Gregory Anthony Isaacs ⋆ 15 July 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica ⋆ 25 Oct 2010 in… Read Full Bio ↴Gregory Anthony Isaacs ⋆ 15 July 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica ⋆ 25 Oct 2010 in London UK ⋆ was a Jamaican singer and songwriter. He recorded an enormous amount of songs in the genres (regular) reggae, lovers rock, roots reggae. His nickname was the Cool Ruler. By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers, regularly touring the US and the UK. Well-known songs are Night Nurse, Mr Cop, My Only Lover, Tune In, and Love Is Overdue. He became an international star 1978 after signed to Virgin Record's Front Line, and appeared in the movie Rockers with the song Slave Master. The two Front Line albums Cool Ruler and Soon Forward did, however, not sell as good as expected from someone regarded to be the third or fourth reggae artist in the world after Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and maybe Jacob Miller (singer in the band Inner Circle). Drug problems with cocaine and crack cocaine in the early 80s decelerated Isaacs carrier substantially, but not completely. He released 73 studio albums with original material, and over 500 compilation or remix albums. He worked together with almost all big Jamaican music producers of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

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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.

Jailer
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kind-a dry
Well, I never had me no money
Never had me no money
Never had me no money
I ain't that kind-a guy

Oh, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kind-a dry

I'm gonna work 'til the good Lord calls me
Be workin' 'til the good Lord calls me
I'm gonna work until the good Lord calls me
It'll be in the by and by

Oh, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kind-a dry

Now, jailer, should ya see my baby
Jailer, if ya see my baby
Jailer, if ya see my baby
Just tell her I said, "Goodbye"

Everybody singin'

Jailer
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
My throat is kind-a dry

Ah, jailer, won't ya bring me some
Bring me water
Jailer, won't ya bring me some
Bring me water

Jailer, won't ya bring me water
My throat is kind-a dry

Overall Meaning

The song "Jailer" by Gregory Isaacs is a classic reggae tune about a man who finds himself locked up in jail with no water to drink. He repeatedly asks the jailer to bring him water because his throat is dry. Throughout the song, Isaacs talks about his lack of money, but he is determined to work until the "good Lord" calls him. He also asks the jailer to deliver a message to his girlfriend if he sees her.

The repeated request for water serves as a metaphor for the basic necessities that inmates are often denied while in prison. Isaacs' powerful vocals, as well as the subtle instrumentation and harmonies, make "Jailer" an unforgettable tune that highlights the struggle of being locked up without fair treatment.

One interpretation of the song is that Isaacs is making a political statement about the unfairness of the prison system, particularly in Jamaica where overcrowding, shortage of resources, and mistreatment of inmates have been well documented. The lyrics suggest that those in power need to be held accountable and that prisoners should receive basic human rights.

Line by Line Meaning

Jailer, bring me water
The singer is asking the jailer to bring some water for him.

Jailer, bring me water
The singer repeats his request for water to emphasize how much he needs it.

Jailer, bring me water
The request for water is made for the third time, highlighting the urgency of the situation and how the singer's throat is dry.

My throat is kind-a dry
The singer is indicating that he is very thirsty and needs water immediately.

Well, I never had me no money
The singer is saying that he has never had any money in his life.

Never had me no money
This line is repeated to emphasize the fact that the singer has always been poor and didn't have much material wealth.

Never had me no money
This line is repeated again to show that the singer doesn't place much value on money and it isn't important to him.

I ain't that kind-a guy
The singer is saying that he isn't the kind of person who is interested in money or material possessions.

Oh, jailer, bring me water
The singer repeats his plea for water to show how important it is to him and to increase the likelihood of his request being fulfilled.

Be workin' 'til the good Lord calls me
The singer is saying that he will continue to work hard until he dies and is called home to heaven by the Lord.

I'm gonna work until the good Lord calls me
This line repeats the same sentiment as the previous line, reinforcing the message.

It'll be in the by and by
The singer is saying that he doesn't know when he will be called home to God, but that it will happen eventually.

Now, jailer, should ya see my baby
The singer is asking the jailer to help him by passing on a message to his loved one if he sees her.

Jailer, if ya see my baby
The singer is repeating his request to ensure his message is delivered if the jailer happens to come across his loved one.

Just tell her I said, "Goodbye"
The singer is asking the jailer to convey a message of farewell to his loved one, letting her know that he is thinking of her and saying goodbye.

Jailer
The word 'Jailer' is shouted repeatedly to draw the jailer's attention and let him know that the singer needs help.

Jailer, bring me water
The singer repeats his request for water, making sure that the jailer understands how important it is to him.

Come on jailer, bring me
The singer is urging the jailer to hurry up and bring him some water to alleviate his thirst.

Jailer, bring me water
The singer once again repeats his request for water, desperate for relief from his dry throat.

Come on jailer, bring me
The singer implores the jailer to bring him water as soon as possible because he can't take it anymore.

Jailer, bring me water
The song ends with a final plea for water, showing how important this simple request is to the singer's survival and well-being.

My throat is kind-a dry
The last line is repeated once more to emphasize the severity of the singer's thirst and need for water.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Darin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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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

"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