Neville charted again, in 1989, when he collaborated with Linda Ronstadt on three consecutive duets: Don't Know Much, All My Life, and When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, the first two reached Number One on the Adult Contemporary charts. Neville has released more than 20 singles, including three Number Ones on the Adult Contemporary format, and a fourth on the R&B format.
His other hits have included Everybody Plays the Fool, his successful 1991 cover of the 1972 Main Ingredient song, that reached #8 on the Hot 100; Don't Take Away My Heaven, Hercules and Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song). Neville's biggest solo successes have been on the Adult Contemporary chart, where "Don't Know Much," "All My Life," and "Everybody Plays the Fool" all reached Number One.
Aaron signed to SonyBMG's new Burgundy Records label in late 2005 and recorded an album of songs by Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and others for Bring It On Home...The Soul Classics, released on September 19, 2006. The album, produced by Stewart Levine, features collaborations between Neville and Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Chris Botti, David Sanborn, Art Neville, and others. The album's first single was a remake of The Impressions' 1963 classic It's All Right.
On October 27, 2006, Neville made a guest appearance on an episode of the soap opera The Young and the Restless. He sang Stand By Me" and Ain't No Sunshine, from his album, Bring It on Home … The Soul Classics. In 2008 he released Gold, which includes a double album of his hits.
http://www.aaronneville.com
A Hard Nut to Crack
Aaron Neville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I play the game of the modern romeo but never in my life did I see
A woman as square as a pool table and twice as green
I gave you all of my money and all of my loving too
But now you're goin' around just a telling everybody that I made a fool of you
Girl I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
I ask the man from up above, help me to save your love
You're a hard nut to crack
You take a strong man and break his back
I don't know but I've been told, next to you my life's been cold
You're a demon, girl, you know you're outta sight
Girl I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
Ask the man from up above, help me to save your love
I want you
Know the guy you're giving my money
And you come home and call me honey
You look like you made a resolution, took my best friend john and put him in an institution
You're a demon, girl you know you're outta sight
Girl I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
I ask the man from up above to help me to save your love
I want you
You're a hard nut to crack
In the first stanza of "A Hard Nut to Crack," we hear the singer introducing himself as a player, similar to the classic Romeo character, but also admitting to never having met someone quite like the woman he is currently pursuing. He has given her everything he has, both financially and emotionally, but now she is spreading rumors about him behind his back. Despite this, he still loves her and asks for divine intervention to save their relationship. In the second stanza, the singer addresses some of the woman's behaviors that are causing issues in the relationship, including her taking his money and calling him affectionate names after spending time with another man. He concludes by reaffirming his love for her and again asking for help.
What strikes me about this song is the way the singer describes the woman in question--as both "square" and a "demon." There's clearly a sense of frustration and confusion there; he doesn't understand why someone he loves so much would behave in such a manner. The repetition of the line "I love you so, why I love you I just don't know" drives this point home. It's as if he's trying to make sense of his feelings, which are being complicated by the actions of the woman he loves. On a broader level, "A Hard Nut to Crack" is a classic blues song about the difficulties of love and relationships, especially when one partner is more trouble than they're worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I play the game of the modern romeo but never in my life did I see
I have tried to pursue women the way Romeo did but never have I encountered someone as difficult to deal with as you.
A woman as square as a pool table and twice as green
You are a very rigid and inexperienced woman.
I gave you all of my money and all of my loving too
I have given you all my resources and affections.
But now you're goin' around just a telling everybody that I made a fool of you
You are spreading false rumors that I have made you look silly in front of others.
Girl I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
I love you immensely but I am unable to explain why that is.
I ask the man from up above, help me to save your love
I am praying to God to give me the strength to keep our love alive.
I want you
I desire you and wish to be with you.
You're a hard nut to crack
You are emotionally challenging to deal with.
You take a strong man and break his back
You have the ability to emotionally exhaust even the strongest of men.
I don't know but I've been told, next to you my life's been cold
I have a feeling that being with you has made my life unfulfilling and passionless.
You're a demon, girl, you know you're outta sight
You have an inner darkness that causes you to act in a destructive manner.
Know the guy you're giving my money
I have figured out that you are giving my money to another man.
And you come home and call me honey
Despite cheating and lying, you still try to maintain a facade of love and affection towards me.
You look like you made a resolution, took my best friend john and put him in an institution
It seems like you have intentionally harmed my best friend John and made him end up in a mental institution.
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
johnny zell
I play the game of the modern romeo but never in my life did I see
A woman as square as a pool table and twice as green
I gave you all of my money and all of my loving, too
But now you're goin' around just telling everybody that I made a fool of you
Girl I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
I ask the man from up above
Help me to save your love, I want you
You're a hard nut to crack
You take a strong man and break his back
I don't know but I've been told
Next to you my life's been cold, you're a demon
Girl, you know you're outta sight
Girl, I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
Ask the man from up above
Help me to save your love, I want you
Know the guy you're giving my money
And you come home and call me honey
You look like you made a resolution, took my best friend John and put him in an institution
You're a demon now, girl, you know you're outta sight
Girl, I love you so, why I love you I just don't know
I ask the man from up above
To help me to save your love, I want you
You're a hard nut to crack
Dressed up and a-wearin' high heel shoes, now
Dean Olphert
Love it very under played so in my box it will stay ktf