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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.
Lonely Street
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a sad, sad tale to tell
I need a place to go and weep
Where's this place called "Lonely Street?"
A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Perhaps upon that lonely street
There's someone such as I
Who came to bury broken dreams
And watch an old love die
If I could find that lonely street
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Where's this place called "Lonely Street?"
Where's this place called "Lonely Street?"...
The song "Lonely Street" by Gregory Isaacs is a melancholic ballad that portrays the longing of the singer to find a place where he can express his sadness and weep. He refers to this place as "Lonely Street" where there is only loneliness and broken dreams. This is a metaphorical representation of a desolate and sorrowful emotional state that one experiences after a heartbreak or loss of a loved one.
The first stanza of the song highlights the singer's search for "Lonely Street" where he can find solace and express his sorrow. He indicates that he has a sad tale to tell but needs a suitable place to weep. In the second stanza, he describes "Lonely Street" as a place where there is only loneliness, and the dim lights bring forgetfulness. This depicts the ultimate desire to forget the painful memories and move on with life.
In the final stanza, the lyrics suggest that the singer is not alone in his sorrow and that he probably meets someone on "Lonely Street," another person like himself who is trying to bury broken dreams and move on. The song leaves us with a sense of longing and loss, as the singer continues his search for the elusive "Lonely Street."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking for that lonely street
I am searching for a place of solitude and emptiness
I've got a sad, sad tale to tell
I have a story of heartbreak and sorrow to share
I need a place to go and weep
I require a location to mourn and cry
Where's this place called 'Lonely Street?'
What is the location of this desolate street?
A place where there's just loneliness
A location filled only with solitude and isolation
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where the dim illumination creates an environment of forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
A place where shattered aspirations and memories unite
Where's this place called 'Lonely Street?'
What is the location of this desolate street?
Perhaps upon that lonely street
Possibly, somewhere on that forlorn street
There's someone such as I
There may be an individual there who is similar to me
Who came to bury broken dreams
Who arrived to lay to rest their shattered hopes
And watch an old love die
And to view a previous love pass away
If I could find that lonely street
If only I could locate that forsaken street
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where the gloomy ambiance induces amnesia
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Where broken aspirations and recollections coincide
Where's this place called 'Lonely Street?'
What is the location of this desolate street?
Writer(s): Steve Martin Burnett, Gregory Anthony Isaacs
Contributed by James O. 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