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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.
Continent Woman
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She told me she was going on a holiday
Somewhere in Germany or France
I didn't really like the idea
But as music play then she's always dance yeah
Continent woman, tell me where you've been so long, aai
have your loving turned from right to wrong, Lord have mercy
You told me you were staying with some family
And you'll soon come back to me, yeah
I really wanted to disagree
What's to be has got to be, yeah
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, yeah
Continent woman, have your loving turned to weak from strong
Where have you been so long, so long
You told me you were staying with some family
And you'll soon come back to me, aagh
I really wanted to disagree, but
What is to be has got to be, yeah
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, Lord have mercy
Continent woman, have your loving turned to weak from strong
Where have you been so long
Have your loving turned from right to wrong
I know that you were on a holiday, yeah
Whether in Germany or France
I really didn't like the idea
But as music plays then she's always dance
Continent woman, where have you been so long
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, yeah
Have you loving turned from right to wrong, so long, aai
Tell me where you been so long, aai, so long
Tell me where you been so long
I care a lot about ya
Tell me where you been so long
In Gregory Isaacs's song "Continent Woman", the lyrics tell a story about a woman who has gone on holiday to either Germany or France. The singer doesn't agree with her decision to leave, but as music plays, she is always dancing. The lyrics then ask the question of where she has been for so long, and if her love has turned from right to wrong. The woman assures the singer that she is staying with family and will return to him soon, but the singer is unsure and wants to know the truth.
The song is about the struggles of a long-distance relationship and reveals the emotions and doubts that come with it. The singer is uncertain about the woman's intentions and wonders if her love for him has changed during her time away. Despite this, he cares deeply for her and wants to know where she has been for so long. The use of music playing and dancing implies that the woman may be having a good time without the singer in her life, leading to his worry about her loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
Continent woman, tell me what's wrong
The singer is asking his girlfriend, who is from another continent, if anything is troubling her.
She told me she was going on a holiday
Somewhere in Germany or France
I didn't really like the idea
But as music play then she's always dance yeah
The girlfriend told the singer that she was going on a vacation in Germany or France, but the singer wasn't too thrilled about it. However, he knows that she loves dancing to music and will do so wherever she goes.
Continent woman, tell me where you've been so long, aai
Continent woman,
have your loving turned from right to wrong, Lord have mercy
The singer is asking his girlfriend where she has been for such a long time, and whether her feelings for him have changed (turned from right to wrong).
You told me you were staying with some family
And you'll soon come back to me, yeah
I really wanted to disagree
What's to be has got to be, yeah
The girlfriend told the singer that she was staying with family and will return soon, but the singer didn't agree with her decision. However, he accepts that what will be, will be.
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, yeah
Continent woman, have your loving turned to weak from strong
The singer again asks his girlfriend where she has been for so long, and whether her feelings for him have become weaker (turned to weak from strong).
Where have you been so long, so long
You told me you were staying with some family
And you'll soon come back to me, aagh
I really wanted to disagree, but
What is to be has got to be, yeah
The singer repeats his question about where his girlfriend has been for so long, despite her telling him she was visiting family. He confesses that he disagreed with her decision but ultimately accepts that fate will play out.
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, Lord have mercy
Continent woman, have your loving turned to weak from strong
The singer repeats his concerns to his girlfriend about the length of her absence and whether her feelings for him have become weaker (turned to weak from strong).
Where have you been so long
Have your loving turned from right to wrong
I know that you were on a holiday, yeah
Whether in Germany or France
I really didn't like the idea
But as music plays then she's always dance
The singer again questions his girlfriend's prolonged absence and asks if her feelings have changed. He recalls that he didn't like that she went on holiday, but knows that she loves dancing to music wherever she is.
Continent woman, where have you been so long
Continent woman, tell me where you been so long, yeah
Have you loving turned from right to wrong, so long, aai
Tell me where you been so long, aai, so long
Tell me where you been so long
I care a lot about ya
Tell me where you been so long
The song ends with the singer repeating his questions to his girlfriend, expressing his concern and care for her whereabouts and well-being.
Contributed by Cooper E. 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