Around this time, the band had been going through a difficult phase with its 3 + 3 lineup: older brothers O'Kelly, Rudolph and lead singer Ronald argued with younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper over the group's direction. The rift wasn't made any easier by Jasper's desire to record his own lead vocals for the group's songs, which longtime lead Ronald refused to allow.
Finally, after the release of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", the Isleys found their next hint of inspiration. Recorded at Bearsville studios, "Between the Sheets" was drastically different from other Isley records for its stripped down synthesizer solos and simple handclaps.
Reception
Sharing credit with all six band mates, "Between the Sheets" was recorded in February 1983 and charted that April. The song made a huge impression on the Isleys' long legion of R&B fans who took the song to number three on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart while it peaked at number one on Billboard's Bubbling Under chart. The song's R&B success helped their Between the Sheets album go platinum, the brothers' first platinum album since 1978's Showdown.
Despite the success, it was already confirmed even before the album's release that the younger Isleys and Jasper would be leaving the older Isleys for their own group and within a year after their final tour together, Ernie, Marvin and Chris did leave to form Isley-Jasper-Isley leaving the Isley Brothers back to their original position as a vocal trio. But "Sheets" helped the group earn new credibility in the industry and assured their legendary status.
The song would be heavily sampled in the years to come by hip-hop artists such as Andre Nickatina, Common, Da Brat, The Notorious B.I.G., Jim Jones, UGK, Drake, as well as freestyled over by Lupe Fiasco. Most recently, it was used by Jay-Z in a track, "Ignorant Shit", on his recent album American Gangster (though the original was a track that didn't make the final cut for The Black Album). The beat for "Ignorant Shit", created by Just Blaze, sampled "Between the Sheets". Rappers Drake and Lil Wayne recorded a version of "Ignorant Shit" for Drake's 2009 mixtape So Far Gone with them rapping over the Just Blaze beat. The song, "A Night Off" (Drake featuring Lloyd), produced by Noah "40" Shebib, that directly follows "Ignorant Shit" on the mixtape, also samples "Between the Sheets". LL Cool J mentioned the song and the Isleys on his song "Back Seat".
Artists outside the hip-hop genre have also sampled the song including Gwen Stefani, who sampled the song for her single, "Luxurious", which she also did a remix with Slim Thug and R & B singer Whitney Houston's 2002 single, "One of Those Days" uses lyrical elements and she also mentions the Isley Brothers and in the beginning of the track can be heard humming the intro to the group's cover of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me". Jazz band Fourplay recorded a hit cover version of the song in 1992 with Chaka Khan as the vocalist.
Between the Sheets
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least as far as I can see
I want to keep you here
Laying next to me
Sharing our love between the sheets
Ooh baby (baby)
I feel your love surrounding me
Ooh, ooh baby (baby)
Making love between the sheets
Ooh girl, let me hold you tight
And you know I'll make you feel alright
Oh baby girl, just cling to me and let your mind be free
While making love between the sheets
Ooh girl, I love you all night long
And I know you felt it coming on
Ooh darling, just taste my love
Ooh you taste so sweet
Sharing our love between the sheets
Ooh baby (baby)
I feel your love surrounding me
Woah, oh, oh-oh
Ooh, ooh baby (baby)
Making love between the sheets
Hey girl, what's your fantasy?
I'll take you there to that ecstasy
Ooh girl, you blow my mind
I'll always be your freak
Let's make sweet love between the sheets
Ooh baby (baby)
I feel your love surrounding me
Woah, oh, oh-oh
Ooh, ooh baby (baby)
Making love between the sheets
Ooh baby (baby)
I feel your love surrounding me
Woah, oh, oh-oh
Ooh, ooh baby (baby)
Making love between the sheets
Enough of this singin', let's make love
In between the sheets
Oh, I like the way you receive me
Girl I love the way you release me
I'm coming
Coming on strong (sweet darling)
In between the sheets
Oh, I like the way you receive me
Girl, I love the way you release me
Coming
Coming on strong (ooh, sweet darling)
In between the sheets
You got me moaning
Girl, you got me groaning
I'm coming
Coming on strong (sweet darling)
In between the sheets
(Let's get all the way down)
You're the only one
I'm coming, coming, coming, coming, coming on strong (sweet darling)
In between the sheets
Da-da-da-da, da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da
The Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets" is a soulful and sensual song about making love, which is evident from the first line itself: "Hey girl, ain't no mystery, at least as far as I can see." The singer wants to keep his lover laying next to him, and wants to share their love between the sheets. The lyrics describe the act of making love in a very romantic way, with lines such as "Let's make sweet love between the sheets" and "Girl I love the way you release me." The song is an ode to intimacy and the pleasure that comes with it - whether it's physical or emotional.
