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
Jailhouse
Aaron Neville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta wake up soon
Too many, too many mornings, whoa Lord gotta wake up soon
Oh, and eat my breakfast by the light of the moon
It was late, very late last summer
When I first got my time
Whoa it was late, very, very late last summer
My buddy got one hundred years, thank the Lord I just got ninety-nine
If you see, if you see my mama
Won't you tell her this for me?
Lord, if you see, if you see my dear old mother
Won't you please tell her this for me?
I got a long, long time and Lord knows when I'm gonna be free
You know they come up here a skippin' and a jumpin'
But you know that they won't last long
Lord, they come up here a skippin' and a jumpin'
But you know that they won't last long
One day they're gonna wish they was a baby boy in their mothers' arms
You know they're always, always talking about dangerous blue
Whoa, you know they're always talking about dangerous blue
If I had my big old pistol, you know I'd be dangerous too
Twelve jury men found me guilt
The doorman looked me up and down
Lord, twelve jury men found me guilty
You know the doorman looked me up and down
Just looked at me through the corner of his eye and said "boy
You're penitentiary-bound"
One day, one day down in New Orleans
All the girls gonna jump and shout
Lord, one day down in New Orleans all the girls gonna jump and shout
When them big green gates open up wide
I'll come steppin' out
In this song Jailhouse, Aaron Neville talks about his time in prison and how he has too many mornings to wake up to. The song starts with Neville saying that he has numerous mornings to wake up to and has to start his day early. He emphasises how he has to eat his breakfast by the light of the moon, and this line suggests that he has to wake up before sunrise. The importance of time is highlighted throughout the song as he talks about the sentence he received, and that he has a long time to serve before he can be free. Neville's melancholic tone in the first few lines portrays his helplessness and the mundane routine of his life in prison.
As the song progresses, Neville speaks about the time he got his sentence and compares it with a friend who got a longer sentence. He thanks the Lord that he only got a 99-year sentence, unlike his friend who got one hundred years. This verse highlights the harsh reality of the fate of many people in prison: they might have been wrongly accused or punished more severely than their actions deserve.
Later in the song, Neville talks about the dangerous environment of the jail and how everyone talks about 'dangerous blue.' He admits that if he had a gun, he too would be dangerous. He then goes on to say that he has been found guilty of his crime, and the doorman looked down on him and said that he was 'penitentiary bound.'
In the final verse, Neville talks about his hope that he will be released soon. He says that when the gates open up wide, all the girls in New Orleans will jump and shout. This line indicates that he is coming out of prison, and finally, his life will change after being confined for so long.
Line by Line Meaning
Too many, too many mornings, gotta wake up soon
There are too many days like this, and I need to start taking action soon.
Oh and eat my breakfast by the light of the moon
I don't have many luxuries anymore, so I need to make the most of simple pleasures like eating under the moonlight.
It was late, very late last summer, when I first got my time
I was dealt a harsh sentence late last summer, and it's been difficult ever since.
My buddy got one hundred years, thank the Lord I just got ninety-nine
My friend received an even worse punishment than I did, and while my sentence is still long, it could have been worse.
Lord, if you see , if you see my dear old mother, won't you please tell her this for me
I miss my mother and wish I could speak to her, but all I can do is hope someone else will pass on my message.
I got a long long time and Lord knows when I'm gonna be free
I have a lengthy sentence ahead of me, and it's impossible for me to know when I'll regain my freedom.
Lord, they come up here a skippin' and a jumpin', but you know that they won't last long
Some people arrive here thinking it's all a game, but they'll quickly realize the harsh reality of life behind bars.
One day they're gonna wish they were a baby boy in their mothers arms
Those who don't take their punishment seriously will eventually regret their careless ways and desire to return to a time when they were free of responsibility.
Whoa, you know they're always talking about dangerous blue
There's a lot of talk about the unpredictable and dangerous nature of life in prison.
If I had my big old pistol, you know I'd be dangerous too
While I don't have access to any weapons, I recognize that my time here has made me more capable and potentially dangerous if I were to have one.
Lord, twelve jury men found me guilty, you know the doorman looked me up and down
I was convicted by a group of twelve jurors, and those in charge here treat the inmates with contempt and suspicion.
Just looked at me through the corner of his eye and said boy, you're penitentiary bound
The doorman gave me a quick, dismissive glance and informed me that I was headed straight to prison.
Lord, one day down in New Orleans all the girls gonna jump and shout
One day, when I'm finally released from prison, people will celebrate and be happy to see me once again.
When them big green gates open up wide, I'll come steppin' out
Freedom is what I look forward to the most, and I'll be thrilled when the gates finally open, and I can leave this place behind.
Lyrics © ZELLS MUSIC
Written by: AARON NEVILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind