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)
Put a Little Love In Your Heart
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a little love in your heart
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate (come on)
Put a little love in your heart
I know the world will be a better place
And I know the world will be a better place, for you and for me
Just you wait and see
Another day goes by, and still the children cry (come on)
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know, that you won't let hatred grow (come on)
Put a little love in your heart
And I know the world will be a better place
And I feel the world will be a better place for you and for me
Just you wait and see
And I know the world will be a better place
And I feel the world could be a better place for you and I know for me
Just you wait and see
Why don't you put a little love
Come on and put some, put somebody
Oh, what the world needs now
Just to reach out and touch somebody's hand
Try it, you got to try it
The Isley Brothers' song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is a call to humanity to be more empathetic and compassionate towards one another. The song's catchy chorus encourages listeners to lend a helping hand and spread love to those around them. The lyrics suggest that the world would be a much better place if everyone treated each other with kindness and respect. The repeated phrase "come on" throughout the song indicates that there is urgency in the message to spread love and care to others.
The second verse of the song focuses on the plight of children who are suffering in the world. The lyrics emphasize the need for individuals to take action and "put a little love" in their hearts to help make a positive change. The song urges listeners to take a stand against hate and spread love instead. The final verse of the song encourages people to try spreading love, even if it feels difficult or uncomfortable at first. The lyrics suggest that the reward for doing so will be a better world for all.
Overall, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is a powerful call to action and a reminder of the importance of treating others with kindness and empathy. It encourages listeners to take a proactive approach to creating a more loving world.
Line by Line Meaning
Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand (come on)
Consider others, offer assistance
Put a little love in your heart
Show kindness and compassion
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate (come on)
Time is limited, act now
I know the world will be a better place
Belief in a positive future
And I know the world will be a better place, for you and for me
A shared improvement for humanity
Just you wait and see
Future is optimistic
Another day goes by, and still the children cry (come on)
Problems persist without action
If you want the world to know, that you won't let hatred grow (come on)
Denounce hostility and promote love
And I feel the world will be a better place for you and for me
Optimism for a shared improvement
Just you wait and see
Belief in a positive future
And I feel the world could be a better place for you and I know for me
Hope for individual and collective progress
Why don't you put a little love
Encouragement to show kindness
Come on and put some, put somebody
Extend love to others
Oh, what the world needs now
Urgent necessity for love and compassion
Just to reach out and touch somebody's hand
Simple gestures can make a difference
Try it, you got to try it
Take action towards kindness and love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind