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.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse wheel rolling
It was taking my sister away
Said, undertaker, undertaker
Won't you please drive real slow?
That's my little baby sister
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky lord, in the sky
I was standing by my window
On a cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse wheel rolling
It was taking my mother away
Undertaker, undertaker
Won't you please drive real slow?
That's my mother, my dear old mother
I sure hate to see her go
Circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky lord, in the sky
Years have passed now
By the same old window
On the cold and cloudy day
When I see the hearse wheels rolling
They was taking Chief Jolly away
Undertaker, undertaker
Won't you please drive real slow?
That's Chief Jolly that you're carryin'
I sure hate to see him go
The Neville Brothers’ song “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” is a poignant reflection on life, death, and the inevitability of change. The singer is standing by their window on a cold and cloudy day, watching as a hearse rolls by, taking away first their sister, then their mother, and finally, Chief Jolly. The singer implores the undertaker to drive slowly, asking for one last chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. The repetition of the verse “Will the circle be unbroken?” is a plea for hope that after death, there is a better home awaiting in the sky.
The circle in question is likely a reference to the idea of the circle of life – the idea that life goes on, even after death. The singer hopes that the circle won’t be broken – that death won’t be the end of the line, but rather a continuation of the journey. The repetition of the verse “Will the circle be unbroken?” is also a nod to the traditional Christian hymn of the same name, which has been covered by countless artists over the years. The hymn’s lyrics express a similar sentiment, with the chorus proclaiming “Will the circle be unbroken / By and by, Lord, by and by / There’s a better home a-waitin’ / In the sky, Lord, in the sky.”
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by my window
The singer is recalling a particular moment when they were standing by their window.
On a cold and cloudy day
The weather was cold and cloudy at the time the singer was recalling.
When I saw that hearse wheel rolling
The singer saw a hearse wheel rolling past their window.
It was taking my sister away
The hearse was transporting the artist's sister who had passed away.
Said, undertaker, undertaker
The artist is addressing the undertaker in charge of transporting their loved one's body.
Won't you please drive real slow?
The singer is asking the undertaker to be respectful and not rush the transportation process.
That's my little baby sister
The singer is identifying the person the undertaker is transporting as their younger sister.
Not a soul came to see her go
Nobody came to pay their respects to the artist's sister as she was being transported.
Will the circle be unbroken?
The artist is reflecting on the concept of the circle of life and whether or not it will continue unbroken.
By and by lord, by and by
The artist is acknowledging that the circle of life will continue on eventually.
There's a better home awaiting
The singer believes in an afterlife or a better place for their loved ones after they pass.
In the sky lord, in the sky
The artist specifically identifies this better place as the sky, which may be significant to their beliefs or culture.
I was standing by my window
The singer is once again recalling a moment when they were standing by their window observing a hearse.
On a cold and cloudy day
Just like before, the weather was cold and cloudy at the time of this memory.
When I saw that hearse wheel rolling
The singer saw another hearse wheel rolling past their window.
It was taking my mother away
This time, the hearse was transporting the artist's mother.
Undertaker, undertaker
The artist is once again addressing the undertaker.
Won't you please drive real slow?
The singer is requesting the same level of respect and care as before.
That's my mother, my dear old mother
The singer is identifying the person being transported this time as their mother.
I sure hate to see her go
The artist is expressing their sadness and heartbreak at losing their mother.
Circle be unbroken
The artist repeats the phrase from earlier, perhaps suggesting that the circle has not been unbroken since their sister's passing.
By and by, lord, by and by
The artist still believes that the circle of life will continue on.
There's a better home awaiting
The singer still believes in the afterlife or a better place for their loved ones.
In the sky lord, in the sky
Once again, the artist identifies this better place as the sky.
Years have passed now
The singer is indicating that time has passed since the events they have been recounting.
By the same old window
The singer is still standing by the same window they have been recalling throughout the song.
On the cold and cloudy day
The weather is once again cold and cloudy, setting the scene for another passing.
When I see the hearse wheels rolling
The artist sees another hearse moving past their window.
They was taking Chief Jolly away
The person being transported this time is identified as Chief Jolly.
Undertaker, undertaker
The singer addresses the undertaker once more.
Won't you please drive real slow?
The singer makes the same respectful request as before.
That's Chief Jolly that you're carryin'
The artist identifies the person in the hearse as Chief Jolly.
I sure hate to see him go
The artist expresses their sadness at losing Chief Jolly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roy Acuff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Lewis
The Neville Brothers are all uniquely talented and amazing, but when Aaron starts singing on this, I get goosebumps
frank perry
Rest in Peace, Dear man, Art Neville. Thanks for the music. Music can help all people rise up and not suffer without some comfort in the music. Amen
melvin boyce
Amen
Miklós Hoffer
Such a brilliant rendition of the song, most heartfelt. Amen
cheikh sodipire
I have lost my mother on 2019 and still when i hear this song it makes me cry. I was so close to her ......she passed away when I really need her to be here .....
Larry Harris
Thanks for posting this. One of my favorite gospel songs ever. When my grandmother died a few years back , I turned the whole family onto this song.
Shannon Rutledge
This is the most beautiful version of this song...
Trevor Fleming
A friend's funeral is tomorrow. This morning I found myself humming a few bars of the Neville Brothers unique version of the old standard. Redolent of both New Orleans - the stanza about the passing of Chief Jolly- and the keenness of loss, this song is a classic.
Daniel Kennedy
Your friend's funeral was 4 years ago according to this comment and account. Given that you chose this song I wish you extremely belated condolences.
If you know this version, then you must have been the kind of friend who thought deeply about friendships. The person you lost must have felt your caring. He or she was lucky to have you.
Donald
I feel you, my sister's funeral today 💔