Aaron Neville Quotations

Every morning I wake up and thank God.

I was raised Catholic, but my father's people were Methodist, so we went to both churches.

I always tell people I want to see the world through His eyes, and I want people to see Him in me.

I think things happened the way they did for a reason

I was very surprised when I heard that I had been chosen to receive the James Cardinal Gibbons Award.

I always loved Sam Cooke, because he seemed very versatile. He sang gospel, soul, blues, pop music

Me and my partners had been stealing cars for a while.

So I went in front of the judge, and I had my St. Jude prayer book in my pocket and my St. Jude medal. And I'm standing there and that judge said I was found guilty, so he sentenced me to what the law prescribed: one to 14 years.

I really like listening to music in my car.

I sing around the house, in the shower

My friends and I were wild and we liked to joy-ride.

So now I have a collection of poetry by Aaron Neville and I give it to people I want to share it with. I'd like to publish it someday.

Until I went to rehab, I didn't understand what it did.

I feel it was just a few years ago I was running around in short pants

I just sing. You have to use it.

We lived together as kids, and now we're taking care of each other as men.

When I record something, I'll take a drive and just listen

But I knew if I ran I'd never be able to sing, so I had to take my punishment.

Growing up my mother played Sarah Vaughan and Nat Cole in the house regularly.

If you had told me I'd be making 62 tomorrow, I'd say you were lying.

The extras are a nice bonus feature, but the main incentive is the musical experience.

When you were a kid, a day was a long time and a year was a long time

It's a 360-degree sound experience. Like you're in the middle of the band. A lot of people have the technology to play the format, so why not put it out there. It sounds great.

I have asthma and can't inhale that stuff that they have in the air down there.

I think everyone can find something in these songs they can relate to. The message is about having faith and direction.

Success to me is being together as brothers and still looking out for each other.

Well, I like Charlie Parker, Ella, Billie Holiday.

If you want something to play with go find yourself a toy, baby, my time is too expensive and I'm not a little boy.

If you are serious, don't play with my heart, it makes me furious.

It's a thanksgiving to God. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time, but the record company wasn't ready for it. So I did it myself.

I owe it all to Jesus.

Sometimes I sing along in the car, if something good is playing like Marvin Gaye.

I've been in some beautiful places, but the prettiest sight is flying back to New Orleans. Being able to look down and say, 'I know where I am now.'

At dances when I was a little kid, Art would be up there singing while I'd be dancing with some girl a foot taller than me.

Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide.

My voice belongs to me, from God. People will comment, "Your voice helped me through." Maybe it's God in me, because I don't take credit for that.

I don't know much, but I know I love you... that may be all there is to know.

When I went to the movies and heard cowboys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry yodeling when I came out of the movie I was that guy.

To see my New Orleans in the state she is in is my worst nightmare. We are all praying for our extended family to be reunited. Hopefully, our prayers are not falling on deaf ears. By the grace of God, New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast will pull through this massive devastation.

To see my New Orleans in the state she is in is my worst nightmare.

That's my hometown, that's my people, ... I feel kin to all of them down there and I'm hurting for them.

they're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away.

That sound of praising the Blessed Lady was like a saving grace for me, especially when I was at the bottom of a pit.

It's not going. People are still sitting waiting for something to happen.

I knew how to pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, but I wanted something deeper.

Ill keep my memories. Its all moldy and mildew and I have asthma.

I heard reports that my subdivision had bodies floating. I knew it was bad.

I haven't heard from a lot of my friends and don't know if they are alive or dead, ... When they drain the city there will be a lot of bodies.

I feel like a schoolboy, I have butterflies.

And I wanted to learn how to pray.