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)
I Need Your Love
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look you up and down every time you pass my way
Baby, don't you realize just what you do to me
Oh, I'm so hypnotized, I can't hardly see
If you ever want to need someone
I forever want to be the only one in your life
(I need your body) Oh, baby
(I need your body) Oh, darlin'
I forever want to be the only one in your life
(I need your body) Yeah, yeah, yeah
If you're free tonight I'd love to take you home
You understand that I don't want to spend the night alone
It would be like paradise makin' love to you, yeah
Well, don't you think it's time I got into you, whoa, oh, oh
If you ever want to need someone
I forever want to be the only one in your life
(I need your body) Yeah, yeah
(I need your body) Oh, darlin'
If you ever want to need someone
I forever want to be the only one in your life
(I need your body) Yeah, yeah
Why don't you stay with me, I'm livin' in a fantasy, yeah
Oh, tell me what you want, tell what you need
Why don't you stay-stay with me, I'm livin' in a fantasy, yeah
Girl, tell me what you want, tell what you need, oh, oh, oh
If you ever want to need someone
I forever want to be the only one in your life
(I need your body) Yeah, baby
(I need your body) Oh, darlin'
If you ever want to need someone
I want to be in your life
(I need your body) Oh, baby
(I need your body), oh, darlin'
You're so bad, baby, I want to be in your life
(I need your body) Uh-huh
(I need your body) Don't walk away, baby
I want to be in your life
(I need your body)
(I need your body) Oh, baby
(I need your body)
(I need your body) Oh, baby
You know, it's not every day (I need your body)
That you meet someone (I need your body) who has everything (Oh, darlin')
Come here, baby (I need your body)
Somethin' I want, something I want to say (I need your body) (Oh, darlin')
I think I love you, darlin'
Alright (I need your body)
(I need your body) You look so good to me (Oh, baby)
You look so good to me, baby
Alright (I need your body)
(I need your body) (Oh, baby)
(I need your body)
(I need your body)
The Isley Brothers’ song “I Need Your Body” is an upbeat take on a man’s desire for a woman’s body. In the song, the singer has been watching the woman for some time and is completely entranced by her. He urges her to realize the effect she has on him and to consider him if she ever wants to be with someone. He asks her to spend the night with him and promises that it will be like paradise. He implores her to stay with him and confesses his love for her.
The song is a classic example of the objectification of women in many genres of music. While the rhythms and upbeat tone of the song make it a catchy piece of music, the lyrics themselves are focused solely on the physical body of the woman. The singer is clear about his desire for her but does not mention any emotional or intellectual connection he may have with her.
Overall, “I Need Your Body” is a song that has a catchy melody and a playful tone but promotes an unhealthy view of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, I seen you around almost every day
I have noticed your presence around me almost every day
I look you up and down every time you pass my way
I can't help but scan your body every time I see you around
Baby, don't you realize just what you do to me
You have a strong effect on me and I wish you knew that
Oh, I'm so hypnotized, I can't hardly see
You have me so captivated that it's hard for me to think straight
If you ever want to need someone
If you ever feel the need for someone to be with
I forever want to be the only one in your life
I want to be the only one you need and want in your life forever
(I need your body) Oh, baby
I need your physical presence and touch, oh my love
(I need your body) Oh, darlin'
I need to be with you completely and wholly, oh my love
If you're free tonight I'd love to take you home
If you're available tonight, I'd like to take you home with me
You understand that I don't want to spend the night alone
You must know that I don't want to be alone through the night
It would be like paradise makin' love to you, yeah
Being intimate with you will be like heaven, my darling
Well, don't you think it's time I got into you, whoa, oh, oh
I feel it's time to take things further and be intimate with you
Why don't you stay with me, I'm livin' in a fantasy, yeah
Stay with me and let's live in this dreamy life I have with you
Oh, tell me what you want, tell what you need
Please tell me what you truly desire and require, my love
Why don't you stay-stay with me, I'm livin' in a fantasy, yeah
Let's stay together and turn our fantasy into a reality
Girl, tell me what you want, tell what you need, oh, oh, oh
Please let me know what you want and need, my darling
I want to be in your life
I want to be a significant part of your life
You're so bad, baby, I want to be in your life
You're so irresistible, my love, I want to be with you all the time
(I need your body) Uh-huh
Yes, my darling, I need your physical presence close to me
(I need your body) Don't walk away, baby
Please don't leave me, my love, I need your closeness
You know, it's not every day (I need your body)
It's not every day that I meet someone I have this strong physical attraction towards
That you meet someone (I need your body) who has everything (Oh, darlin')
It's not often you meet someone who has everything and whom you desire physically
I think I love you, darlin'
I believe I am in love with you, my darling
You look so good to me, baby
You are so attractive and appealing to me, my love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JASPER, CHRISTOPHER H JASPER, ERNIE ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind