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The Neville Brothers — Will the Circle be Unbroken
Album: Yellow Moon
Avg rating:
5.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 239









Released: 1989
Length: 5:04
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I was standing by my window
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
Not a soul came to see her go

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
Comments (56)add comment
The Nevilles can do no wrong.
Posted 11 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Nice segue from "Do You Know How It Feels to Miss New Orleans."
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Who's that last guy the undertaker is carrying off?
Posted 11 years ago by gvan    [ Reply ]
Stop complaining, you cynics. This song is straight from the soul of America, it's so lovely that its beauty transcends the drawbacks of any particular performance. I've heard this by half a dozen artists, they all have their own styles and positives, and I appreciate it each time.  
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 MilSF1 wrote:
Song: 10
Correct!

 MilSF1 wrote:
This interpretation: 2
  Wrong!!

 MilSF1 wrote:
Bill, just go ahead and pull out the Carter family so everyone knows how it's SUPPOSED to sound like. Thanks you.
  Great idea, lets hear both!


Posted 11 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
 sssterling wrote:
My bestie and I had spent all day with with my mother as she gradually transitioned from this life to the next. It was about 2 a.m. and it was all over; she and I stood out in the parking lot of Mom's apartment building and watched the mortuary van drive past us, out to the street. She slung her arm over my shoulder and began to sing this very quietly and we stood under the stars and sang 'til we couldn't see the taillights any more. It was lovely - and really kind of magical.
 
This is such a moving story. Thanks so much for sharing and my condolences to you for your mother's passing.
Posted 11 years ago by three_crows    [ Reply ]
Song: 10
This interpretation: 2

Bill, just go ahead and pull out the Carter family so everyone knows how it's SUPPOSED to sound like. Thanks you.
Posted 11 years ago by MilSF1    [ Reply ]
Aaron Neville is amazing.  The only whining I hear is from all you people.
Posted 11 years ago by j1sey    [ Reply ]
My bestie and I had spent all day with with my mother as she gradually transitioned from this life to the next. It was about 2 a.m. and it was all over; she and I stood out in the parking lot of Mom's apartment building and watched the mortuary van drive past us, out to the street. She slung her arm over my shoulder and began to sing this very quietly and we stood under the stars and sang 'til we couldn't see the taillights any more. It was lovely - and really kind of magical.
Posted 11 years ago by sssterling    [ Reply ]
When you're not quite certain you like it, turn it up - way up!

Never any doubt with this great rendition, love the reverb and the harmonies. Lanois & Eno are all over this sound.
Posted 11 years ago by R7-12    [ Reply ]
Oh Lord come and get me before this is played again.
Posted 11 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
 catsoup wrote:
What a miserable, depressing ball of whine. Please, never again.
 
 
{#Cheers}
Posted 11 years ago by gosvimmink    [ Reply ]
Sorry all the haters out there - loved it when it came out - live it now - so good to hear again!! Thanks bill
Posted 12 years ago by planet3one9    [ Reply ]
Well, This is a nice surprise.
thanks Bill!
Posted 12 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
NEVER thought I'd hear the Neville Brothers on here. Hope I NEVER hear them again on here.
Posted 12 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
What a miserable, depressing ball of whine. Please, never again.
 
Posted 12 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
 TJS wrote:
I really like the Neville Brothers, but this truly is unbearable.  Can I vote lower than 1?
 
Unfortunately not.. .I've tried on ALL the Tori Amos "songs" that come on.....

alas.... have to settle on 1 
Posted 12 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
 (former member) wrote:
Aaron Neville is NOT Richard Manuel, and the Nevilles are NOT The Band. And this is so derivative of their work that I really can't like this. Listen to that hint of organ in the back, like it wishes it were Garth. Sigh. I wish it were, too.
 
Thought it was The Band at first...
Posted 12 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
The voices harmonize and blend like familial voices are bound to do, the production values are immpeccable, and it's a melody that has survived the ages. So, here I am a died in the wool atheist and I love this song and this rendition is good. Clue me in, what is the problem?

One, if not the only redeeming quality about religion for me, is the art it has inspired.


Posted 12 years ago by OneSpyGirl    [ Reply ]
I really like the Neville Brothers, but this truly is unbearable.  Can I vote lower than 1?
Posted 12 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
Please, for the love of God, don't play this again. 
Posted 12 years ago by jen3005545    [ Reply ]
Oh dear god this is awful.  It's like beautiful traditional folk music meets the fools that gave us 'We are the world".  This isn't soul music anymore - the soul was ripped right out of it and replaced with mindless electronic droning.
Posted 12 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
I think there's some serious nut-squeezing going on there...
Posted 12 years ago by Sjaaks    [ Reply ]
Like satin-gloved fingernails on a chalkboard.  Meh.
Posted 12 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
 ofanansky wrote:
I love Aaron Neville's voice.
 
