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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.
Touch and Go
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello Miss touch and go
There is something that I'd like to know
You gave your loving with a big gap
First a comma and then madea full stop
Just before the break of dawn, you turn me on and
Then you′re gone.
I didn't know you were the kind
You only mesmerized my mind
Like a lily among thorns, you turn me on and then you're gone
As you gently made a start, into me you disembarked
Got me time at all to play
Tell me why you walk away
You give your loving with a bis gap
First a comma and then made a full stop
The lyrics to Gregory Isaacs's song Touch and Go talk about a relationship that seems to be very unpredictable and inconsistent. The singer addresses his lover as "Miss touch and go" and expresses his confusion and frustration with her behavior. He wants to know why she is treating him so poorly by giving him "loving with a big gap" - showing affection one moment and then disappearing the next.
The lyrics use a lot of metaphors to describe the relationship. The line "First a comma and then made a full stop" suggests that the lover's affection is interrupted and unpredictable, like a sentence that is abruptly cut off. The singer compares his lover to a "lily among thorns," highlighting her beauty and uniqueness but also acknowledging the difficulties and pain that come with the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna know, why you're treating me so
The singer is questioning why he is being treated poorly.
Hello Miss touch and go
The singer is addressing the person he is speaking to as someone who is indecisive or unreliable.
There is something that I'd like to know
The singer expresses a desire to find out more about the person he is speaking to.
You gave your loving with a big gap
The singer criticizes the other person for giving affection with inconsistency.
First a comma and then madea full stop
The singer is using a metaphor to describe the other person's behavior as pausing or stopping frequently during a romantic encounter.
Just before the break of dawn, you turn me on and
The singer mentions a specific time frame when the person in question initiates romance.
Then you're gone.
The singer is describing how the person quickly leaves after starting a romantic encounter.
I didn't know you were the kind
The singer admits to being surprised by the other person's behavior.
You only mesmerized my mind
The singer is saying that he was only fascinated by the other person's appearance, not their personality or character.
Like a lily among thorns, you turn me on and then you're gone
The singer uses a metaphor to describe the other person as rare and beautiful but also too fleeting to be truly enjoyed.
As you gently made a start, into me you disembarked
The singer is describing a romantic encounter with the other person.
Got me time at all to play
The singer is questioning why the other person doesn't have sufficient time for a relationship.
Tell me why you walk away
The singer is asking the other person for an explanation for their behavior.
You give your loving with a bis gap
The singer is saying that the other person is lacking consistency and stability in their relationship behavior.
First a comma and then made a full stop
The singer is using a metaphor to describe the other person's behavior as pausing or stopping frequently during a romantic encounter.
Writer(s): Gregory A. Isaacs, L. Dillion
Contributed by Claire T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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