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.
Never Turn Back
Al Hibbler Lyrics
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Never turn back
If you had known
All the tears of sorrow
And you cry out
For a glad tomorrow
Never turn back again
Your trust in man
May have once been shaken
But faith in man
Must not be forsaken
So never turn back
Never turn back again
Lokk up at the sky
Hold your head up high
And make a wish on
A star or above
If you have hope in your heart
Time will heal every scar
And soon, you'll know
Laughter and love
Though now you walk
Empty dreams inside you
Have faith, have faith
And your heart will guide you
And never turn back
You'll never turn back
Never, no, never turn back
Never turn back
No, never turn back
In Al Hibbler's song "Never Turn Back," the singer advises listeners not to give up, even when faced with hardship and heartbreak. The lyrics urge people to look to the future with optimism and to hold firm to their faith in humanity. The phrase "never turn back" serves as a refrain throughout the song, reinforcing the idea that once a person has started down a path toward happiness, they must not look back or regret their decisions.
The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song by acknowledging the pain and sadness that people experience in their lives. However, the singer encourages listeners to keep their eyes fixed on a brighter future and not to dwell on past sorrows. The second stanza focuses on the importance of faith in humanity, even in the face of betrayal or disappointment. The singer reminds listeners that people are fallible and may make mistakes, but this does not mean that they should abandon faith in others altogether.
The song's bridge provides a moment of hope and inspiration. The singer advises listeners to gaze up at the sky and make a wish on a star. He emphasizes the power of hope and suggests that time can heal wounds and bring about laughter and love. The final verse encourages listeners to stay the course, even when they feel lost or hopeless. The singer reminds them that their dreams are still within reach if they maintain faith in themselves and in the goodness of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Never turn back
Don't look back and regret your decisions
Never turn back
Don't look back and regret your decisions
If you had known
If you were aware of the sadness that follows in life
All the tears of sorrow
The heartache and pain you'll feel in life
And you cry out
In the hope of finding happiness soon thereafter
For a glad tomorrow
A happier day in the future
Then never turn back
Don't let the past hold you back
Never turn back again
Don't look back with regret or sorrow
Your trust in man
Your faith in humans
May have once been shaken
May have been broken at some point
But faith in man
Believing in people's ability to do good
Must not be forsaken
Should not be given up on
So never turn back
Don't lose faith and don't look back
Never turn back again
Don't look back with negativity or bitterness
Look up at the sky
Look to the future with optimism
Hold your head up high
Be confident and stay positive
And make a wish on
Hope for something better
A star or above
A brighter and better future
If you have hope in your heart
If you're optimistic2
Time will heal every scar
With time, everything will get better
And soon, you'll know
You'll soon see for yourself
Laughter and love
Happy moments and meaningful relationships
Though now you walk
Even if you're feeling down at the moment
Empty dreams inside you
Unfulfilled desires or wishes
Have faith, have faith
Stay strong and don't give up hope
And your heart will guide you
Trust in your own intuition
And never turn back
Keep moving forward
You'll never turn back
You won't regret moving on
Never, no, never turn back
Definitely don't look back with any negativity
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
marinaeugenios
absolutely stunning...I only knew him from He and Unchained Melody...what emotion and a great voice marina
elaine june ayton
have never heard this song befor it is lovely
OldiesAl
Another new song to me, only ever heard his Unchained Melody, I prefer this
CatsPjamas1
@ferrarial Me too!