Music Friday: The Isley Brothers Sing, ‘This Ring Is a Symbol of My Love’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, The Isley Brothers sing about the symbolism of fine jewelry in the group’s 1992 release, “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro).”

Written by Brazilian composers Ivan Lins and Gilson Peranzzetta, “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro)” became a frequent request for wedding day playlists after a sweet rendition by The Isley Brothers appeared on their Tracks of Life album.

The song is essentially a groom’s wedding vow — using jewelry references to describe his solemn pledge of love and devotion.

Lead vocalist Ron Isley sings, “I pledge all my love to you always / Don’t you know this ring / This ring is a symbol of my love / Grant us blessings from above oh, oh / Who cherish all the magic of our days.”

In the next verse, gold chains symbolize the couple’s eternal bond… “Oh Lord, oh Lord, here I stand / Golden chains around our hearts / Vow to death we’ll never part.”

Often cited as the band that has enjoyed one of the “longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music,” The Isley Brothers became the first group to score a Top 50 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in six consecutive decades.

Originally from Cincinnati, the group was established in 1954 as a gospel trio featuring brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph and Ron Isley. Soon they landed a spot on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour, where they won the competition and took home the grand prize — a watch. With their new-found fame, they began touring all over the eastern US, performing in a variety of churches.

The brothers moved to the New York City area in the late 1950s. In 1959, the brothers celebrated their first big hit, “Shout,” a song that would become a cultural phenomenon nearly two decades later when it was performed by Otis Day and the Knights in the 1978 fraternity house romp, National Lampoon’s Animal House.

The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and in 2010, Ron Isley received a “Legend Award” at the Soul Train Music Awards. The Isley Brothers will be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.

Ron Isley, 83, and his brother, Ernie, 72, are still performing as The Isley Brothers. Their 60th Anniversary Tour will take them to Las Vegas, Ledyard, CT; Englewood, NJ; North Charleston, SC; Southaven, MS; Los Angeles and Indianapolis over the next six months.

Please check out the audio track of The Isley Brothers performing “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro).” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro)”
Written by Ivan Guimaraes Lins and Gilson Peranzzetta. Performed by The Isley Brothers.

Today is the day to say I do
Yes, I promise to be true

I pledge all my love to you always
Don’t you know this ring
This ring is a symbol of my love
Grant us blessings from above oh, oh
Who cherish all the magic of our days

Oh Lord, oh Lord, here I stand
Golden chains around our hearts
Vow to death we’ll never part
From this day as one we’ll start our lives

Oh Lord, here I stand
With my heart out in my hand
Rich or poor, I am your man
I’m your lover and friend for life
Ooh

So much love, so much love, girl
So much love, girl, la, la, la, la
Today, today, today is the day to say I do
Yes, I promise to be true

I pledge all my love to you always
Don’t you know this ring
This ring is a symbol of my love
Grant us blessings from above oh, oh
Who cherish all the magic of our days

And I can hear them when they play
Our Brazilian wedding song

Credit: Photo by T-Neck Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.