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)
What Would You Do Pt. 2 ft. The Pied Piper
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How are y'all doin' tonight (Fine)
Can I keep it real (Yes)
And say what's on my mind (Yes)
There you are in that chair
Waiting for me to take you there
To break it down and sing to you
Who's gonna be the lucky one
Who spend some money on 'em and have some fun
Tell me, I choose you
(What would you do) What would you do if I said all of
These words were true
(What would you) What would you do if I came down here
And sat with you
(What would you do) What would you do if I told the
Band to break it down
(Ooh) What would you do if I said I wanna lay you down
(What) What would you do if I put this money in your
Hand
(Would you do) What would you do if I said I'd like to
Be your man
(What would you do, baby) What would you do if I
Brought you up here on this stage
What would you do if (Tell me), what would you do
The lights are down (Yeah), the mood is set (Yeah)
The sound is right, I'm heated
Look to my wealth and check my crowd
Look to my right (Yeah) to see if they are ready now
Tell me who out there feels lucky
Wants me to take 'em shopping and buy 'em everything
Hmm, I choose you
(Now what would you do, yeah) What would you do if I
Said all of these words were true
(What would you do) What would you do if I came down
Here and sat with you
(What, what) What would you do if I told the band to
Break it down
(Break it down) What would you do if I said I wanna
Lay you down
(Ow) What would you do if I put this money in your
Hand
(Out this money on your hand, baby) What would you do
If I said I'd like to be your man
(Be your man) What would you do if I brought you up
Here on this stage
(Right up here) What would you do if, what would you
Do (What if I got your)
Hair done (Yeah), nails done (Yes, I will)
Toes done (And) bank account (I'll even take you)
Shoppin' (Girl, I will) if you be good (You'll have)
Your own car (And the) platinum credit cards
(What would you do, baby) What would you do if I said
All of these words were true
(What would you do) What would you do if I came down
Here and sat with you
What would you do if I told the band to break it down
What would you do if I said I wanna lay you down
What would you do if I put this money in your hand
What would you do if I said I'd like to be your man
What would you do if I brought you up here on this
Stage
What would you do if, what would you do
The Isley Brothers's song What Would You Do Pt. 2 ft. The Pied Piper is an R&B track that revolves around the idea of choice. The song opens with the lead singer posing a series of questions to the women in the audience. He wants to know what they would do if he were to profess his love, pay for a date, or take them shopping. The verses revolve around this theme, with the lead singer describing all the things he would do for a woman if she were to choose him. The chorus repeats the question, “What would you do?” as an invitation for the women to make a choice.
The lyrics of the song can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, it can be seen as an empowering message for women to make their own choices and not to settle for less. On the other hand, it can also be seen as a portrayal of patriarchal values where the man is the one who initiates and controls the relationship. Regardless of the perspective, the song is a catchy and groovy track that showcases the Isley Brothers's signature sound.
Overall, What Would You Do Pt. 2 ft. The Pied Piper is a classic R&B track that explores the themes of love, choice, and power dynamics in relationships. The catchy chorus and the smooth vocals of the Isley Brothers make it a fun and enjoyable song to listen to.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, ladies (Hello)
The artist is greeting the female audience members.
How are y'all doin' tonight (Fine)
The artist is asking how the audience is doing.
Can I keep it real (Yes)
The artist is asking if he can be honest and authentic.
And say what's on my mind (Yes)
The artist wants to express his thoughts and feelings.
There you are in that chair
The artist is acknowledging the female audience member's presence.
Waiting for me to take you there
The artist understands that the female audience member is anticipating his performance.
To break it down and sing to you
The artist wants to perform and sing to the female audience member.
And make you feel these words are true
The artist wants the female audience member to feel the authenticity of his lyrics.
Who's gonna be the lucky one
The artist is asking which lucky female audience member will get his attention.
Who spend some money on 'em and have some fun
The artist is proposing the idea of taking a female audience member out and having fun.
Tell me, I choose you
The artist is selecting the female audience member whom he wants to spend time with.
