'Dieting' is without parrallel in this album.
Gicharu
on A Few Words
Cool Ruler had classic voice, ......one of those voice one can't imitate. these songs sang more than 30 years ago will still be played and relevant more than a century later... R.I.P
Gicharu
on Front Door
"The white men lose", does not make sense...."While I may lose"
Gicharu
on Better Plant Some Loving
This was my best cassette of G.I , all songs with the exception of Let off Supm, were classic love songs. His collabo with Dennis Brown on Let off Supm was a gem
Vinnie
on Good Morning
Great vives!
Bruce Booker
on Out Deh
I really would like to have the lyrics of gregory isaacs dieting song.
Valmir Machado
on Night Nurse
brasill é regaee, é nois mano
Evelyne De Batavia
on If I Don't Have You
Wonderful