Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
Don't Be Jealous
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to see, see what you're like, like in bed, over and over
Hey, hey, don't say goodnight
When you know it's time for love
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight
Oh, when you know I gotta have your love
I want to feel you, I want to thrill you girl
I want to caress you, ooh
Help undress you girl
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight
Oh, when you know I gotta have your love
And ooh baby, don't say goodnight
When you know I gotta have your love
Some people say that life is for the living
So let's live it baby, yeah
Most of the people say that love is for the giving
So let me love you girl, yeah
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight
Oh, when you know I gotta have your love
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight
Oh, when you know I gotta have your love
Some people say that life is for the living
So let's live it baby, yeah
Most of the people say that love is for the giving
So let me love you girl, yeah
And hey, baby, don't say goodnight, oh
When you know I gotta have your love
And hey, baby, don't you ever say goodnight
Oh when you know I gotta have your love
Ooh we babe, don't ever, ever say, don't ever, ever say
Ever, ever, ever say
Don't say goodnight, don't say goodnight
The Isley Brothers' song "Don't Be Jealous" is an ode to a lover that the singer desires to be with, both physically and emotionally, again and again. The singer desires to love their partner over and over, to see what they're like in bed repeatedly, to feel and thrill them, to caress and undress them. The singer pleads with their partner not to say goodnight, insisting that they know they need their love. This song is all about the passion and desire that a speaker has for their love interest.
The song's lyrics also touch on the importance of living and loving in the present moment. The singer urges their partner to live life to the fullest and to love without hesitation or reservation. They assert that love is for the giving, and they wish to love their partner without limits or conditions. The repetition of the line "don't say goodnight" creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the singer cannot bear to be separated from their lover.
Overall, this song is a love letter to a partner who inspires intense passion and desire in the singer. It's a plea for that partner to stay with them and to continue to be an active part of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to love you, yeah, over and over again
I desire to repeatedly express my affection towards you.
I want to see, see what you're like, like in bed, over and over
I am curious to observe your characteristics while in an intimate setting, repeatedly.
Hey, hey, don't say goodnight
Please do not conclude the night yet.
When you know it's time for love
When it is suitable for us to engage in acts of romantic intimacy.
Oh, when you know I gotta have your love
When you are aware of my intense longing for your affection.
I want to feel you, I want to thrill you girl
I yearn to physically and emotionally experience you completely.
I want to caress you, ooh
I possess an ardent desire to tenderly stroke your body.
Help undress you girl
Assist you in the process of removing your clothing.
Some people say that life is for the living
There are individuals who believe existence is meant to be lived.
So let's live it baby, yeah
Thus, let us experience life to the fullest.
Most of the people say that love is for the giving
Majority of people believe that true love demands sacrifice and generosity.
So let me love you girl, yeah
Therefore, permit me to express my profound love for you.
And hey, baby, don't say goodnight, oh
Darling, please do not utter a farewell yet.
When you know I gotta have your love
You realize the intensity of my longing for your affection.
And hey, baby, don't you ever say goodnight
Dearest, please abstain from saying farewell indefinitely.
Ooh we babe, don't ever, ever say, don't ever, ever say
Forever and ever, never articulate a word of parting.
Ever, ever, ever say
All the time and adorever, never verbalize a goodbye.
Don't say goodnight, don't say goodnight
Refrain from uttering a farewell for the night.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONALD ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elsa Lopez
I love The Isley Brothers!! And I love this song π΅πΆπ΅
DaveNHS1961
What a beautiful recording - love The Isley Brothers. Thx for sharing.
UncleMike43
Pop, Rock and Doo Wop owe a great debt The Isley Brothers. Thanks for posting this song.
Lorraine Piazza
Song was reviewed in Billboard Magazine-August-1958. Should have been a big hit, because it sounds soooooo good!
Patricia Kehaya
A true gem
S R
beautiful song
PJDooWop
Shout sounds fantastic from the original RCA 45. I'll have to dig it out
Paul Burek
love this song
Charles Larocco
Certainly one of their best
Paul Burek
Gotta love old school doo wop ballads....oooh Cherry' what you have lost.... not many girls named Cherry.. can only think of this song and the one other by the Rivingtons...love it!