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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.
The Border
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
then I will step across,
So please take me to the border.
No matter whats the cost cause I'm leaving yeh.
I am leaving out of babylon, leaving out
I am leaving out a Rome
I am leaving out a dis yah land
This place could never be my home...
In Gregory Isaacs's song The Border, the singer expresses his yearning to escape his present situation by crossing over the border. The border represents a symbol of hope, freedom and escape from the Babylonian oppression he is experiencing. The singer emphatically states that he is leaving out of Babylon, which could be interpreted as leaving out of a state of mental or emotional captivity. He also mentions leaving out of Rome, which could indicate an escape from the oppressive structures and systems that he is navigating. Additionally, the mention of "dis yah land" further emphasizes the singer's desire to leave the current environment in which he finds himself, as he states that this place could never be his home.
The song touches on themes of escapism, alienation and the search for a better life. It also highlights the human desire for a better future and the lengths that people may go to make that a reality. The melancholy mood of the song is enhanced by Isaacs's emotive vocal delivery and the underlying reggae rhythms which evoke a sense of urgency and yearning.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could reach the border
If only I could make it to the border, away from here
then I will step across
I will take that step to leave this place behind
So please take me to the border.
Can someone take me there?
No matter whats the cost cause I'm leaving yeh.
Whatever the price, I'm ready to go
I am leaving out of babylon, leaving out
This place feels like a modern-day Babylon and I'm escaping it
I am leaving out a Rome
This city reminds me of the chaos and destruction of ancient Rome
I am leaving out a dis yah land
I'm leaving this place behind, whatever it may be
This place could never be my home...
This place doesn't feel like home to me, and I need to go somewhere that does
Contributed by Andrew J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gordocucarachagordito4222
If i could reach the border
Then I would step across
So please take me to the border
No matter what’s the cost
Cause I’m leaving here
I'mma leaving out of Babylon
I'mma leaving out of Rome
I'mma leaving out of this land
This place could never be our home
Say we wan we wan go home
Yes we wan we wan go home
Where the milk and honey flow
Thats where we want to go
AFRICA we want to go
Where the milk and honey flow
This place could never be my home…
We waan we waan go home…
Where the milk and honey flow
That’s where we want to go…
We waan we waan go home…
Africa we want to go…
So please take me to the border
And i will pay the cost
Coz i’m leaving here…
@peterprice2705
Words Of Wisdom.
Song: Border (1977)
Introduction: Instrumental
1
If I could reach the border,
Then I would step across
So please take me to the border
No matter what’s the cost,
(‘cause am leaving here…)
Chorus
Am a leaving out a Babylon(leavin’ out)
Am a leaving out a Rome (leavin’ out a Rome)
[Am a leaving outta this ya land]
This place could never be our home…
Say wi waan, wi waan go home(say wi waan , wi waan go home )…(rep.)
Where the milk and honey flow,
(say wi waan , wi waan go home) that’s where we want to go
Africa wi waan to go(Africa we all want to go…) wi waan, wi waan go home
…where the milk and honey flow…
2
If I could reach the border,
Jah know I’d step across(yeah)
So please take me to the border
And I will pay the cost, got to step across
Cho…etc. etc.…don’t leave us stranded… waan wi waan go home…go congregate, go cultivate…say wi want wi waan, don’t leave us stranded…”
@vadermasktruth
And I am grateful for everything I have, even as a lower middle class White guy in Detroit.
God bless Greggory Isaacs soul. His music helped me through the roughest time of my life in 2022-2023 when my mama was in home hospice. I listened to Mr. Isaacs music everyday, it helped me stay breathing & upright.
What a fantastic soul he is.
Thank you, Gregory Isaacs.
Jah Rastafari.
@lorrainebrown6316
It’s 2022, and as a black, Jamaican, woman, living in Canada, l feel extremely unwelcome in this world 🌎 I miss my home 🇯🇲I was brought to Canada as a child in 1975, and now I feel that Canadians, and the new immigrants, and refugees wants blacks out of “their” country. I never asked to come, so I will gladly leave. I just need to know what the plan is because right now I am deathly ill and the healthcare system in Canada has failed me. HELP! I don’t want to stay somewhere I am not welcome anymore 😢
@BrikMT
Sending you love and strength from the U.K.
@lorrainebrown6316
@@BrikMT Thank you so much. I have no one and it really means a lot to me
@rebeccafrost5542
I'm in USA. Age 71the same problem here. U r in the Creator's world that's how I cope and live with it all. It's not the solution but it ok settling.
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@phillipmhundwa642
Home sweet home. Africa is our home. Play on Mr Cool ruler
@CaraDePapaaa
I’m not even black in any sense of the race. But this song speaks to me as a believer in the most high. The desire to leave Babylon and find the land where we can live in peace and solidarity with the one race I acknowledge as to e human race. The world may treat you and unloved but I hope all know in our almighty creators eyes, no man is superior. One love and rest to all. Gregory Isaac’s is one of the greats.
@jasonjordan1936
his music will never die the cool ruler