The offspring of a mother who sang gospel, and a retired veteran, he traveled all over the country as a child, singing alongside his parents, learning that music was in fact the great communicator, and that the key was not just in how pretty the notes were, but how if you were honest in what you were singing, you could stir a person on the inside.
This is what Otis Redding knew. What Sam Cooke, and Bo Diddley, and B. B. King knew. That somehow there was a way to take your experiences, your pain and joy, and give them melody, cause them to live and breathe and massage the hearts and minds of all those who hear. That is what Curtis Harding does on his new album. He figures out how to tap into the old soul man of the past without mimicking or bastardizing it, but instead evoking the spirit of the true Soul music of yesterday, meshed with the realities of now.
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Soul isnโt a feeling, a sound or a movement. Itโs a connection, a current in the airโthe spark of recognition, emotions leaping across live wires. Itโs the way a sinewy bassline steers your hips and eyes to the stranger across the club. Itโs how a handful of humble words can give millions the inspiration to overcome. Itโs the genius of a simple chorus that can explain the hard truths you couldnโt last time you saw her.
Curtis Harding says that soul music, and his music, speak for themselves. Itโs self-evident on the Atlanta artistโs debut, Soul Power. The driving sound of his electrified Stratocaster, the foot-stomping backbeat and the lyrics swimming in reverbโwith something this flourishing, itโs almost reductive to just dig around the roots.
Hardingโs style was born in Michigan and bred on the road, a restless childhood spent singing gospel alongside an evangelizing mother, then cultivated in Atlanta, where he sang backup for CeeLo Green and befriended the Black Lips (he plays with Cole Alexander in Night Sun).
But, as befits a restless traveler, his music calls one place home, but fits in anywhere. The heartbreaking optimism of โNext Time,โ a wry breakup tale mapping out a road the protagonists may never meet upon, the bottom-scraping blues of โCastaway,โ or the wistful affection of โKeep on Shiningโ could easily be Hardingโs story, or yours. Theyโre scenes you didnโt perform in, but know all the lines.
Thereโs a foundation to the stirring soul Harding has created. โGospel is inspiring,โ says Harding. โFrom hardship and trials, you make something beautiful. Itโs the history of black people in America, what happened to us during slavery, itโs the foundation of blues, R&B, soul, country, rock.โ But heโs not just preaching to the choirโHardingโs out there on the road, singing alongside everyone else looking for something real.
Till The End
Curtis Harding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I were mad too
Now here's what I'm gonna do
Aha
Remember all the good times
That we shared
You won't remember everything that we did together
If we could work it out
Girl there is no doubt
No I'm passin doubt
That we could be together still
Till the end
Oh be nice
Cause you're my best friend
Till the end
Ah my sweet
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
I'll be on my way
Wait a minute what the fuck you're goin
But I'll be back some day
Okay
To pick up the pieces, baby
That we made
A totally breaking shit
And you would be a cry
To led us to a piece of mine
Uhu
I know I dare to love
Has been great
I hate that deal
Cause you're my best friend
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
I'm gonna tell you right now baby
Right now
Whatever the fuck you do
You still drive me crazy darling
Yes, you drives me crazy
We're gonna see this through
So don't run away
Don't you run away from me
Yeah, I have to stay in blame
Happy here
Remember the val that we made
Aha, what was that
Cause you're my best friend
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
Till the end
In Curtis Harding's song "Till the End," the singer is attempting to reconcile with their lover. They acknowledge that they have made mistakes in the past and that the relationship had some good times worth remembering. However, the lover seems hesitant and is ready to let the relationship fade away. The singer asks the lover to remember the vows they made and implores them not to run away, as they still drive each other crazy. The repetition of "till the end" in the chorus emphasizes the singer's commitment to the relationship and desire to make it work. The song ends with the singer promising to return to pick up the pieces they made together.
The themes of love, regret, and commitment are present throughout the song, and the lyrics show a vulnerability to the singer. They are willing to take the blame for past mistakes and hope that the good times and promises of the past can lead them toward a future together. The use of repetition creates a sense of urgency in the singer's plea, and the organic instrumentation adds to the song's emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
See, I was mistitude
I was confused and uncertain before
I were mad too
I was angry at you as well
Now here's what I'm gonna do
Here's my plan of action
Remember all the good times
Recall all the positive experiences we had together
That we shared
That we experienced together
You won't remember everything that we did together
You cannot possibly remember every single thing we did, but try to focus on the good memories
If we could work it out
If we could resolve our issues
Girl there is no doubt
I have complete certainty
No I'm passin doubt
I am overcoming any doubts I had
That we could be together still
That we can still have a relationship
Till the end
Until the very end
Oh be nice
Be kind and understanding
Cause you're my best friend
Because you are my closest confidant
Ah my sweet
My dear (term of endearment)
I'll be on my way
I will depart for now
Wait a minute what the fuck you're goin
Hold on, where are you going?
But I'll be back some day
I will return in the future
To pick up the pieces, baby
To mend what was broken
That we made
That we created together
A totally breaking shit
A relationship that is falling apart
And you would be a cry
And you would be upset
To led us to a piece of mine
To bring us both peace of mind
Uhu
Expression of agreement
I know I dare to love
I am not afraid to love
Has been great
It has been wonderful thus far
I hate that deal
I dislike this situation
I'm gonna tell you right now baby
I am going to be honest with you
Right now
At this moment
Whatever the fuck you do
No matter what you do
You still drive me crazy darling
You still make me feel insane
Yes, you drives me crazy
You make me feel unstable
We're gonna see this through
We will see this situation to the end
So don't run away
Do not try to escape from this issue
Don't you run away from me
Do not try to avoid me
Yeah, I have to stay in blame
I must take responsibility for my actions
Happy here
Satisfied with our current state, content
Remember the val that we made
Remember the promises we made to each other
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Curtis Harding, Samuel Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abdelazizabid8061
This has been the best thing i heard in the 2019 African Cup. Been looking for it for a while, thank you for the upload ๐ค
@eclecticvibrations2044
This is the best album I've heard in years. I especially love that woman's very humorous commentary on "Till the end".
@broadwayjoebaggs
Where did they find this guy, in a time travel machine ๐ ๐ฅ soul music!
@tnyamaneko6093
Danger Mouse is all over this song, absolutely BRILLIANT production, it's really up to the talent of Curtis Harding and their combined works result in this incredibly catchy and soulful song.
@poppymac8873
Killer tune! Saw Curtis in Bristol a few years back and he put on one hell of a show. โOn and onโ which is also on this album also has a very northern soul sound. Pure class ๐
@Dr_No
Brilliant song and performance. My favorite song of the year. Wishing this very talented man all the success and fame he desires continues to keep rushing towards him and he has a long and very fruitful career. xxx
@Inyokernjb
Absolutely superb floor filler great Modern Crossover for the Northern Soul Scene.
@eman472
Heard this in the 2021 Total 2021 AFCON and fell in love. Proper good old classic
@OldMod67
Gimmie it on 45! What a modern classic!
@rafikhamdouni3948
1:48 Still the best part