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.

Philistines
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What a lala...
According to the fills
The Philistines surround my hills
Got to make a run
They're behind me with a gun
But there's one thing I've got to say
For what I don't know now, know now, know now
That's why I've got to go

According to the fills
My feet are my only wheels
Still I've got to live
Although I'm the fugitive
Yes there's one thing I've got to say
For what I don't know now, know now, know now
That's why I've got to go
Yes I've got to go
According to the fills
The Philistines surround my hills (Lord)
I've got to make a run for it
They're behind me with a gun
Got to let you know,
For what I don't know now, know now, know now
That's why I've got to go

Let them know
'Bout to, 'bout to leave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gregory Isaacs's song "Philistines" express the feeling of being trapped and pursued. The singer is surrounded by the Philistines and has to make a run for it, as they are behind him with a gun. He does not know why they are after him, but he has to leave. The fills in the song suggest that the singer is being chased through hilly terrain, with his feet being his only mode of transportation. Despite being a fugitive, the singer acknowledges that he still has to live.

The use of the term "Philistines" is interesting, as it has a biblical origin. In the Bible, the Philistines were a group of people who constantly fought against the Israelites. This suggests that the singer is being pursued by an aggressive and hostile group. Furthermore, the repeated use of the phrase "for what I don't know now" implies that the reason for the persecution is unknown. This perhaps highlights a feeling of injustice and confusion.

Overall, the song "Philistines" is a powerful expression of the fear and uncertainty experienced by those who are persecuted and on the run. The singer's determination to survive despite the circumstances speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

Line by Line Meaning

What a lala...
I am in a tricky situation.

According to the fills
From what I understand,

The Philistines surround my hills
I am surrounded by danger and enemies.

Got to make a run
I need to escape quickly.

They're behind me with a gun
My enemies are chasing me and are armed.

But there's one thing I've got to say
However, I have something important to express.

For what I don't know now, know now, know now
I am not sure what the future holds, but I need to act now.

That's why I've got to go
Therefore, I need to leave this place as soon as possible.

My feet are my only wheels
The only way for me to escape is on foot.

Still I've got to live
Nevertheless, I need to survive this threat.

Although I'm the fugitive
Even though I am a wanted criminal.

Yes there's one thing I've got to say
But I cannot leave without expressing this crucial message.

For what I don't know now, know now, know now
I still do not know what the future holds, but I need to act.

That's why I've got to go
This is why I need to leave immediately.

Let them know
I want my message to reach my loved ones and family.

Bout to, bout to leave
I am just about to leave this place.

Writer(s): GREGORY A ISAACS

Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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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