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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.
Not The Way
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ain't too big to apologize, no
If you care that much about her
You gotta treat my sister nice, yeah
I heard you kick her in the bum even though she's still your baby
But that's not the way to treat a lady
If she is wrong try show her the right
Beca' the daughters take a little longer
To sight up the Father, yeah
I said the daughters take a little longer
To do the works of Jah Jah
Never let her go astray, yeah
Try show her the right way, yeah
I heard you kick her in the bum even though she's still your baby
But that's not the way to treat your lady
If she is wrong try show her the right
No need to quarrel, no need to make a fight
Beca' the daughters take a little longer
To sight up the Father, yeah
I said the daughters take a little longer
To do the works of Jah Jah
Never let her go astray, yeah
Try show her the right way, yeah
She's your sister
So don't mistreat her
I said the daughters take a little longer
Daughters take a little longer
She'll learn one day
Never let her go astray, yeah
She's your sister
So don't mistreat her, no
She'll learn one day
In Gregory Isaacs's song "Not The Way," the singer is pleading with someone to apologize to his sister and treat her nicely. He heard that this person kicked the sister in the bum, and he believes this isn't the right way to treat a lady. If she did something wrong, the right way to handle it is to show her the right path instead of quarrelling or fighting. The singer believes that daughters take a bit longer to understand their father and the works of Jah Jah (Jah, or Yah, is a shortened form of Jehovah and is often used in Rastafarian culture to refer to the almighty). The singer advises not to let her go astray and to show her the right way.
The song presents a message of morality and encourages people to treat women with respect. The lyrics emphasize that physical violence against women is not the way to handle a situation. Instead, the person should use calm and patience to show the right path.
In conclusion, "Not The Way" is a cautionary tale about how to treat women, and respect should be given to them. Violence is not the answer, and one should take the path of gentleness to lead others to the right path. It is a powerful message, presented in the context of Gregory Isaacs's reggae music.
Line by Line Meaning
Go and tell her you're sorry
You should go and apologize to her
You ain't too big to apologize, no
No one is too big to say sorry
If you care that much about her
If you truly care for her
You gotta treat my sister nice, yeah
You should treat my sister with kindness
I heard you kick her in the bum even though she's still your baby
I heard you physically hurt her despite the fact that she is still young and inexperienced
But that's not the way to treat a lady
That's not how you should treat a woman
If she is wrong try show her the right
If she is mistaken, try to guide her to the correct path
No need to quarrel, no need to make a fight
There is no need to argue or fight
Beca' the daughters take a little longer
Because daughters take a little longer
To sight up the Father, yeah
To recognize and understand their value and potential
I said the daughters take a little longer
I repeat, daughters take a little longer
To do the works of Jah Jah
To accomplish the tasks ordained by God
Never let her go astray, yeah
Never let her go down the wrong path
Try show her the right way, yeah
Try to guide her towards the correct path
She's your sister
She is your sibling
So don't mistreat her
Therefore, do not mistreat her
She'll learn one day
She will come to understand one day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGORY ISAACS, SYLVESTER WEISE, ALI-OLLIE WOODSON
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