Aaron Neville (born January 24, 1941, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an America… Read Full Bio ↴Aaron Neville (born January 24, 1941, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He made his debut in 1966 with the hit single Tell It Like It Is, a Number One hit on the Billboard R&B charts. From 1977 he performed as part of The Neville Brothers with his siblings, Art Neville, Charles Neville, Cyril Neville & Ivan Neville.

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

Mary Don't You Weep
Aaron Neville Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well if I could I surely would
Stand on the rock where Moses stood
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded

O Mary don't you weep

Well Mary wore three links and chains
On every link was Jesus' name
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't weep
Go!

Go!

Well one of these nights bout 12 o'clock
This old world is gonna rock
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

Well Moses stood on the Red Sea shore
Smote' the water with a two by four
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

Alright!

(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(Pharaoh's army got drownded)
(O Mary don't you weep)

Well old Mr. Satan he got mad
Missed that soul that he thought he had
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

Brothers and sisters don't you cry
There'll be good times by and by
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't weep

Well oh Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

Solo, try it out!
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(Pharaoh's army got drownded)
(O Mary don't weep)
Hey!

Drums!

God gave Noah the rainbow sign
"No more water but fire next time"
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

O Mary don't you weep, don't (you) mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't (you) mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't weep

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't weep

Everybody!
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(Pharaoh's army got drownded)
(O Mary don't weep)

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
Oooooooh, Mary don't yoooooou

(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)
(O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn)

(Pharaoh's army got drownded)
(O Mary don't weep)

Overall Meaning

Aaron Neville's song "Mary Don't You Weep" is a traditional gospel song that has been performed by several musicians. This song is an upbeat spiritual song that appears to convey a message of hope and reassurance to Mary after the death of her son, Jesus Christ. The lyrics begin with a reference to the story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, and the drowning of Pharaoh's army. The song asserts that if the singer could, they would stand on the rock where Moses stood.

The song continues to recount other biblical references to support its message of hope, such as the chains Mary wore with Jesus' name on every link. The song also suggests that Satan was upset for missing the soul that he thought he had, which is a possible reference to the resurrection of Jesus. Finally, the song concludes with the message that there will be good times ahead and Pharaoh's army got drowned, so Mary should not weep.

Overall, the song appears to use these biblical references to encourage Mary and the listeners that even in times of despair and suffering, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Line by Line Meaning

Well if I could I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood
If it were possible, I would stand on the same rock where Moses stood

Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
Pharaoh's army has been drowned, Mary don't you cry

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn
Mary, don't cry, don't grieve

Well Mary wore three links and chains On every link was Jesus' name Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
Mary wore three chains with Jesus' name on every link, and Pharaoh's army was drowned. Mary, don't cry

Well one of these nights bout 12 o'clock This old world is gonna rock Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
One of these nights at midnight, the world will shake. Pharaoh's army has already drowned, so don't cry, Mary

Well Moses stood on the Red Sea shore Smote' the water with a two by four Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
Moses was on the shore of the Red Sea and he used a two by four to part the water. Pharaoh's army was drowned, so Mary, don't cry

Well old Mr. Satan he got mad Missed that soul that he thought he had Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
Old Satan was upset because he missed out on the soul that he thought he had. Pharaoh's army was drowned, so Mary, don't cry

Brothers and sisters don't you cry There'll be good times by and by Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't weep
Brothers and sisters, don't cry. There will be good times in the future. Pharaoh's army has already drowned, so Mary, don't cry

Solo, try it out! (O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't weep) Hey! Drums!
Instrumental section of the song, with emphasis to not mourn and remind of Pharaoh's drowned army

God gave Noah the rainbow sign No more water but fire next time Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
God gave Noah the sign of the rainbow, which means there will be no more water but fire next time. Pharaoh's army has already drowned, so Mary, don't cry

Everybody! (O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't weep)
Everybody join together, and remind Mary not to weep or mourn, as Pharaoh's army has been drowned.

O Mary don't you weep, don't mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep
Mary, don't cry, don't grieve, as Pharaoh's army has been drowned.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Inez Andrews

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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