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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.
Down The Line
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said I went down the line
Bought myself a dew
And as I was about the build myself a spliff
Here comes a cop, from behind
Bring me up and started sniff
He told me, hand out your pocket, yeah
Hands up your head
Than I shall surely lock away the Dread
Jah know, them want come hold I up
But them can't come hold I up
Them want, them want, come hold I up
Jah know, but them can't come hold I up
Down, down, down the line
Are we not free to walk?
Are we not free to talk?
This ain't no time to joke
'Cause I know we are free to smoke
You can't come, hold I up
I say you can't come, hold I up
So no bother come hold I up
Because you can't come hold I up, yeah
Down, down, down the line
Down, down, down the line
Down, down, down the line, yeah
Down, down, down the line
Going down the line
Down, down, down, down, down the line - ooh
Down, down, down, down, down.
In Gregory Isaacs's song "Down The Line," the lyrics depict a scenario where the singer goes out to buy himself a drink and some marijuana, and as he was about to smoke it, a police officer shows up and starts to search him. The singer resists and expresses a sense of defiance, arguing with the officer that he should be allowed to walk freely without being harassed. He asserts his right to smoke and live his life without interference from the police.
The lyrics have a political tone and convey a deeper message. The song speaks to black oppression and the struggle for freedom that many black people faced in Jamaica during the 70s and 80s. The lyrics show the resistance and resilience of the black community and their fight for freedom.
"Down The Line" is an example of the power of reggae music to address social and political issues. It speaks to the human experience of oppression and the need to fight for one's rights. Gregory Isaacs delivered this song with a vocal style that is both soulful and passionate, making it one of his most memorable songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Went down the line
I walked along the path.
Said I went down the line
I'm telling you that I walked down the path.
Bought myself a dew
I purchased a drink.
And as I was about the build myself a spliff
As I was getting ready to roll a marijuana cigarette.
Here comes a cop, from behind
A police officer approached me from behind.
Bring me up and started sniff
The cop smelled the marijuana in the air.
He told me, hand out your pocket, yeah
The cop instructed me to take my hands out of my pocket.
Hands up your head
The cop ordered me to lift my hands above my head.
'Cause if I should find a seed
The cop warned that if he found any marijuana seeds, he would arrest me.
Than I shall surely lock away the Dread
In other words, the cop would definitely arrest me if he found any seeds.
Jah know, them want come hold I up
The phrase 'jah know' is a Rastafarian expression meaning 'god knows.' In this context, it means 'I know.' The singer is saying that he knows the police want to arrest him.
But them can't come hold I up
Despite the police wanting to arrest him, the singer believes he can avoid being arrested.
This ain't no time to joke
The situation is serious and requires attention.
'Cause I know we are free to smoke
Despite the police attempting to intimidate him, the singer knows he has the right to smoke marijuana.
You can't come, hold I up
The police cannot arrest him.
I say you can't come, hold I up
The singer reiterates that the police cannot arrest him.
So no bother come hold I up
The singer advises the police to not bother trying to arrest him.
Because you can't come hold I up, yeah
To reemphasize, the singer states that the police will not be able to arrest him.
Are we not free to walk?
The singer is questioning the audience about their right to freely move around.
Are we not free to talk?
Similarly, the singer questions the audience about their right to freely express themselves verbally.
Down, down, down the line
The singer repeats the phrase, 'down the line,' emphasizing his previous statements.
Going down the line
Again, the singer repeats that he is walking down the path.
Down, down, down, down, down the line - ooh
Finally, the singer repeats the phrase, 'down the line,' concluding the song.
Writer(s): Gregory Anthony Isaacs
Contributed by Sophie 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