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.
tears
The Neville Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, well, well, well
Ooh yeah
Oh yeah
Thank you, baby
For the years you've given me
For each beat of my heart
Thank you, sweetie
For the best times of my life
Through the good, through the bad
You were always by my side
I never thought I'd meet someone
Who loves unselfishly
And I appreciate the way you loved
And sacrificed for me
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
Let me cry, although a man's not suppose to cry
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
You've given so much to my life
Thank you, lady
For the joy you bring to life
When all was lost and gone
You brought hope back in sight
Thank you, honey
For being my best friend
When I thought no one understood
You would always understand
I used to think that I knew love
And what true love would mean
Now I know that I did not know much
'Cause you taught me everything
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
Let me cry, although a man's not suppose to cry
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
You've given so much to my life
Oh, God so loved the world
That He blessed us all with you
Then He gave me a heart
And now I'm giving it to you, baby
And these tears I cry are tears of joy
My happiness, I do rejoice
In the love you give unselfishly
Your constant sacrifice for me
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
Although a man's not suppose to cry
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
You, you, you given so much to my life
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
Although a man's not suppose to cry
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
You've given so much, so much to my life
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
I can't hold back these tears
Yeah, I'll just die, ooh
The Neville Brothers' "Tears" is a song about gratitude and appreciation for someone who has been a constant source of love and support. The singer expresses his thanks for the years his partner has given him, every "beat of his heart," and every breath he breathes. He's grateful for the best times of his life, and even for the tough times, knowing that she was always by his side. He acknowledges that her love is unselfish and sacrificial and that he didn't really know what true love was until he met her.
The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability that is often hard for men to express. The singer acknowledges that "although a man's not supposed to cry," he can't hold back these tears of gratitude and joy for what she's given him. He realizes that holding back his emotions would be like denying the importance of the love he shares with her, and he can't bear the thought of that.
Overall, "Tears" is a beautiful, heartfelt song about the power of love to transform and enrich our lives. It's a reminder to appreciate those who are important to us and to express our gratitude for their love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you, baby
Expressing gratitude towards someone dear to them
For the years you've given me
Grateful for the time spent together
For each beat of my heart
Expressing how much their loved one means to them
For every breath I breathe
Feeling thankful for each moment of their life
Thank you, sweetie
Expressing love towards their significant other
For the best times of my life
Feeling grateful for the good moments
Through the good, through the bad
Being able to overcome challenges together
You were always by my side
Appreciating their partner's constant support
I never thought I'd meet someone
Reflecting on their journey to finding love
Who loves unselfishly
Praising their partner's selflessness
And I appreciate the way you loved
Thankful for the way their partner loves them
And sacrificed for me
Acknowledging the sacrifices made for their relationship
I can't hold back these tears, let me cry
Overwhelmed with emotions and allowing themselves to express it
Let me cry, although a man's not suppose to cry
Breaking societal norms and expressing their emotions freely
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
The need to express their emotions to remain emotionally healthy
You've given so much to my life
Acknowledging the impact their partner has had in their life
Thank you, lady
Expressing gratitude towards their partner again
For the joy you bring to life
Feeling happy and content because of their partner
When all was lost and gone
Highlighting how their partner has been there for them during difficult times
You brought hope back in sight
Being grateful for their partner's efforts in saving their relationship
Thank you, honey
Addressing their partner with another term of endearment
For being my best friend
Appreciating their partner as a companion and confidant
When I thought no one understood
Feeling grateful for their partner's empathy
You would always understand
Appreciating their partner's efforts to understand them
I used to think that I knew love
Reflecting on their past beliefs about love
And what true love would mean
Considering the meaning of true love
Now I know that I did not know much
Realizing their past ignorance about love
'Cause you taught me everything
Crediting their partner for showing them what true love is
Oh, God so loved the world
A theological reference to how they feel blessed for their partner
That He blessed us all with you
Attributing their partner as a special blessing
Then He gave me a heart
Symbolic reference of how their heart belongs to their partner
And now I'm giving it to you, baby
Expressing how they are giving their heart to their partner in return
And these tears I cry are tears of joy
Emotional tears because of how happy they are with their partner
My happiness, I do rejoice
Feeling joy in their heart because of their partner
In the love you give unselfishly
Acknowledging their partner's selfless love
Your constant sacrifice for me
Appreciating their partner's continuous efforts to make their relationship work
You, you, you given so much to my life
Reiterating how much their partner means to them
If I hold back my tears, I'll just die
The need to express their emotions to remain emotionally healthy (repeated)
I can't hold back these tears
Emphasizing their inability to control their emotions
Yeah, I'll just die, ooh
Exaggerating how difficult it is to hold back their tears
Writer(s): Tommy L. Sims Copyright: Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publ., Universal Music Corp.
Contributed by Maya E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.