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.
My Brother's Keeper
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
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Down the street so all alone
I lis pride is gone, nothing to believe in
Nothing to call his own
Ain't got no one to talk with
Lost, alone, and afraid
Jesus said - If you love me then you'll feed my sheep
Gotta be my brother's keeper
Though he be strong or weaker
I gotta lend him a helpin' hand
No matter what his color
Through God he's still my brother
I gotta help him if I can
There go I but for the grace of God
It could even be the Lord (he said he'd come
He was refused shelter a long time ago
Let's not be as foolish as they were before
Gotta be my brother's keeper
Though he be strong or weaker
I gotta lend him a helpin' hand
No matter what his color
Through God he's still my brother
I gotta help him if I can
I see institutionalized government ghettos
Where poverty takes its toll
I see drug free zones, while in another part of town,
A young man lies, bleeding in the cold
I see hearts and minds suffocating
As if by God they have been forsaken
While the pillars of Babylon crumble at the foundations
Like the walls of Jericho, they will come tumbling down
Gotta be my brother's keeper
Though he be strong or weaker
I gotta lend him a helpin' hand
No matter what his color
Through God he's still my brother
I gotta help him if I can
The lyrics to The Neville Brothers' song "My Brother's Keeper" speak to the importance of looking out for one another, particularly those who are in need. The song highlights the struggles of those who are alone, lost, and afraid, with nothing to call their own. The song calls upon the Christian values of helping those in need, feeding the sheep of Jesus, and being a brother's keeper.
The song continues to speak to the issues of poverty, institutionalized government ghettos, and drug-free zones. It points out the disparity that exists between different parts of society, where some are left to suffer in poverty and others enjoy relative abundance. The song calls for an end to such inequality, as the walls of Jericho will come tumbling down.
This song is a powerful call to action to be mindful of one another and to work to end inequality and division. It encourages people to lend a helping hand to those who are in need, regardless of their color or creed. The Neville Brothers remind us that it is our responsibility to look out for one another and to be our brother's keeper.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, when you see him walking
The songwriters call attention to individuals who walk around alone to emphasize their loneliness and isolation.
Down the street so all alone
This line repeats the overall theme of isolation, which clearly affects the person's emotions.
I lis pride is gone, nothing to believe in
The person who is alone has lost their sense of pride and has nothing to hold on to in life.
Nothing to call his own
The individual has no possessions unique to them that offer them a sense of self or worth.
Ain't got no one to talk with
The individual being talked about lacks anyone with whom they can communicate.
Lost, alone, and afraid
It's clear that the individual's state of mind is that they are lost not necessarily in a physical way but also in their mind, they are alone, and they are also afraid.
Jesus said - If you love me then you'll feed my sheep
The lyrics reference a biblical passage conveying that Christians should show compassion and provide help to those who are vulnerable.
But like Jesus, we've been betrayed
The songwriters state that, much like Jesus, people have also experienced betrayal in life.
Gotta be my brother's keeper
The songwriters emphasize that each of us is responsible for helping and supporting our fellow human beings.
Though he be strong or weaker
The songwriter reminds us that it doesn't matter whether someone is strong or weak – we should extend help to them.
I gotta lend him a helpin' hand
By offering a helping hand, we provide support, encouragement, and hope to those in need.
No matter what his color
The songwriters are keen to point out that all humans, irrespective of race or ethnicity, are deserving of support and help.
Through God he's still my brother
The songwriters make it clear that even though we come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs, we're still all part of the same family.
I gotta help him if I can
The songwriters stress that we should always try to help others.
There go I but for the grace of God
This line is an acknowledgment that anybody could find themselves in a perilous situation if things don't go their way.
It could even be the Lord (he said he'd come
This particular phrase indicates that we must never dismiss something or someone because of their appearance or station in life because it could be the God Almighty in disguise coming to test our kindness and sympathy.
He was refused shelter a long time ago
The songwriters refer to Jesus Christ who, according to Christian belief, was refused shelter when he was born.
Let's not be as foolish as they were before
This sentence ties the previous lines together to indicate that people must learn from the Judeans' error of refusing shelter to Christ and must be mindful with their heart and emotions.
I see institutionalized government ghettos
The songwriters draw attention to the systemic and institutionalized nature of poverty in some areas and neighborhoods.
Where poverty takes its toll
The songwriter reflects that there is a direct link between poverty and human suffering.
I see drug free zones, while in another part of town,
The songwriters illustrate a wide spectrum of experiences and conditions, highlighting the discrepancy between affluent and poor neighborhoods.
A young man lies, bleeding in the cold
This line is meant to elicit empathy from the listener towards the pain and suffering that young man is experiencing due to a lack of access to adequate facilities and care.
I see hearts and minds suffocating
The songwriters draw attention to how individuals can feel trapped and suffocated by the challenges that life can throw their way.
As if by God they have been forsaken
The songwriter implies that it's easy to feel like life and/or God have abandoned someone when they are struggling.
While the pillars of Babylon crumble at the foundations
This line implies that even powerful and supposedly stable societies and individuals are susceptible to collapse and that their carelessness can contribute to others' misery.
Like the walls of Jericho, they will come tumbling down
This phrase is a metaphor for a society or structure in a precarious situation and how it is destined for collapse without intervention and supplication.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON JOSEPH NEVILLE, ART NEVILLE, CHARLES NEVILLE, CYRIL GARRETT NEVILLE, JOEL ROUX NEVILLE, TONY HALL, WILLIE III GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind