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 Say Goodnight
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over and over again
I want to see, see what your life, life can be
(Over and over)
Hey, hey, baby
Don't say goodnight when you know
It's time for love
Hey, hey, hey, hey
I gotta have your love
I want to feel you
I want to thrill you, girl
I want to caress you
Ooh, never let you go
Hey, hey, hey, hey, baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight, oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
And oh, baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight when you know
I gotta have your love
Some people say
That life is for the livin'
So let's live it, baby
Yeah
Most of the people say
That love is for the givin'
So let me love you, girl
Yeah
Hey, hey, hey, hey
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight, oh, when you know
It's time for love
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight when you know
I gotta have your love
Some people say
That life is for the livin'
So let's live it, baby
Yeah
Most of the people say
That love is for the givin'
So let me love you, girl
Yeah
And hey baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight, oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
And hey baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't you ever say goodnight, oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
And ooh-wee, baby
(Don't say goodnight) Don't ever, ever say, ever say
Don't ever, ever say
Ever, ever, ever say
Don't say goodnight
The Isley Brothers' song, "Don't Say Goodnight," is a soulful love ballad that expresses the desire for an everlasting love. The song introduces us to the singer's wish to love their partner repeatedly and experience all that life has to offer with them. The lyrics detail the singer's wish to hold on tight to their partner and never let them go. The chorus repeats the phrase "don't say goodnight" as the singer expresses their need for the love and affection of their partner.
The line "some people say that life is for the living, so let's live it, baby" suggests not taking life for granted and living it to the fullest. The song stresses that love is meant to be given and received and its importance in sustaining a relationship. The repeated phrase "don't say goodnight" embellishes the fact that there's much more to this love story that the singer wants to explore besides just sleeping.
The song's lyrics encourage being present in the current moment and seizing the time together, which resonates with many listeners. It is interpreted to be a promise of love and commitment, with a touch of vulnerability. The Isley Brothers' "Don't Say Goodnight" beautifully captures the emotions of trying to hold onto a love that feels too good to lose.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to love you, yeah, yeah
I want to express my affection towards you repeatedly.
Over and over again
Continuously and repeatedly.
I want to see, see what your life, life can be
I want to explore and discover the potential of your life.
(Over and over)
Continuously and repeatedly.
Hey, hey, baby
A term of affection towards the addressed person.
Don't say goodnight when you know
Do not bid farewell for the night because you are aware of what should come next.
It's time for love
It is the appropriate time to show love and affection.
I gotta have your love
I require and desire your affection and love.
I want to feel you
I want to experience and sense your presence and touch.
I want to thrill you, girl
I want to excite and stimulate you.
I want to caress you
I want to embrace and fondle you with love and care.
Ooh, never let you go
I want to hold onto and keep you forever.
(Don't say goodnight) Don't say goodnight, oh, when you know
Do not bid farewell for the night because you are aware of what should come next.
Some people say
There are individuals who believe or express the following sentiment.
That life is for the livin'
Life should be enjoyed to the fullest while alive.
So let's live it, baby
Therefore, we should make the most of our time together and enjoy life.
Most of the people say
There are a majority of individuals who believe or express the following sentiment.
That love is for the givin'
Love should be given freely and without reservation.
So let me love you, girl
Therefore, allow me to love and care for you as I should.
Don't you ever say goodnight, oh, when you know
Do not bid farewell for the night because you are aware of what should come next.
And ooh-wee, baby
A term of affection towards the addressed person.
Don't ever, ever say, ever say
Do not at any point express the sentiment of bidding farewell.
Don't ever, ever say
Do not at any point express the sentiment of bidding farewell.
Ever, ever, ever say
At no point whatsoever should the sentiment of bidding farewell be expressed.
Don't say goodnight
Do not bid farewell for the night because you are aware of what should come next.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Jasper, Christopher H Jasper, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LU-qu4gu
I wanna love you, yeah, yeah
Over and over again
I wanna see, see what your life, life can be
(Over and over)
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, baby
Don't say goodnight when you know
It's time for love
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight, oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
[Verse 2]
I wanna feel you
I wanna thrill you, girl
I want to caress you
Ooh, never let you go
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey, hey, baby
Don't say goodnight (Don't say goodnight), oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
And oh, baby
Don't say goodnight (Don't say goodnight) when you know
I gotta have your love
[Bridge]
Some people say
That life is for the livin'
So let's live it, baby, yeah
Most of the people say
That love is for the givin'
So let me love you, girl, yeah
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Don't say goodnight (Don't say goodnight), oh, when you know
It's time for love
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, baby
Don't say goodnight (Don't say goodnight) when you know
I gotta have your love
[Bridge]
Some people say
That life is for the livin'
So let's live it, baby, yeah
Most of the people say
That love is for the givin'
So let me love you, girl, yeah
[Chorus]
And hey baby
Don't say goodnight (Don't say goodnight), oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
And hey baby
Don't say goodnight (Don't you ever say goodnight), oh, when you know
I gotta have your love
[Outro]
And ooh-wee, baby
Don't say goodnight
Don't ever, ever say, ever say
Don't ever, ever say
Ever, ever, ever say
Don't say goodnight
Don't say goodnight
@user-xe5cg7vy9f
The Isley Brothers are such a great group...They've made some the best love ballads of all time
@gypsydancer6477
I used to listen to this song on WBLS. I would lie in bed thinking of my boyfriend. 40 years later, I listen to this song on youtube, lying in bed, and turn over to watch him sleeping. ❤ I still love this song.
@Pygoman12
Jasmin, that's awesome. God bless!
@logicsfinest3471
Jasmin Torres Yvonne Mobley, Sunday Nights after Frankie Crocker on WBLS. This song was her mainstay 👍
@acoop30125able
Beautiful
@scroogebeats
Lying Is Not Good !
@RaymoZenitram
Ha gay!
@georgeedwards9374
How come they don't make songs like these anymore!!. Music like this just send you higher heights and loving deeper depths. 🎺🎷🎷🎻🎸🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🤗😚😙🤗
@wandahorton9549
This song is beautiful ❤
@jamescosey2346
It's artists who make love songs like this, that inspires people not to give up on love and also inspires couples to never give up on each other. Great song, by a great group of men...