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

Under The Boardwalk
Aaron Neville Lyrics

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Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof
And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proof
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk)

From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel
You can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk)

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk)

Overall Meaning

Aaron Neville's rendition of "Under the Boardwalk" offers listeners a chance to escape the sweltering heat of summer to a cooler and more romantic place, the boardwalk by the shore. The song's opening stanza provides vivid imagery of the blistering sun's effect on individuals and the longing it creates for a respite. The author paints a picture of the unbearable heat on the rooftop, which melts the tar and makes it too hot to wear shoes, creating a desire for fire-resistant feet. Under the boardwalk represents the perfect hideaway from the scorching sun. It is where the couple goes for warmth relief and romantic comfort. The song continues its blissful description of a summertime paradise by invoking the evocative sounds of the carousel and the aroma of hot dogs, soft drinks, and fries that populate the boardwalk's small, independent vendors.

The song's lyrics create an emotional connection between the couple and the beach, and that connection resonates with listeners. The boardwalk, therefore, gains cultural significance as it becomes the backdrop for the singer's summer love life. The chorus continues to iterate the idea of idealized escape, through the lyrics "Under the boardwalk, we'll be having some fun, people walking above, we'll be falling in love." The singer reiterates the rationale behind this beautiful abode for lovers, reminding us that, "when the sun beats down, beneath the boardwalk is a shadowy place where we can escape the powerful rays of the sun." The song's warm melody, storytelling lyrics, and iconic harmonization make Under the Boardwalk perfect for easy listening, and the beach/summertime playlist.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof
When the hot sun shines down and heats up the tar on the roof

And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proof
Your shoes become so hot that you wish your feet could withstand the heat

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
Being under the boardwalk by the ocean

On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be
Sitting on a blanket with my loved one

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
Being under the boardwalk to escape the sun

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
Having a good time while under the boardwalk

(Under the boardwalk) people walking above
Watching people walk on the boardwalk above

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Falling in love while under the boardwalk

Under the board-walk (board-walk)
Continuing to stay under the boardwalk

From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel
A happy carousel sound can be heard from the park

You can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell
The smell of hot dogs and French fries is so strong you can almost taste them