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.
Jah Love
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jah love - young men dying in the street
Cities of concrete and glass
All will turn to sand
None of them will last but Jah love
Jah love - Jah love - Jah love
Jah love - let freedom walk, let freedom run
We make one step, Jah does the rest
Jah loves everything that has breath
Cities of concrete and glass
All will turn to sand
None of them will last but Jah love
Jah love
Steel towers rise to pierce the sky
While in the shadows the children hurt and cry
Jah gonna wipe away the tears from their eyes
Jah love - Oh Jah love
Jah love - lift our hearts and free our minds
Jah love justice the wonder and the sign
Under the shadow, the eye of the clock
We fight for a future on this solid rock
Cities of concrete and glass
All will turn to sand
None of them will last but Jah love
Jah love - will never fade away -Jah love - Jah love
Dip me in the water - make me like the lamb
Glory to our Father - His Kingdom is at hand
See the living water - flowing from the lamb
The healing of the nations - the soul of every man
All hearts, all hearts, all hearts beat as one
The Neville Brothers's song "Jah Love" is an ode to the power and endurance of love, specifically Jah love or the divine love of God. The lyrics describe the harsh reality of life, where old folks die in the heat and young men die in the street due to the cities made of concrete and glass. However, the song emphasizes that these structures will ultimately turn to sand and none of them will last but Jah love. The song acknowledges the problems of urbanization and poverty, but also points to Jah as the one who wipes away the tears from their eyes.
The song urges people to let freedom walk and every heart beat as one, with Jah love being the driving force behind this. The lyrics acknowledge the struggles people face, but Jah's love is described as being bigger than these problems. The song describes the power of Jah love inspiring people to fight for a future on this solid rock, even in the shadow of the clock.
Overall, the message of "Jah Love" is one of hope in the face of difficult circumstances. The song emphasizes how Jah love can unite people and guide them through hard times. It also serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of material things and the enduring nature of divine love.
Line by Line Meaning
Jah love - old folks dying in the heat
Jah's love is present even in the face of adversity as we witness the elderly dying in hot weather.
Jah love - young men dying in the street
Even with young men dying senselessly in our cities, Jah's love remains unwavering.
Cities of concrete and glass
The urban world may seem endlessly solid and permanent to us, but it is fragile and temporary.
All will turn to sand
Everything will ultimately dissolve and fade away with time.
None of them will last but Jah love
The only thing truly eternal and everlasting is Jah's love and it alone is what remains.
Jah love - let freedom walk, let freedom run
Jah's love brings about true freedom and unites people in harmony and peace.
Jah love - let every heart beat as one
Jah's love brings together all people, regardless of differences, and unites them as one.
We make one step, Jah does the rest
When we take a step towards Jah's love, it sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to freedom and unity.
Jah loves everything that has breath
Jah's love extends to all living things without condition or exception.
Steel towers rise to pierce the sky
Modern constructions symbolize advancement but they shadow the pain and suffering of those who struggle in their shadows.
While in the shadows the children hurt and cry
Children are the hardest hit by the injustices and inequalities of the world and Jah's love will heal them.
Jah gonna wipe away the tears from their eyes
Jah's love will banish every tear of sadness and pain, and bring joy and happiness to the afflicted.
Jah love - lift our hearts and free our minds
Jah's love has the power to liberate us from mental and emotional bondage while inspiring and motivating us.
Jah love justice the wonder and the sign
Justice, which is an essential part of Jah's love, will bring about wonder and miraculous healing.
Under the shadow, the eye of the clock
The passage of time runs under the shadow of the clock, reminding us of Jah's perfect timing.
We fight for a future on this solid rock
We can work towards a better future, even on this unstable and fragile earth.
Jah love - will never fade away -Jah love - Jah love
Jah's love will never cease to exist or diminish, it will continue to shine eternally.
Dip me in the water - make me like the lamb
Let the pure water cleanse us, making us pure and righteous like the lamb.
Glory to our Father - His Kingdom is at hand
Jah's kingdom is within reach and we should give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father.
See the living water - flowing from the lamb
The water of life, symbolizing Jah's love, flows freely and unceasingly, rejuvenating and healing.
The healing of the nations - the soul of every man
Jah's love has the power to heal the wounds of all nations and all people's souls.
All hearts, all hearts, all hearts beat as one
Jah's love will bring about unity and harmony, with all hearts beating as one.
Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.