This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Oh my brother Jake, he was on the run
The man behind him, with a Gatling gun
I remember that morning when he hopped that freight
He was headed west, oh lord, he couldnt be late
old brother jake had to ride the rail
Or get locked up in the parish jail
He had a lot of weight upon his chest
The sheriff had a warrant for his arrest
he grabbed the train and headed east
Would his life of running never cease
He hopped off the train at new york city
Only to find- ain't no kind of pity
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
he finally made it
Back to New Orleans
Man, his hometown
Sure enough was mean
Back in his jungle
Where he lived his life
Where the law of the land
It was a gun and a knife
late one night, down on the avenue
That's where brother Jakes dying breath was drew
He thought his home was with family and friends
Somebody caught him off guard and brought his life to an end
Well my brother Jake
(brother Jake he's finally home)
Well my brother Jake is finally home
(no more to cry, no more to weep and moan)
Well my brother Jake
(No more to have to run and hide)
Well my brother Jake is finally home
(hes hopped his last freight and took his last train ride)
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Oh my brother Jake, he was on the run
The man behind him, with a Gatling gun
I remember that morning when he hopped that freight
He was headed west, oh lord, he couldnt be late
old brother jake had to ride the rail
Or get locked up in the parish jail
He had a lot of weight upon his chest
The sheriff had a warrant for his arrest
he grabbed the train and headed east
Would his life of running never cease
He hopped off the train at new york city
Only to find- ain't no kind of pity
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
he finally made it
Back to New Orleans
Man, his hometown
Sure enough was mean
Back in his jungle
Where he lived his life
Where the law of the land
It was a gun and a knife
late one night, down on the avenue
That's where brother Jakes dying breath was drew
He thought his home was with family and friends
Somebody caught him off guard and brought his life to an end
Well my brother Jake
(brother Jake he's finally home)
Well my brother Jake is finally home
(no more to cry, no more to weep and moan)
Well my brother Jake
(No more to have to run and hide)
Well my brother Jake is finally home
(hes hopped his last freight and took his last train ride)
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Well my brother Jake
Well my brother Jake is finally home
Lyrics submitted by WouldItBeYou
Brother Jake Lyrics as written by Art Neville Aaron Joseph Neville
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The Night We Met
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I’m going to look at whether there was another Neville brother name of Jake. After that, I’ll add another comment.