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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.
No Speech No Language
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it was all a dream
i swear it never happened
i wrote like Edgar Allen
I was Poe like Edgar Allen
Let me hit the weed
You know i really need that
Missin' screws, Bendin' rules
I dont even know whats real
Im just being real
Makin' moves
Just another human bein' bein' still
Play tha fool?
You jealous dudes are just a plate of food
The song "No Speech No Language" by Gregory Isaacs explores the power of words and how a lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. The lyrics describe the experience of feeling lost and confused, struggling to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The opening lines suggest the possibility that the entire song is a product of the singer's imagination, as he claims that "it was all a dream" and "it never happened." This sense of disorientation continues throughout the song, as the singer compares himself to literary icons Edgar Allan Poe and Shakespeare, and laments the ways in which societal norms and expectations can warp one's sense of self.
The refrain "no speech no language" serves as both a warning and a plea, emphasizing the importance of clear communication in avoiding conflict and misunderstandings. The singer seems to feel trapped by his own inability to express himself effectively, as he lashes out at those who would judge or misunderstand him. In the final lines, he dismisses these critics as "just a plate of food," suggesting that their opinions hold little weight in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, "No Speech No Language" is a poignant meditation on the power of language to both connect and isolate us, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems incomprehensible.
Line by Line Meaning
Uhh
An expression used to signify a moment of reflection or contemplation
it was all a dream
The following lyrics are a fictional narrative or a hypothetical scenario
i swear it never happened
The previous line was purely imaginary and did not occur in reality
i wrote like Edgar Allen
The artist wrote poetically, similar to the poet Edgar Allen Poe
I was Poe like Edgar Allen
The artist's writing was inspired by the writing of Edgar Allen Poe and they wish to emulate his style
Let me hit the weed
The singer requests to smoke marijuana
You know i really need that
The singer has a strong desire to smoke marijuana
Missin' screws, Bendin' rules like knee caps
The artist is prone to erratic behavior and breaking rules, similar to how a knee cap can become dislocated or bent out of shape
I dont even know whats real
The artist is unsure of what is true or authentic
Im just being real
Despite their uncertainty, the artist is attempting to be honest and genuine
Makin' moves
The singer is making progress in their life, whether it be personal or professional
Just another human bein' bein' still
The artist is just another person trying to navigate life without making too much noise or disturbance
Play tha fool?
The singer questions whether they should act naively or foolishly in order to fit in
You jealous dudes are just a plate of food
The singer sees those who are envious and try to bring them down as insignificant and easily consumed, like a plate of food
Contributed by Ellie R. 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