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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.
Wish You Were Mine
Gregory Isaacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the only girl my heart beats for
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
Ah la ah la ah la
Ah la ah la ah la
Ah la ah la ah la
Ah la ah la ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la la
Oh cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
You're the only girl my heart beats for (beats for, beats for)
You're the only
You're the only girl my
You're the only
You're the only girl my
You're the only
You're the only girl my
You're the only
You're the only girl my
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la
How I wish that you were mine
Ah la la
Ah la la
La ah la la
The lyrics of Gregory Isaacs's "Wish You Were Mine" express the singer's deep longing for a particular woman whom he describes as a "pretty little one that I adore" and the "only girl my heart beats for." The song deals with the universal theme of unrequited love, as the singer wishes that she was his, but she is not. The repetition of "Ah la la" throughout the song emphasizes the emotional intensity and the yearning of the singer. The melody of the song is slow and smooth, matching the lyrics to create a melancholic, soulful feeling.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and simple, but they effectively convey the deep emotions of the singer. The use of "cherie amour," which is French for "dear love," adds an air of romance to the song. The repetition of the phrase "You're the only girl my heart beats for" emphasizes the singer's singular devotion to this woman. The chorus of the song, "How I wish that you were mine," which is repeated several times, captures the essence of the song, which is the singer's yearning and hope for reciprocated love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
My beloved, my darling, the one I cherish and adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
You're the only one who makes my heart race
How I wish that you were mine
I long for you to be mine, oh how I yearn for you
Ah la la
Expressing a feeling of desire and passion
La ah la
A repetition of the same desire and passion
You're the only
You are the sole one
You're the only girl my
Out of everyone else, you are the only one for me
Ah la ah la ah la
A continuation of expressing immense longing and desire
How I wish that you were mine
My desire for you continues to grow stronger
La ah la la
Continuing to repeat the feelings of desire and longing
You're the only
Again, you are the only one
You're the only girl my
I could never want another, as you are the only one I truly desire
Ah la la
Expressing a deep yearning and passion for you
How I wish that you were mine
My feelings for you continue to intensify, and I wish for you to be mine
Ah la la
Repeating the desire and passion I feel for you
La ah la
Expressing the same feeling of longing and yearning
Writer(s): Gregory Anthony Isaacs
Contributed by Dylan J. 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