The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937-2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 1941), and Cyril (b. 1948) got together to take part in the recording session of The Wild Tchoupitoulas, a Mardi Gras Indian group led by the Nevilles' uncle, George Landry ("Big Chief Jolly").
Art Neville reached out to Paul Howrilla (personal manager for Dr. John) and told him that he always wanted to do something with his brothers. Paul Howrilla created Neville Productions, Inc., serving as president and CEO with all four Neville brothers as members of the board of directors. The newly formed business covered the entire Neville family, designed to protect them from the music business abuse they had previously endured in their individual careers.
This experience led them to form the group the following year. Their debut album was released from Capitol Records in 1978.
In 1988, the group released Uptown from EMI featuring guests including Branford Marsalis, Keith Richards, and Carlos Santana. The following year saw the release of Yellow Moon from A&M Records produced by Daniel Lanois. The track "Healing Chant" from that album won best pop instrumental performance of the Grammy Awards.
In 1990, the Neville Brothers contributed "In the Still of the Night" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Blue produced by the Red Hot Organization. Also in 1990, they appeared on the bill at that year's Glastonbury Festival. This also was the year they recorded "Sons and Daughters" on their Brother's Keeper album.
Their version of "Bird on the Wire" was played over the closing credits of the 1990 film, Bird on a Wire.
Due to the health problems of Art Neville, the band kept a low profile in the late 1990s onto the early 2000s. They made a comeback in 2004, however, with the album, Walkin' In The Shadow Of Life, from Back Porch Records, their first newly recorded effort in five years.
All brothers except Charles, a Massachusetts resident, had been living in New Orleans, but following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Cyril and Aaron moved out of the city. They had not been performing in New Orleans since Katrina hit the city, however, they finally returned to perform there at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2008, being given the closing spot which had been reserved for them for years.
Infrequently, Ivan Neville, Aaron's son (keyboards) and Ian Neville, Art's son (electric guitar), both of the band Dumpstaphunk, have played with the band in recent years.
The group formally disbanded in 2012 but reunited in 2015 for a farewell concert in New Orleans.
Charles Neville died of pancreatic cancer on April 26, 2018, at the age of 79.
Art Neville died at age 81 on July 22, 2019, after years of declining health.
Ain't No Sunshine
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
She's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away
I wonder this time where she's gone
'Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know
Hey, I won't leave that young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day
'Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
She's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know
I know, I know
Hey, I won't leave that young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day
'Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
This house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
The Neville Brothers' song "Ain't No Sunshine" is a heartrending ballad about the loneliness and despair that comes with a loved one's absence. The lyrics repeat the phrase "ain't no sunshine" to convey the emptiness that the singer experiences when their lover is gone. The lyrics also suggest that the lover is frequently away for prolonged periods, making the absence even harder to bear. The singer wonders where their lover has gone this time and fears that their absence may be permanent.
The song conveys a sense of desperation, as the singer seems to be struggling to cope with the overwhelming feeling of loss. The repetition of the phrase "I know" in the song suggests that the singer is trying to convince themselves that they understand the situation, but it is clear that they are not coping well. The song also implies that the singer has been unfaithful to their lover in the past, but this behavior is driven by their desperate need for companionship when their lover is not around.
Overall, the Neville Brothers' "Ain't No Sunshine" is a poignant song about the depth of loneliness and heartbreak that comes with the absence of a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The absence of the person he cares about brings a sense of darkness into his life.
Only darkness everyday
Without her presence, his life is filled with emptiness and gloom.
She's always gone too long
Her absence feels like an eternity to him.
Anytime she goes away
Her departure has a profound impact on his life every time she leaves.
I wonder this time where she's gone
He is uncertain about where the person he cares about has gone.
I wonder if she's gone to stay
He questions whether she will return and stay with him.
'Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Her absence creates a void in his life that cannot be filled.
And this house just ain't no home
Without her presence, his once-lovely home becomes a lifeless shell.
I know, I know, I know
He is painfully aware of the impact her absence has on him.
Hey, I won't leave that young thing alone
He spends time with someone younger and possibly more exciting than the person he cares about.
Anytime she goes away
Her absence has a profound impact on his life every time she leaves.
Anytime she goes away
Her departure has a profound impact on his life every time she leaves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind