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
Ain't That Peculiar
Aaron Neville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
Now ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
The song "Ain't That Peculiar" by Aaron Neville is a soulful confession of his love for someone who doesn't reciprocate that love in the way that he desires. The lyrics reveal the complexity of his feelings towards this person, as they hurt him repeatedly but he still finds himself unable to let go. The lines "Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you, Stay away too long and I can't do without you" show that despite knowing that this person is not good for him, he still loves them deeply.
The lyrics also explore the idea that love can become stronger even through pain and hurt. The lines "But each hurt makes my love stronger than before, But if the truth makes love last longer, Why do lies make my love stronger" demonstrate that he is grappling with this concept and struggling to understand why his love for this person continues to thrive even though they continuously lie to him. The repetition of the refrain "Ain't that peculiar, Peculiar as can be" serves as a lamentation for the unique and difficult nature of his situation.
Overall, the song is a poignant portrayal of the complex emotions that arise from a one-sided love affair, where the person you love doesn't love you back in the way that you desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Even though you mistreat me, I have intense feelings for you.
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
When you're gone, I feel helpless and need you back.
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
You take every opportunity to inflict emotional pain on me.
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
Despite your actions, my love for you intensifies with each insult.
I know flowers go through rain
Just as flowers endure hard times, I understand that relationships can suffer.
But how can love go through pain
However, I wonder how love can withstand the anguish you cause me.
Ain't that peculiar
It's strange and unusual.
A peculiar-arity
An oddity.
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
You say things that are blatantly false.
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
I'm so deeply in love with you that I choose to ignore your deceit.
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
You purposely do and say things to make me sad.
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
It's regrettable that my affection for you causes me to believe your lies.
Your lies seem true
Your falsehoods appear convincing to me.
But if the truth makes love last longer
If honesty strengthens love,
Why do lies make my love stronger
Why does my love intensify when you're dishonest?
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
I've shed tears like a helpless child who's lost everything.
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
Perhaps you misinterpret my tears as happy ones, when really they're tears of sadness.
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
A child's persistent tears can compel someone to give in to their demands.
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
However, my tears have no such power over you.
I know love can last through years
I understand that love can endure for a long time.
But how can love last through tears
But how can love withstand the tears and sorrow you cause me?
Now ain't that peculiar baby
Now isn't that strange, my dear?
A peculiar-arity
An odd occurrence.
Ain't it peculiar baby
Isn't this strange, my love?
Peculiar as can be
Quite an unusual situation.
Said I don't understand it baby
I declare that I'm baffled by it, darling.
It's so strange sometimes
It's often inexplicable and odd.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WARREN MOORE, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR., ROBERT ROGERS, MARVIN TARPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind