He attended a school for the blind in Little Rock, Arkansas where he joined… Read Full Bio ↴He attended a school for the blind in Little Rock, Arkansas where he joined the school choir. He won an amateur talent contest in Memphis, Tennessee and at first worked with local bands, as well as starting a band of his own. In 1942 he joined a band led by Jay McShann, and the next year he joined Duke Ellington's band, replacing Herb Jeffries. He worked eight years with Ellington before becoming a soloist. Some of his singing is classified as rhythm and blues, but he is really best classified as a bridge between R&B and traditional pop music.

His biggest hit was "Unchained Melody" in 1955. Other hits were "He", "11th Hour Melody", "Never Turn Back", and "After the Lights Go Low" (all in 1956). "After the Lights Go Low", sung with a put-on British accent, was his last charted hit.

In the late 1950s and 1960s, Hibbler became a civil rights activist, marching with protestors and getting arrested in 1959 in New Jersey and in 1963 in Alabama. The notoriety of this activism discouraged major record labels from carrying his work, but Frank Sinatra supported him and signed him to a contract with his label, [lable]Reprise Records.

However, Hibbler made very few recordings after that, occasionally doing live appearances through the 1990s. He died in April 2001 in Chicago.

11th Hour Melody
Al Hibbler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus:]
The 11th hour is here
The hour of parting dear

We have one hour my love
For at midnight we must part
Soon my love
You'll obey your wandering heart

Thrill my lips
As you've always thrill them
'Till my lips
Are mine no more

Hold back the time, my love
The 11th hour is here
Hold the time
While I'm holding back a tear
I'll be yours
'Till the last eternity
Darling, come
Back to me

The 11th hour is here
The hour of parting dear

I'll be yours
'Till the last eternity
Darling, come
Back to me

The 11th hour is here

The hour of parting dear
Come back

Overall Meaning

to me

Al Hibbler's song "11th Hour Melody" is a timeless classic that was originally released in 1957. The song is a soulful ballad that expresses a deep longing and sadness as two lovers are about to part ways. The lyrics contain a strong sense of urgency, as the chorus emphasizes that the 11th hour has arrived, and the moment of separation is imminent. The singer implores his lover to hold back time and stay with him just a little longer, expressing his desire to savor every last moment they have together. The lyrics are infused with a sense of melancholy and heartbreak, conveying the pain and sorrow that come with saying goodbye to someone you love.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "The 11th hour is here, the hour of parting dear" three times, underscoring the song's central theme of separation and heartache. The lyrics are rich in metaphors, such as the reference to the lover's wandering heart, which implies that their love cannot be contained or restricted. The singer's fear of losing his lover forever is palpable, as he sings, "Thrill my lips as you've always thrilled them 'Til my lips are mine no more." This line captures the desperation and passion of the singer's plea, as he begs his lover to kiss him with everything she's got before they must inevitably part ways.

Overall, "11th Hour Melody" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the essence of love and heartbreak. The lyrics are powerful, and the melodies are hauntingly beautiful, making it a song that has stood the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

The 11th hour is here
The time for us to part ways has finally come

The hour of parting dear
It is time for us to say goodbye, my love

We have one hour my love
We only have sixty minutes left to spend together

For at midnight we must part
We have to say goodbye at the stroke of twelve

Soon my love
In a short time, my love

You'll obey your wandering heart
You'll follow your heart's desires, even if it takes you away from me

Thrill my lips
Kiss me passionately

As you've always thrill them
Just like you always do

'Till my lips
Until my lips

Are mine no more
Are no longer with me

Hold back the time, my love
Please make time stop, my love