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.
One More Day
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
Children living in the streets where they play
While nearby an old man cries
Brother, can you, can you spare a dime?
Keepin' faith in their fellow man
While they cope with rejection and despair
Today's sorrow could be yours tomorrow
Remember the tables can turn
You can't judge a book, a book by its cover
And that's a lesson we all can learn
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
The cost of living is goin? up every day
While the chance of living is going down
Though some may say things could get worse
Tell that to a hungry child or a dad without a job
When hungry homeless families become an angry mob
Nature takes its course
One man's pleasure is another man's pain
But the tables can turn
What goes around today comes back around tomorrow
Let the light of love in your heart burn
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
Let's take some time to view the overall situation
The same thing is happenin' all across the nation
It's kids with no shoes on their feet, wandering in the streets
Beggin' for money so they can eat
Why don't you make their day for me?
But not for me for the kids so they can live with their families
Together with unity and harmony
And educate the people so that poverty can cease
And we can all live together in peace one more day
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
One more day alone, one more night without a home
One more tear that never falls for you
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
The Neville Brothers' song "One More Day" is a poignant and compassionate exploration of the struggles of poverty, homelessness, and despair that many people face every day. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world in which the costs of living are constantly rising, while the chances of survival are shrinking. The song is a call to action for all of us to recognize the struggles of those in need and to find ways to help them.
The song speaks to the common experiences of those facing poverty and homelessness, with images of children playing in the streets while an old man cries, and mothers struggling to feed their families. The message is that we are all vulnerable to these problems, and that they can strike at any time. We should not be quick to judge those who are struggling, because one day we might be in their shoes. The song suggests that we should all strive to be more compassionate, more understanding, and more generous, so that we can help those who are in need.
Overall, "One More Day" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the struggles of those facing poverty and homelessness. It is a call to action for all of us to be more compassionate and more understanding, and to find ways to help those who are in need. The Neville Brothers' beautiful harmonies and soulful delivery give the song a sense of urgency and importance, reminding us that we are all connected and that we must work together to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
One more day alone, one more night without a home
Continuing to be alone and homeless for another day and night
One more tear that never falls for you
Suppressing emotions of sadness
One more place to lie, one more meal to try to buy
Struggling to find shelter and food
One more heart that's calling me from the blue
Feeling connected to someone else in a similar situation
Children living in the streets where they play
Young kids who are homeless
While nearby an old man cries
An elderly person who is struggling emotionally
Brother, can you, can you spare a dime?
Asking for help from others
Mother's feed their families words of hope
Providing positivity for their loved ones
Keepin' faith in their fellow man
Believing in the kindness of others
While they cope with rejection and despair
Dealing with negative feelings despite having hope
Today's sorrow could be yours tomorrow
Reflecting on the possibility of a similar fate
Remember the tables can turn
Acknowledging that situations can change
You can't judge a book, a book by its cover
The appearance of someone doesn't always represent their situation
And that's a lesson we all can learn
An important realization to make
The cost of living is goin? up every day
The financial burden of living is increasing
While the chance of living is going down
Surviving is becoming more difficult
Though some may say things could get worse
Pessimism about the future
Tell that to a hungry child or a dad without a job
Putting things into perspective
When hungry homeless families become an angry mob
Desperation leading to negative actions
Nature takes its course
The natural consequences of a situation
One man's pleasure is another man's pain
Different experiences and perspectives
But the tables can turn
Situations can change
What goes around today comes back around tomorrow
The consequences of actions
Let the light of love in your heart burn
Choosing to embrace love instead of negativity
Let's take some time to view the overall situation
Stepping back to see the bigger picture
The same thing is happenin' all across the nation
The widespread issue of homelessness
It's kids with no shoes on their feet, wandering in the streets
The harsh reality of children living on the streets
Beggin' for money so they can eat
The desperation of hunger
Why don't you make their day for me?
Asking for help on behalf of those in need
But not for me for the kids so they can live with their families
The ultimate goal of helping those in need
Together with unity and harmony
Working together towards a common goal
And educate the people so that poverty can cease
Addressing the root causes of poverty
And we can all live together in peace one more day
Hope for a better future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN J. CULBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind