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.
Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
Al Hibbler Lyrics
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But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
Since everyone spread the story
With his own little personal touch
[Chorus]
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True, I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue?
When we're apart, the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But, please, do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
Do nothin' till you hear from me
[Chorus]
True, I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue?
When we're apart, the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But, please, do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
In Al Hibbler's song "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," the singer is addressing a lover who has heard rumors about him being unfaithful. According to the lyrics, some people have been spreading stories about him and a new woman, but he assures his partner that these rumors are not true. He urges his lover not to pay attention to gossip, and to consider their romance before believing anything that others say.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer values communication and honesty in relationships. He asks his lover to wait to hear the truth from him directly rather than believing hearsay. He uses the metaphor of a kiss clouding his memory to explain that while he may have interacted with other women, his feelings for his partner are still strong. The chorus emphasizes the importance of waiting to hear directly from a person before making any judgments or taking action.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone told someone and someone told you
The information that you received about me was passed through multiple people and may not be entirely accurate.
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
The people who told you may have added their own spin to the information, but they didn't intend to harm you.
Since everyone spread the story
The information has been circulating because everyone has been sharing it.
With his own little personal touch
Each person who shared the information added their own interpretation or embellishment to it.
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't take any action until you hear directly from me.
Pay no attention to what's said
Ignore the rumors or hearsay you may have heard about me.
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
I'm not sure why people enjoy tearing down others' dreams, but it's beyond my understanding.
Is over my head
I don't know why people do what they do, and it's not something I can control.
At least consider our romance
Please don't let rumors about me affect your feelings towards the love we share.
If you should take the word of others you've heard
If you decide to believe the rumors and hearsay, without checking with me first,
I haven't a chance
it will be difficult for me to have any chance to explain myself.
True, I've been seen with someone new
It's true that I've been seen in the company of a new person.
But does that mean that I'm untrue?
However, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm unfaithful to you.
When we're apart, the words in my heart
When we're not together, my feelings for you remain strong and true.
Reveal how I feel about you
My words reveal the deep feelings I have for you, which are not changed by anyone else's company.
Some kiss may cloud my memory
I may have shared a kiss, but this doesn't diminish the love or affection I hold for you in my memories.
And other arms may hold a thrill
I may have enjoyed the company of others, but my love for you remains true and constant.
But, please, do nothin' till you hear it from me
Please don't act impulsively until you've heard the full story from me personally.
And you never will
You can trust that the information you receive directly from me will be the most accurate and truthful.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind