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)
You're Beside Me
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause my thoughts always stay with you
There's no need to be sad, you know where my head is at
And my heart always stays with you
When I feel kind of lonely
When I need a reason to smile, yeah yeah yeah
You're beside me, everywhere I go
You're beside me, I'm there with you
I'm feeling all the things that you do
Seeing you in my mind gonna bring you closer
Even though you're not around
Living every day I can see
I'm gonna have my share of ups and downs
When I feel kinda lonely
When I need a reason to smile
You're beside me, everywhere I go
Most of all you stay in my mind
You're beside me, you're everywhere
Here with me wherever I go
Everywhere I go
I like the way you give that good-time feeling
Everywhere I go
Right now you know the way you've got me feeling
No, you're not alone don't think I want to gone
'Cause my thoughts always stay with you
There's no need to be sad, you know where my head is at
And my heart always stays with you
When I feel kinda lonely
When I need a reason to smile
You're beside me, you're everywhere I go
Most of all you stay in my mind
You're beside me, you're everywhere
Here with me wherever I go
Everywhere I go
I like the way you give that good-time feeling
Everywhere I go
Right now you know the way you've got me feeling
Everywhere I go
Honey, I like the way you give that good-time feeling
Everywhere I go
Right now you know the way you've got me feeling
You're beside me, everywhere I go
Most of all you stay in my mind
You're beside me, everywhere
Here with me wherever I go
You're beside me, everywhere I go
Most of all you stay in my mind
You're beside me, you're everywhere
Here with me wherever I go
You're beside me, everywhere I go
Most of all you stay in my mind
The Isley Brothers' song "You're Beside Me" is a love song that describes the feeling of being next to a loved one, even when they're not physically there. The first verse sets the scene for the song, as the singer assures their partner that they are not alone and that their thoughts always stay with them. The second verse explains that the singer can still feel their partner's presence, even when they are apart. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the partner is always present, "beside" the singer, even when separated by distance.
The lyrics also describe times when the singer may feel lonely or need a reason to smile, but their partner's memory and feeling stays with them, giving them comfort and joy. The bridge repeats the idea that imagining the partner's presence can make them feel closer, despite the physical distance between them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the idea that the partner is always with the singer, wherever they go.
Overall, "You're Beside Me" is a heartfelt love song that captures the idea of a deep and lasting connection between two people, even when separated by distance.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I'm not alone don't think I want to be gone
I don't want to leave because I always think about you.
'Cause my thoughts always stay with you
I always have you on my mind.
There's no need to be sad, you know where my head is at
Don't be upset, because you know where my focus is.
And my heart always stays with you
My heart is always with you.
When I feel kind of lonely
When I feel alone.
When I need a reason to smile, yeah yeah yeah
When I need something to make me happy.
You're beside me, everywhere I go
You are always with me, no matter where I am.
Most of all you stayed in my mind
Most importantly, you are always on my mind.
I'm feeling all the things that you do
I am experiencing everything you do.
Seeing you in my mind gonna bring you closer
Imagining you brings you closer to me.
Even though you're not around
Even if you are not physically present.
Living every day I can see
Every day, I see things more clearly.
I'm gonna have my share of ups and downs
I will experience both good and bad times.
You're beside me, you're everywhere
You are always with me, no matter where I am.
Here with me wherever I go
You are always with me, no matter where I am.
I like the way you give that good-time feeling
I enjoy the happiness you bring.
Right now you know the way you've got me feeling
You know how happy you make me feel right now.
Honey, I like the way you give that good-time feeling
Sweetheart, I love how happy you make me feel.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTOPHER H JASPER, ERNIE ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind