Art Neville (Arthur Lanon Neville, New Orleans Louisiana , USA, December 17… Read Full Bio ↴Art Neville (Arthur Lanon Neville, New Orleans Louisiana , USA, December 17, 1937 – July 22, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and keyboard player from New Orleans.

Neville, part of one of the notable musical families of New Orleans, The Neville Brothers, was a founding member of The Meters, whose musical style represents New Orleans funk.
He also played with the spinoff group The Funky Meters.
Neville played on recordings by many notable artists from New Orleans and elsewhere, including Labelle (on "Lady Marmalade"), Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Professor Longhair.

Art Neville aka "Poppa Funk" an R&B legend from New Orleans, who founded the Hawkettes and had a solo career on Specialty records in the late 1950's before becoming a founding member of influential funk & soul group The Meters in the late 1960's. In 1976, he collaborated on the "The Wild Tchoupitoulas," album which he and his brothers made with their uncle Big Chief Jolly (George Landry) shortly before officially billing themselves as The Neville Brothers. Prior to the success he had with The Neville Brothers who reached their commercial peak in the 1980's & 90's under management of Bill Graham, Art had played on numerous hit records, including some produced by Allen Toussaint like Lee Dorsey's "Working in a Coal Mine" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time".

Art the eldest Neville brother continued to perform regularly with the post-Katrina super group New Orleans Social Club which featured a revolving cast of Nawlins heavy hitters ranging from Irma Thomas to his brother Aaron Neville. Art was also a member of the touring group known as the Funky Meters (now featuring his son Ian Neville on guitar) and he played a rare solo show at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Please Don't Leave Me
Art Neville Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo

Please don't leave me
Baby please don't go

Please don't leave me
Baby please don't go
'Cause if you go away and leave me
Girl, you gonna hurt me, so

Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do
Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do
And if you go away and leave me
Don't know what I'm going to do

Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo

Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do (yes I will now)
Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do
'Cause if you go away and leave me
Don't know what I'm going to do

Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo
Woo-woo-ooo

'Cause if you go away and leave me
Girl, you gonna hurt me, so

Oh baby hold on baby now

Overall Meaning

The song "Please Don't Leave Me" by Art Neville is an emotional plea to a lover not to leave. The repetition of the title phrase throughout the song emphasizes the desperation and fear of losing this person. The lyrics express the deep love and attachment the singer feels for their lover, explaining that if they were to leave, it would cause great pain and hurt. The singer promises to tell "all the world" how much they love this person, highlighting the importance and value they have in their life. In the last verse, the singer begs the lover to hold on, to stay and not leave.

The song's simple structure and repetitive lyrics convey a sense of urgency, desperation, and heartache. The use of the woo-oos between the verses adds to the emotional intensity of the song, emphasizing the singer's vulnerability and longing. The song's theme of clinging to love and the fear of losing it is a common motif in many blues and soul songs.

Line by Line Meaning

Woo-woo-ooo
Background vocalization to add emotional emphasis

Please don't leave me
Request for the person not to leave

Baby please don't go
Specifically asking the person not to go away

Please don't leave me
Repeat request to emphasize importance

Baby please don't go
Repeat specific plea not to leave

'Cause if you go away and leave me Girl, you gonna hurt me, so
Explaining the potential consequences of leaving; that it would cause hurt

Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do
Expressing love for the person and the intention to make it known to everyone

Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do
Repeating expression of love and intent to tell everyone

And if you go away and leave me Don't know what I'm going to do
Reiterating the uncertainty of one's future if the person leaves

Woo-woo-ooo
Background vocalization to add emotional emphasis

Yes, I love you, baby gonna tell all the world I do (yes I will now)
Emphasizing the persistence of the love and the determination to make it known