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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.
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Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
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The way that you're accustomed to,
Can't take you out to fancy places,
Like other fellows that I know can do,
I'm only able to romance you,
& make you tingle with delight,
Financially, I'm a pauper,
But when it comes to lovin I'm alright.
Don't show me what you're friends are wearing,
I really don't want to see,
Don't tell me what your friends are buying, girl
'Cause money doesn't grow on trees.
I got so many patches on my clothes, girl
A hole in the bottom of shoe
Financially, I'm a pauper,
But when it comes to lovin I'm alright.
Alright alright
You do really think I can buy you girl,
Or drive you in a GT car,
If you're hungry, girl, I can't feed you,
For my money, girl, you won't get far,
Tell me about the things that excite you,
That makes you tingle with delight,
Tell me where to hold & touch you,
So you got to tell me, I'm alright.
Alright alright
In the song “Loving Pauper” by Gregory Issacs, the singer is very honest with his lover about his financial situation. He admits that he is not able to maintain her in the way she is used to and cannot take her to fancy places like other men could. He also acknowledges that he does not have the money to buy her expensive things or take her on luxurious trips. However, he reassures her that he is able to provide her with love, romance, and happiness. He may be a pauper financially, but he is rich in love.
The singer is very candid and open about his limitations when it comes to money. He does not try to impress his lover with material possessions because he knows that he cannot afford them. Instead, he focuses on his ability to make her feel good emotionally and physically. He encourages her to share her desires and pleasure points with him so that he can please her. In essence, the song is about how love and emotional satisfaction are just as important, sometimes more important, than money and material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not in a position to maintain you,
I don't have the financial means to provide you the lifestyle you're accustomed to.
The way that you're accustomed to,
The lifestyle and expenses you're used to.
Can't take you out to fancy places,
I can't afford to take you to high-end places.
Like other fellows that I know can do,
Other men who have more money can do that.
I'm only able to romance you,
All I can do is to show my affection and love to you.
& make you tingle with delight,
I can make you feel happy and satisfied emotionally, physically, and mentally.
Financially, I'm a pauper,
I'm financially poor, who doesn't have much money or resources.
But when it comes to lovin I'm alright.
But I'm good in expressing my love, without needing money or material things.
Don't show me what you're friends are wearing,
I'd rather not see what your friends wear or have.
I really don't want to see,
I'm not interested in knowing about material possessions.
Don't tell me what your friends are buying, girl
I don't want to hear about what your friends are purchasing.
'Cause money doesn't grow on trees.
Because money is a scarce resource that doesn't come easy.
I got so many patches on my clothes, girl
My clothes have so many patches because I can't afford new ones.
A hole in the bottom of shoe
My shoes even have holes in them.
You do really think I can buy you girl,
Do you really think I have the means to buy you things?
Or drive you in a GT car,
Or take you on luxurious rides in a sports car.
If you're hungry, girl, I can't feed you,
If you're hungry and need food, I'm not able to provide for you.
For my money, girl, you won't get far,
I don't have much money, and it won't take you far.
Tell me about the things that excite you,
Tell me what things make you happy and excited.
That makes you tingle with delight,
Things that bring you joy and satisfaction.
Tell me where to hold & touch you,
Tell me how and where you want to be touched and held.
So you got to tell me, I'm alright.
Let me know how to make you feel happy and satisfied, and I'll do my best to fulfill it.
Alright alright
Repetition of 'alright' to emphasize his adequacy in love despite being poor financially.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GREGORY ANTHONY ISAACS
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