(What would you do) What would you do if I said all of
The artist is posing several hypothetical situations to the female audience member.
These words were true
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if his words were truthful.
(What would you) What would you do if I came down here
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he sat with her.
And sat with you
The artist is proposing the idea of sitting with the female audience member.
(What would you do) What would you do if I told the
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do in various hypothetical situations.
Band to break it down
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he instructed the band to change the mood of the performance.
(Ooh) What would you do if I said I wanna lay you down
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he made a suggestive comment.
(What) What would you do if I put this money in your
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he offered her money.
Hand
The artist is suggesting the idea of giving money to the female audience member.
(Would you do) What would you do if I said I'd like to
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he expressed interest in her romantically.
Be your man
The artist is suggesting the idea of being the female audience member's partner.
(What would you do, baby) What would you do if I
The artist is continuing to pose hypothetical situations to the female audience member.
Brought you up here on this stage
The artist is proposing the idea of inviting the female audience member onto the stage.
The lights are down (Yeah), the mood is set (Yeah)
The artist is setting the scene for a romantic and intimate moment on stage.
The sound is right, I'm heated
The artist is indicating that the environment is suitable for a romantic moment.
Look to my wealth and check my crowd
The artist is showing off his wealth and checking to see how the audience is responding to his performance.
Look to my right (Yeah) to see if they are ready now
The artist is looking to see if anyone in the audience is ready to join him on stage.
Tell me who out there feels lucky
The artist is asking the audience which female audience member is feeling fortunate to spend time with him.
Wants me to take 'em shopping and buy 'em everything
The artist is offering to take a female audience member shopping and buy her anything she desires.
Hmm, I choose you
The artist has selected a female audience member to spend time with.
(Now what would you do, yeah) What would you do if I
The artist is posing hypothetical situations to the female audience member.
Told the band to break it down
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he instructed the band to change the mood of the performance.
(Break it down) What would you do if I said I wanna
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he made a suggestive comment.
Lay you down
The artist is suggesting the idea of being intimate with the female audience member.
(Ow) What would you do if I put this money in your
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he offered her money.
Hand
The artist is suggesting the idea of giving money to the female audience member.
(Out this money on your hand, baby) What would you do
The artist is asking what the female audience member would do if he offered her money.
If I said I'd like to be your man
The artist is suggesting the idea of being the female audience member's partner.
(Be your man) What would you do if I brought you up
The artist is posing yet another hypothetical situation to the female audience member.
Here on this stage
The artist is proposing the idea of inviting the female audience member onto the stage.
(Right up here) What would you do if, what would you
The artist is asking the female audience member what she would do if a previous suggestion was made into a reality.
Do (What if I got your)
The artist is continuing to pose hypothetical situations to the female audience member.
Hair done (Yeah), nails done (Yes, I will)
The artist is offering to pay for the female audience member's grooming expenses.
Toes done (And) bank account (I'll even take you)
The artist is offering to pay for more expenses, including a new bank account if desired.
Shoppin' (Girl, I will) if you be good (You'll have)
The artist is offering to take the female audience member shopping if she behaves properly.
Your own car (And the) platinum credit cards
The artist is offering to provide a car and credit cards to the female audience member if she agrees to spend time with him.
What would you do if I said all of these words were true
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would react if all of his romantic suggestions were genuine.
What would you do if I came down here and sat with you
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would feel if he sat with her.
What would you do if I told the band to break it down
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would react if he instructed the band to change the mood of the performance.
What would you do if I said I wanna lay you down
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would feel if he made a suggestive comment.
What would you do if I put this money in your hand
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would react if he offered her money.
What would you do if I said I'd like to be your man
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would feel if he expressed interest in her romantically.
What would you do if I brought you up here on this stage
The artist is asking the female audience member how she would react if he invited her onto the stage.
What would you do if, what would you do
The artist is continuing to ask the female audience member what her reactions would be in hypothetical scenarios.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT S. KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind