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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.
Grow Closer Together
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Together we always seemed to be
We were just good friends
Then something deep within
My heart kept a-tellin' me
Be closer together
For you might love one another
For you might love one another
You must take [?] to your heart
And never let her get too far apart
She's the girl that you love
She's the girl that you love
Closer together, closer together
For the first time I
Looked in to her eyes
Was a-long before I realized
Sincere and true
They said 'I love you'
And at last her heart was saying too
Be closer together
For you might love one another
You'll be closer together
For you might love one another
You've got to take [?] to your heart
And never let her get too far apart
She's the girl that you love
She's the girl that you love
Closer together, closer together
Come on, let's be closer together
Come on, let's be closer together
Come on, let's be closer together
Come on, let's be closer together
The lyrics of Gregory Isaacs’s “Grow Closer Together” is about a love story between two childhood friends who never realized that they were meant to be more than just friends. The song talks about the fear of expressing one’s love for someone and how it holds the potential of separating them farther apart. The singer reflects upon his love for a girl that he has known since his childhood. They were just good friends, but something deep within his heart kept telling him to be closer together. The singer recognizes that they have a deep connection that they both cannot ignore. He urges the girl to take a chance on him and allow him to show her the depth of his love.
Isaacs’s lyrics emphasize the importance of not letting love slip away and holding onto it tightly. He advises that when two people feel a deep connection, they should take the chance to be closer together, as they might end up loving each other. The lyrics encourage individuals to be courageous and speak their truth, even if it is not reciprocated. The song reminds listeners of the beauty of following your heart’s desire and taking the chance to love someone.
Overall, “Grow Closer Together” is a beautiful love song that encourages listeners to take chances and be vulnerable in love. It talks about the potential depth of feelings that can be uncovered when two individuals open their hearts to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
In my hometown lived a quiet girl
There was a reserved girl who lived in my hometown
Together we always seemed to be
We frequently spent time together
We were just good friends
At first, we were only friends
Then something deep within
But it was more than just friendship
My heart kept a-tellin' me
I felt this strong pull from my heart
Be closer together
We should get closer to each other
For you might love one another
There might be romantic love between us
You'll be closer together
If we get closer, we'll feel more connected
You must take [?] to your heart
It's important to deeply care about someone
And never let her get too far apart
We should always make an effort to stay close
She's the girl that you love
She's the one you have romantic feelings for
Closer together, closer together
We need to be close to each other
For the first time I
It was a new experience for me
Looked in to her eyes
I gazed into her eyes
Was a-long before I realized
It took me a while to understand
Sincere and true
Her feelings were genuine
They said 'I love you'
Her actions and words showed me her love
And at last her heart was saying too
She also had romantic feelings for me
Come on, let's be closer together
Let's make an effort to be more connected
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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