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)
So You Wanna Stay Down
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wanna go back on your word 'cause it just got turned around
Oh keep on dreamin' hey baby
Nevertheless you can still be safe and sound
You wanna stay down you refuse to be happy
Oh, you wanna go back to yourfriends on the other side
But keep on dreamin' hey baby
Just remember that I love you
And I wouldn't have it any other way
Get a little stronger in your spirit
And all of your fears will go away
So you wanna stay down you refuse to be happy, yeah
To them you look roped and tied but you're still runnin' fast and free
Oh keep on dreamin' hey baby
Your motivation in somethin' hard to see
You wanna stay down you refuse to be happy
Well, whatever happens to you I know that you're one of a kind
Just keep on dreamin' hey baby
Sometimes you find disappointment, but never forget what you truly believe
People see you crawlin' but you're gettin' closer
Now ask yourself can you get off your knees
The Isley Brothers' song, "So You Wanna Stay Down," is a soulful ballad that speaks to the struggles of trying to find happiness in the face of adversity. The lyrics talk about someone who is refusing to be happy and is instead choosing to stay down. They want to go back on their word because things did not go as planned, but the singer encourages them to keep on dreaming and not give up.
The chorus repeats the phrase "so you wanna stay down, you refuse to be happy," as a way to highlight the struggle and reinforce the idea that happiness is a choice. The singer reminds the listener that they are loved and encourages them to get stronger in their spirit because all of their fears will eventually go away. The lyrics also acknowledge that sometimes disappointment happens, but it is important to never forget what they truly believe.
The song is a powerful reminder that even in tough times, one needs to keep moving forward and reach for their dreams. It is a message of hope and encouragement that inspires listeners not to give up, no matter what happens.
Line by Line Meaning
So you wanna stay down you refuse to be happy, yeah
You're determined to stay unhappy and down despite everything good in your life.
You wanna go back on your word 'cause it just got turned around
You're willing to break your promise because things didn't turn out as expected.
Oh keep on dreamin' hey baby
Keep on dreaming and hoping for a better future, don't give up.
Nevertheless you can still be safe and sound
Despite everything, there's hope for peace and security in your life.
Just remember that I love you
Have faith that you are loved and cared for by someone.
And I wouldn't have it any other way
The love that exists between two people is perfect the way it is.
Get a little stronger in your spirit
You need to be more resilient and stronger in your spirit to overcome challenges.
And all of your fears will go away
With a stronger spirit, you can overcome your fears and worries.
To them you look roped and tied but you're still runnin' fast and free
Other people may perceive you as trapped, but you're still making progress in your life.
Your motivation in somethin' hard to see
Your drive and motivation are not always visible to others, but they exist within you.
Well, whatever happens to you I know that you're one of a kind
No matter what, you are a unique and special individual.
Sometimes you find disappointment, but never forget what you truly believe
Disappointments may come, but it's important to hold onto your beliefs and values.
People see you crawlin' but you're gettin' closer
Others may see you struggle, but you are still making progress towards your goals.
Now ask yourself can you get off your knees
Challenge yourself to rise up and overcome whatever is holding you back.
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.