- - -
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.
Don't Believe In Him
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you darling
Don′t believe in him
He's just having fun with you
Telling you all his pretty lies
Very soon you′ll realise
He don't really love you as he says
'Cause it′s unfair to me
Because I need you desperately
He don′t really love you like I do
Honey, how I hate to tell you
No greater love
No sweeter love is there but mine
Our day will come, our day will come
Baby, our day will come
So don't believe in him
He′s just having fun with you
Telling you all his pretty lies
Very soon you'll realise
He don′t really love you as he says
Stop before it gets too late
'Cause it′s unfair to me
Because I need you desperately
He don't really love you like I do
Honey, how I want to tell you
I love you darling
I need you yeah
(.)
But there is no greater love
No sweeter love is there but mine
Our day will come, our day will come
Baby, our day will come
So don't believe in him
He′s just having fun with you
Telling you all his pretty lies
Very soon you′ll realise
He don't really love you as he says
Stop before it gets too late
′Cause it's unfair to me
Because I need you desperately
He don′t really love you like I do
Honey, how I hate to tell you
Don't believe him
Baby, don′t believe him
In Gregory Isaacs's song Don't Believe In Him, the singer is telling his beloved not to trust the man she is currently seeing. He reassures her of his love for her, and insists that the other guy is just having fun with her and telling lies to win her over. The singer warns her that very soon she will realize that the man she is seeing is not in love with her, as he claims to be, and will end up hurting her. The singer implores her to stop seeing the other man, as it is not fair to him, and he needs her desperately.
The singer's words reveal his deep love and concern for the woman he is addressing. He does not want to see her hurt, and he is ready to stand by her side through thick and thin. He believes that their love is true and authentic, and that no one else can provide her with the same level of affection and care that he can. The repetition of the message "don't believe in him" reveals the singer's fervency and urgency, as if he is pleading with his beloved not to make a mistake that could cost him their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baby
Expressing affection and fondness towards the listener.
I love you darling
Reaffirming the love for the listener.
Don’t believe in him
Advising the listener to not trust the person in question.
He's just having fun with you
Explaining that the person is not serious about the relationship.
Telling you all his pretty lies
Implying that the person is not truthful and is manipulating the listener.
Very soon you'll realise
Suggesting that with time, the listener will come to the same conclusion.
He don't really love you as he says
Stating that the person does not truly love the listener.
Stop before it gets too late
Urging the listener to take action before it's too late.
'Cause it’s unfair to me
Implying that it’s unfair for the listener to continue believing in the person, as it affects the singer.
Because I need you desperately
Expressing how important the listener is to the singer emotionally.
He don't really love you like I do
Reiterating that the person does not love the listener as deeply as the singer does.
Honey, how I hate to tell you
Expressing regret about having to bear bad news to the listener.
No greater love
Emphasizing the strength and depth of the singer’s love.
No sweeter love is there but mine
Highlighting the uniqueness and tenderness of the singer's love.
Our day will come, our day will come
Expressing confidence in the promise of love and a future together.
But there is no greater love
Repeating the assertion that the singer’s love is unrivaled.
Baby, our day will come
Reassuring the listener that their love will triumph in the end.
Don’t believe him
Firmly advising the listener to not put their trust in the person.
Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Ssssss-xx2js
Miss you Gregory !!
@Ssssss-xx2js
This song is killing me man!!
@julio_777k
Escuto essa música lembro do meu falecido pai ele gostava demais desses reggae 💔💔💔😭
@FiRSTRaTeSeLecToR
early ruler! =)
@AuthenticSelector64
Delano Stewart