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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.
Stranger In Your Town
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I sure would like to cross over your bridge
Said I may not dress in style as the men in your town do
But I sure know what to say: I love you
I wanna love you in the morning
Love you in the evening too
Even when you're lonely
I'll make you happy when you're feeling blue
I'm just a stranger in your town
Once in a while I pop around
Now I may not be familiar with your language, oh no
But I sure I'm gonna cross over your bridge
Do I may not dress in style as the men in your town do
But I sure know what to say: I love you
I wanna love you in the morning
Love you in the evening too
Even if you're lonely
Make you happy when you're feeling blue
Do I'm just a stranger in your town
Once in a while I pop around
Let's be friends
Friends that never end
I'm just a stranger
So let's be friends
You see me around, yeah
'Cause I wanna love ya
Yes I wanna love ya, whoay
Just stranger in your town
I'll be around
'Cause I wanna love ya
In "Stranger In Your Town," Gregory Isaacs sings about being an outsider who is infatuated with someone from a different town. He acknowledges that he may not be familiar with their language or dress like the other men in town, but he still desires to form a connection with the person he's singing to. He promises to love them in the morning and evening and be there for them when they feel lonely or blue. He wants to be friends that never end and assure them that he'll always be around to love them.
The song's theme of a stranger coming to town and falling in love with a resident is a common theme throughout Isaacs's work. The song's languid bassline and Isaacs's silky smooth vocal delivery give the song a dreamy, romantic tone. The lyrics suggest that sometimes all it takes to form a connection with someone is a simple declaration of love and a promise to be there for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I may not be familiar with your language
Although I may not understand your way of communication
But I sure would like to cross over your bridge
I still want to connect with you and understand you better
Said I may not dress in style as the men in your town do
I might not be as fashionable as the other men in this area
But I sure know what to say: I love you
However, I am confident in expressing my love and affection towards you
I wanna love you in the morning
I desire to express love to you from dawn
Love you in the evening too
Through the day and until dusk, I want to continue loving you
Even when you're lonely
Despite times when you may be alone
I'll make you happy when you're feeling blue
I will bring joy and happiness to you when you are feeling down
I'm just a stranger in your town
I am new to this area and not well known
Once in a while I pop around
I visit this town occasionally
Let's be friends
Let's have a friendly relationship
Friends that never end
Our friendship will last forever
I'm just a stranger
I am not familiar to you
So let's be friends
So, let's become friends despite being strangers
You see me around, yeah
You might spot me frequently here
'Cause I wanna love ya
This is because I want to express my love to you
Yes I wanna love ya, whoay
Yes, I really want to adore you
Just stranger in your town
I am an unknown person in this locality
I'll be around
I will be near you
'Cause I wanna love ya
Because I desire to express my affection to you
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Norman A Whitfield, Sylvester Weise, GREGORY ANTHONY ISAACS, SYLVESTER ALFONSO WEISE, SYLVESTER ALPHONSO WEISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@feliperedford
Now I may not be familiar with your language
But I sure would like to cross over your bridge
Said I may not dress in style as the men in your town do
But I sure know what to say: I love you
I wanna love you in the morning
Love you in the evening too
Even when you're lonely
I'll make you happy when you're feeling blue
I'm just a stranger in your town
Once in a while I pop around
Now I may not be familiar with your language, oh no
But I sure I'm gonna cross over your bridge
Do I may not dress in style as the men in your town do
But I sure know what to say: I love you
I wanna love you in the morning
Love you in the evening too
Even if you're lonely
Make you happy when you're feeling blue
Do I'm just a stranger in your town
Once in a while I pop around
Let's be friends
Friends that never end
I'm just a stranger
So let's be friends
You see me around, yeah
'Cause I wanna love ya
Yes I wanna love ya, whoay
Just stranger in your town
I'll be around
'Cause I wanna love ya
@ykrvinyl
I'm crying to this tune! (': He gave his soul for the music, he provided good lyrics, love, & positive vibes! Much love Gregory Isaacs, you are the Lovers Rock legend!!! Your music made memories for me as a child, that, no one can take!
@malikajacques936
Blessings and love brother ✊❤💛💚RASTAFARI LOVE, You are so right! I feel what your saying, because Mr. GREGORY ISAAC'S Did too me and for me as well#❤😘always love 😎#koolruler💥💣💥kaboom!
@clementyeboah9780
Real conversation bless
@lloydnunes4896
Lollllloolollllolokololloloololololol{pool {lllolllll) lllll) lllolllll lllolll{lllolllll lllolllll lllll) lllolllll lllolllll lllolllll) lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllolllllllllllllllllolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllolllllllllllllllllllllllollllllllllllllllllllllllllllololllllllollllllollolllllllllllllllllllolllolllolllolllllllllllollllllollllllloollllllllllloolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllollllllllollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllololllllllllllllllllllllllllllolllllllllollllllllllllllollllllllolllllllkllllolollllllllllllloololllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllollollllllllllllolllllllllllollllllllllollollololllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllklllllllllollllllllllllollllllllllllllllllllllollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllollllllllllllllllolollllllllllllllllllllolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllolllllllllolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllolllollllllllklollllllllllllllololllllllllllllllllllllllllllollllloolollllolllllllllolllllololllllolllollololololollllolollolllloollololoollllollllololooollololololollollllllllllllolllllllollololllllllllolllloll
@zubnasty
Poured his soul into the music lol
@zubnasty
#NEVERSELLYOURSOUL
@linktaigo88-top1
My mum used to love reggae, so I had this played at her funeral.
@msglorious2real
Sorry for loss! ❤💔
@lorindavillafana6170
N? ?? V v , . N? ,
@summergirl15
So awesome. God bless you. I'd hope my family will do the same!