Me... not so much

tired 
Posted 12 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
I love Aaron Neville's voice.
Posted 12 years ago by ofanansky    [ Reply ]
I think my first  "1".  Love the song,  hate the voices.  Poor castrated Nevilles.  Agog that they have lasted so long.    {#Eek}   {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 13 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
What's new is old and old is new. For a moment I thought it was TV on the Radio.
Posted 13 years ago by treffdawg    [ Reply ]
 maddmatt wrote:
Man, I love Radio Paradise! Where else can one hear such a fantastic variety of music?
 
{#Yes}

Posted 13 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
Horrible, simply horrible.
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Check out the chieftens version.
Posted 13 years ago by netskink    [ Reply ]
This song, Bruce Cockburn's "Closer To The Light" & Paul Simon's "Once Upon There Was An Ocean" all get me to contemplating what happens after this ride is over. Then there is Iris Dement's "Let The Mystery Be" to round out my own short list of lyrics on the subject of the big question we all share.
 
Posted 15 years ago by inmanart    [ Reply ]
Usually I'm in agreement with the less rabid comments for most songs. But you are all so wrong on this one! I think it is great, even compared to the Band.
Posted 19 years ago by tictocsailor    [ Reply ]
No thanks.
Posted 19 years ago by SquashSoup    [ Reply ]
I like the Neville Bros singing but not this song. Still a 7
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
coyote620 wrote:
There is usually about one song out of thirty that RP plays that I don't like. At all. This is the one. Next thirty please.
This is exactly it.
Posted 19 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
I promise. This is the one and only time I will use this icon. But boy,
Posted 19 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
BluEyes wrote:
Much of Rock, R&B, and Soul have their roots in southern gospel. To not appreciate that is like going to the Cistine Chapel and forgetting to look up. imho
Mine, too.
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
Ouch.
Posted 19 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
Man, I love Radio Paradise! Where else can one hear such a fantastic variety of music?
Posted 19 years ago by maddmatt    [ Reply ]
Much of Rock, R&B, and Soul have their roots in southern gospel. To not appreciate that is like going to the Cistine Chapel and forgetting to look up. imho
Posted 19 years ago by BluEyes    [ Reply ]
Maybe it's a southern music thing. Every artist in the south has to have their own rendition of this song.
Posted 19 years ago by GawgaBoy    [ Reply ]
jennywho wrote:
I've gotta turn down the volume on my computer for this one... I cannot STAND Aaron Neville's voice...
Me too!
Posted 20 years ago by Spliff    [ Reply ]
It pains me to hear a really good song destroyed... What is with that castratti whining in the background?!
Posted 20 years ago by ztirffritz    [ Reply ]
I've gotta turn down the volume on my computer for this one... I cannot STAND Aaron Neville's voice...
Posted 20 years ago by jennywho    [ Reply ]
ColdBear wrote:
What does this has to do with RP ??
Everything! This is the essence of RP. Thanks Bill! :) :)
Posted 20 years ago by JCEntMan    [ Reply ]
<-o< :D <-o< <-o<
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
I'm struck by how totally offended I was by a Jars of Clay song RP played a while back, yet I'm really appreciating and enjoying this. Funny how I (everyone?) is weird about how they like their spirituality.
Posted 20 years ago by suzebee    [ Reply ]
Nice spiritual from the First Family of Funk. But I'd love it if you'd showcase Poppa Funk himself, the great Art Neville, and his band The Meters.
Posted 20 years ago by namesbenny    [ Reply ]
tokyopoorboy wrote:
Truly wonderful!
Yep. Absolutely fits in the last œ hour of excellent music
Posted 20 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
There is usually about one song out of thirty that RP plays that I don't like. At all. This is the one. Next thirty please.
Posted 20 years ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
Truly wonderful!
Posted 20 years ago by tokyopoorboy    [ Reply ]
What does this has to do with RP ??
Posted 20 years ago by ColdBear    [ Reply ]
i learned a folkier version of this with some different lyrics here and there for a little choir thing i did in seventh grade. good stuff.
Posted 20 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
This entire CD is really stunning. This song, humbling & so prescient today. Feeling thankful at this moment, that there are voices like this out there, to balance..... Yes, weary as hell... Straight to the heart, Aaron.
Posted 20 years ago by dmd    [ Reply ]