The chorus of the song is quite catchy and repetitive, with the lines "Ooh baby (baby), I feel your love surrounding me, woah, oh, oh-oh, ooh, ooh baby (baby), making love between the sheets" being sung multiple times throughout the song. The singer wants to hold his lover tight and make her feel alright. He urges her to cling to him and let her mind be free while they make love. The song ends with the couple actually making love "in between the sheets," which is where they really want to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl, ain't no mystery
There's no secret that I want you here with me
At least as far as I can see
From where I stand, you and me is how it should be
I want to keep you here
I don't want you to leave, I want you near
Laying next to me
Being near is not enough, I want you beside me where you can see
Sharing our love between the sheets
Together, our passion under these covers won't be beat
Ooh baby (baby)
Tender endearing words I whisper, just for my lady
I feel your love surrounding me
Your love is palpable and undeniable, it's plain to see
Woah, oh, oh-oh
Exclamations of how much you mean to me, louder than words can bestow
Making love between the sheets
Physical expression of love is our ultimate feat
Ooh girl, let me hold you tight
Hugs so tight can fix everything for tonight
And you know I'll make you feel alright
Whatever's wrong, I'll make it better tonight
Oh baby girl, just cling to me and let your mind be free
Forget your worries and enjoy the moment with me
While making love between the sheets
Our joining as one is a special treat
Ooh girl, I love you all night long
My love for you lasts all night long
And I know you felt it coming on
I know you want me and the feeling's mutual, the love is strong
Ooh darling, just taste my love
Experience my love, as sweet as a dove
Ooh you taste so sweet
Your taste is just as sweet, it's hard to beat
Hey girl, what's your fantasy?
I want to know your deepest desires, come and share it with me
I'll take you there to that ecstasy
I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel lighter than air and be completely free
Ooh girl, you blow my mind
You excite and entice me in ways that are hard to define
I'll always be your freak
I'm yours no matter the circumstances, I'll always be unique
Let's make sweet love between the sheets
Together we intertwine, our love won't be defeated
Enough of this singin', let's make love
Words cannot express it enough, it's time to express love
Oh, I like the way you receive me
Your response fuels my passion, I feel free
Girl I love the way you release me
Your touch is the key that unlocks my desire, releasing me
I'm coming
A climax is coming
Coming on strong (sweet darling)
A powerful end to an intimate evening
You got me moaning
Feeling good causes involuntary sounds, groaning
Girl, you got me groaning
Your touch sets it off, it's amazing
I'm coming
A climax is coming
Coming on strong (sweet darling)
We finally reached the peak of passion, nothing is wrong
You're the only one
I'm dedicated to you, and only you under the sun
Da-da-da-da, da
Musical intervals to end this melodic saga
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da
Musical intervals to send us away
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Jasper, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DynoGreen313
@@NicoX3000 i don't know what "two points" you are referring to
but it's very simple...my point is ONE
they weren't ahead of their time unless they had a time machine... all of the good music from previous times was from THAT time and it was right on time
neither ahead nor behind; it was just fine because we had incredible genius all over the place in literally EVERY genre of music and thats just facts
dont get me started ... i guess james brown and elton john and paul mcartney and marvin gaye and prince and nile rogers projects (chic and sister sledge) and genesis and the police and (of course ) p-funk et al were ALL ahead of their time?
this was ALL genius level stuff because they ALL were unique and innovative so to me thats cheap when someone says "they were ahead of their time" ...whats that supposed to mean exactly? thats all i'm saying; they were right on time and it was a beautiful thing
@jaylene.turner6524
Special thanks to Chris Jasper,
a former member of
Isley Brothers(1973-1983),
who created this iconic beat
and the beat to โFootsteps In The Darkโ.
The most sampled beats in hip hop and R&B music.
We need to talk about
Chris Jasperโs contributions more.
@carljohnson4385
Back in the times when I was young listening this song with Denise.
@jameswarrendevilla4623
What's good dawg
@krm3345
SONG FOR DENISE
@JUNEZ-bs5xr
Yooo wassup CJ
@a.s.i.n.i.n.e
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS FOLLOW THE GODDAMN TRAIN CJ
@lancedeguzman8211
Whats poppin brotha
@shemazingberry9789
This song is responsible for a whole generations existence. ๐๐
@clarissarubio9498
LMAO
@alancosta4760
Made between the sheets
@sadettinarslan5324
@@alancosta4760 is there anyone who isnt made in between the sheets?