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
You Think You're So Smart
Aaron Neville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, you think you know it all
But the game you're trying to play (trying to play)
Can be played another way (another way)
And you see that
You never-never had it so good till you met me
I brought you to the city
My friends tried to tell me so (tell me so)
I told them they didn't know (they didn't know)
That lights have gone to your head
You never-never had it so good
Till you met, until you met me
Oh, until you met me
Never had it so good
No, you never, you never, you never had it so good (never had it so good)
Till you met me, my darling (never had it so good, yeah, yeah)
Whoah, without me (never had it so good)
The lyrics of Aaron Neville's "You Think You're So Smart" addresses a person who believes they're wise enough to play the game of love, but in the end, they realize that there are different rules of the same game they don't know about. Neville sings about how the person never had it good until they met him and how he brought the person to the city. But the person, after gaining attention and exposure, changes and becomes distorted by the city's lifestyle. The person starts to believe they know everything and turns ruthless towards the end. Neville's verse about how the person has never had it good until they met him is an indirect warning that they might lose everything without him. The song highlights the idea that people typically don't appreciate what they have until it's gone.
Neville’s song "You Think You're So Smart" was recorded in 1960, the first song recorded on the label "Par-Lo." It never hit the charts, but it laid the framework for his future hits by blending the doo-wop of his New Orleans youth with R&B rhythms. Here are 10 interesting facts about the song "You Think You're So Smart":
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you're so smart
You have an overly high opinion of your intelligence
Yes, you think you know it all
You believe you have knowledge and understanding beyond that of others
But the game you're trying to play (trying to play)
The situation you are attempting to manipulate or control
Can be played another way (another way)
There are alternative methods to achieve your desired outcome
And you see that
You are beginning to understand
You never-never had it so good till you met me
You never experienced success and happiness until we met
I brought you to the city
I introduced you to a new way of life
Now you tell me there's no room for pity
You are unwilling to show compassion or empathy
My friends tried to tell me so (tell me so)
My acquaintances attempted to warn me of your negative traits
I told them they didn't know (they didn't know)
I disregarded their advice and chose to overlook your faults
That lights have gone to your head
The success and attention you have received has caused you to become arrogant and conceited
Never had it so good
You never experienced such positive circumstances
Till you met, until you met me
Your fortunes changed after you met me
Oh, until you met me
You were not as successful and happy before our encounter
No, you never, you never, you never had it so good (never had it so good)
You never experienced such a favorable state
Till you met me, my darling (never had it so good, yeah, yeah)
Your life improved after we formed a relationship
Whoah, without me (never had it so good)
You did not experience such positive circumstances prior to our involvement
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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