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.
Dimming Of The Day
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
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I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day
You pulled me like the moon
Pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side
What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonny birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day
Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant
I see you the street and in company
Why don't you come and rest your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day
The Neville Brothers's song "Dimming Of The Day" speaks about the struggles of dealing with a failing relationship. The first two lines reveal that the singer's life is falling apart and they are overcome with sadness. However, they find comfort in someone who is dependable and who can offer a shoulder to cry on. This person is described as being like the moon pulls on the tide, indicating that they have a strong and consistent presence in the singer's life.
The song then goes on to mention the reasons that have caused the distance between the singer and their loved one. It could be a broken promise or simply a broken heart. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that they need this person, especially during the dimming of the day, which represents a sense of sadness or longing. The singer wants to steal away with this person and confide in them, suggesting that they are the only one who can pull them through this difficult time.
Overall, "Dimming Of The Day" is a song about the struggle of coping with hardships and seeking comfort in the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
This old house is falling down around my ears
My life is beginning to crumble and everything seems to be falling apart.
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
I am overwhelmed with sadness and cannot seem to escape it.
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
When I am at my lowest point, you have the power to lift me up and encourage me to keep going.
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you most when the day is coming to a close and darkness is settling in.
You pulled me like the moon pulls on the tide
Your love and presence in my life have a powerful and undeniable pull, much like the moon has on the ocean tide.
You know just where I keep my better side
You understand and appreciate the best parts of me and help me keep them shining.
What days have come to keep us far apart
There have been circumstances that have driven us apart, even though we long to be together.
A broken promise or a broken heart
Perhaps it was a promise that was broken or a heart that was hurt that has caused our separation.
Now all the bonny birds have wheeled away
The beautiful and joyous things in life seem to have disappeared or faded away, leaving a void behind.
I need you at the dimming of the day
Despite everything, I still need you to be there for me as the day draws to a close and the darkness settles in.
Come the night you're only what I want
There is nothing else I desire more than your company when darkness falls.
Come the night you could be my confidant
You have always been someone I can trust and confide in, especially when the night brings forth its share of insecurities.
I see you the street and in company
I catch glimpses of you on the street or in social situations and it only reinforces how much I miss you.
Why don't you come and rest your mind with me
I long for you to come and relax with me, to share your burdens and worries with me and know that you are not alone.
I'm living for the night we steal away
I am counting down the hours until we can sneak away together, away from the world and everything else that keeps us apart.
I need you at the dimming of the day
No matter what happens, my love for you only grows stronger at the end of the day, when everything else fades away into the night.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind