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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.
Red Red Wine
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A special delivery with question signs
From whom I don't know
Red roses for me, a token of love in secrecy
Maybe it's coming from Mary
But I've seen her since morning already
So it's not her
Oh no, I saw her early this afternoon, Lord
If it's not from June or Mary, who is it from?
It's a question to query
Who shall I thank for this red rose?
Your guess is good as mine, I suppose
Only Lord knows
But I don't wanna take no chance and call no one
As I'm not sure, I don't wanna guess and then it from
You see my list is very long, so very long
Red rose for Gregory
(Somebody sent a rose for me)
Special delivery with question signs
(And I don't know who it could be)
From whom I don't know
Red rose for me, ooh we
(Somebody sent a rose for me)
A token of love in secrecy
(And I don't know who it could be)
Top secret, who's gonna reveal it?
Suppose it's from Sandra
I wonder, she could be the answer, alright
I know she's like this, full of surprises
She is closin' up to the top of my list, Lord
But I don't wanna take no chance and call no one
As I'm not sure, I don't wanna guess and then it from
You see my list is very, very long, oh, so long
Red rose for Gregory
(Somebody sent a rose for me)
Specially breed with question signs
(And I don't know who it could be)
From whom I don't know
Red rose for me
(Somebody sent a rose for me)
A token of love with secrecy, Lord
(And I don't know who it could be)
Somebody sent a rose for me
And I don't know who it could be
Somebody sent a rose for me
And I don't know who it could be
Somebody sent a rose for me
And I don't know who it could be
Somebody sent a rose for me
And I don't know who it could be
In "Red Rose for Gregory," Gregory Isaacs sings about receiving a red rose from an unknown person. The mysterious sender of the rose is causing him curiosity and confusion. He speculates about the sender, including Mary and June, but dismisses them when he realizes he has seen them already. He also considers Sandra as the possible sender since she is seemingly full of surprises and has been closing up to the top of his list lately. As the lyrics of the song progress, he becomes more and more perplexed about the identity of the supposed sender, and the refrain of the song ends with the repetition of "Somebody sent a rose for me, and I don't know who it could be."
The song has a sense of intrigue and mystery, as Gregory tries to uncover the identity of the sender. It also captures the feeling of uncertainty and confusion when someone receives an anonymous gift, and the desire to solve the mystery. Through this romantic ballad, Gregory Isaacs expressed well the feeling of being puzzled when finding out someone has feelings for them but not knowing who it is or how to respond.
Line by Line Meaning
Red rose for Gregory
An unknown person has sent a red rose to Gregory
A special delivery with question signs
The delivery of the rose is unusual and raises questions
From whom I don't know
Gregory is unaware of the identity of the sender
Red roses for me, a token of love in secrecy
The sender has expressed their affection for Gregory through the secret delivery of a rose
Maybe it's coming from Mary
Gregory considers the possibility that Mary sent the rose
But I've seen her since morning already
He dismisses Mary as the sender because he has already seen her that day
So it's not her
Mary is not the sender
Could it be from June?
He considers the possibility that June sent the rose
Oh no, I saw her early this afternoon, Lord
Gregory rules out June as the sender because he has seen her recently
If it's not from June or Mary, who is it from?
Since it is not from the women he has already seen, Gregory is unsure who the rose is from
It's a question to query
Trying to determine the sender of the rose is a perplexing question
Who shall I thank for this red rose?
Gregory is grateful for the gesture of the rose, but uncertain who he should thank
Your guess is good as mine, I suppose
Gregory admits that he has no way of knowing who sent the rose and anyone's guess is as good as his
Only Lord knows
The only one who truly knows the sender is God
But I don't wanna take no chance and call no one
Gregory does not want to take the risk of guessing who the sender is and calling them
As I'm not sure, I don't wanna guess and then it from
Guessing incorrectly could lead to an embarrassing situation
You see my list is very long, so very long
Gregory has many people on his list of potential senders
Suppose it's from Sandra
He considers the possibility that Sandra sent the rose
I wonder, she could be the answer, alright
He thinks Sandra might be the sender
I know she's like this, full of surprises
Sandra is known to be unpredictable and surprises people often
She is closin' up to the top of my list, Lord
Sandra is becoming a more likely candidate for the rose's sender
Red rose for Gregory
The song repeats the chorus, emphasizing the mystery of the rose's sender
Special delivery with question signs
The rose was delivered in a way that raises suspicion
From whom I don't know
His confusion about the rose's sender persists
Red rose for me, ooh we
The rose is a gesture of love for Gregory
A token of love in secrecy
The mystery behind the delivery adds to the romance of the gesture
Top secret, who's gonna reveal it?
The identity of the sender may never be revealed, remaining a secret between only the sender and Gregory
Somebody sent a rose for me
The song reiterates that a mystery sender sent the rose to Gregory
And I don't know who it could be
The mystery of the sender remains, despite Gregory's speculation and pondering
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOPETON LINDO
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