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.

I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You
Al Hibbler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need your love so badly, I love you, oh, so madly
But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!
I thought at last I'd found you, but other lovers surround you
And "I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!"
If you'd surrender just for a tender kiss or two
You might discover, that I'm the lover meant for you
And I'd be true, but what's the good of scheming
I know I must be dreaming

Overall Meaning

These lyrics express the desperation of the singer who is hopelessly in love with someone who is not reciprocating their feelings. They are deeply in love with this person and need their love badly. However, they acknowledge that they don't stand a ghost of a chance with the person they love. Despite thinking that they had found their true love, the singer realizes that there are other lovers surrounding the object of their affection. The singer is aware that their chances of being with this person are slim to none, hence the feeling of hopelessness.

The singer pleads for just a tender kiss or two, believing that it could be enough to make the person see that they are meant to be together. However, the singer understands that this is likely just a dream and that they will never be truly happy with this person. The lyrics convey the intense emotions and disappointment that comes with unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

I need your love so badly, I love you, oh, so madly
I have an intense need for your love and feel it deeply

But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!
I have no possibility of winning your love or affection

I thought at last I'd found you, but other lovers surround you
I believed that I had found your love, but there are others who also desire you

And "I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!"
And yet, I am still unable to compete for your affection

If you'd surrender just for a tender kiss or two
If you were to give in to my advances and be affectionate with me

You might discover, that I'm the lover meant for you
You may uncover that I am the one who is truly meant to be with you

And I'd be true, but what's the good of scheming
I would remain loyal and faithful, but there is no use in planning or plotting

I know I must be dreaming
I understand that my desire for your love may not come true and may be nothing more than a dream

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Popular Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS