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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.
Dieting
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord
I sit and wonder have I sinned
As I partake of my dieting, yeah
Just to know that every day, oh yea7h
My whole life depend on a food tray, yeah
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 bruk 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 to home
The lyrics to Gregory Isaacs's song Dieting address the difficult realities of life in prison. The singer questions whether he has sinned as he eats his meager prison diet, fully aware that his entire life depends on the prison food tray. He wonders when his term will end and when he will finally be able to go home. Despite the harsh conditions of prison, the singer remains resilient and hopeful, declaring that he is one day closer to home.
The song speaks to the plight of prisoners who are often marginalized and forgotten. The singer describes his prison as "an old iron gate in hell," emphasizing the dehumanizing nature of incarceration. He also notes that he "nuh want no baton stick come bruk me bone," highlighting the violence and abuse that prisoners may face from prison authorities. Despite these challenges, the singer maintains his sense of dignity and independence, stating that he is a man who must continue on his path.
Overall, Dieting is a powerful commentary on the harsh realities faced by prisoners, and serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of prison reform and social justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord
Addressing a divine power
I sit and wonder have I sinned
Reflecting on one's spiritual status
As I partake of my dieting, yeah
Eating while adhering to a strict regimen
Just to know that every day, oh yeah
Understanding the significance of daily habits
My whole life depend on a food tray, yeah
Having one's survival tied to their diet
An happy day, a night of pain
Experiencing both joy and suffering
I wonder when this a-term will end
Contemplating the length of one's sentence
Cos I'm a man and I've got to go
Acknowledging one's humanity and mortality
I don't know when I'm gonna get parole
Uncertainty about being released from prison
But I'm a-one day
Focusing on the present moment
Yes, I'm a-one day
Emphasizing the importance of taking things one day at a time
One day closer to home
Getting closer to being released from prison
The place in which that I dwell, Lord knows
Describing the harsh conditions of prison
Was just an old iron gate in hell, yeah
Comparing prison to hellish torment
But still I survive
Enduring through hardship
The foolish man always build strife
Not wanting to get into trouble with others
Nuh want no baton stick come bruk me bone
Not wanting to be beaten by authorities
The worldly man, leave me alone
Avoiding trouble with other prisoners
Uunh
Exclamation of frustration or pain
To home
Yearning for freedom
I need, aah
Expressing a longing for release
One day closer to home
Continuing the theme of getting closer to being released
Writer(s): Gregory Anthony Isaacs, Sylvester Alfonso Weise
Contributed by Bentley F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Garvey Ufot
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
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.
@jcoolman4854
One day for sure. Big up Gregory. Grew up on these tunes, yet it still feels like yesterday.
@alanlaranjeiras8466
Haja músicas. Mto bom¡ sempre descobrindo músicas do G I
@ronaldemmanuel8674
Tune hard man!!!
@Raspectras
I can't get any cooler. Big up The "COOL RULER"
@maison770
Thé weakest tune on this set ... but still sound good
@badumbuya8513
maison770 tune bad ! Not weak.
@endangeredspecies1272
I knew this song had a meaning, now I understand because it's much too heartfelt! GP is an AWFUL place, unfit for ANY human habitation and like Angola state penitentiary in Louisiana, most of its stories are NEVER told! The Creator had his HAND around this brother and he LIVED to tell about it before he made his transition and God REST him, this is not ONLY a BAD ASS tune but, it's FILLED with tears because it's TRUE! 😔☝
@lawrencenjawe1935
@maison770 Absolutely right. It is the weakest song on the set. If it hadn't been sung by Gregory Isaacs, I probably wouldn't have given this song a second listen. But still i give it an ear....Bless...!!!