Hunter is a British blue-eyed soul singer whose smokey mellifluous voice ha… Read Full Bio ↴Hunter is a British blue-eyed soul singer whose smokey mellifluous voice has been compared to his influences like Sam Cooke, Georgie Fame and Jackie Wilson.

Hunter began his roots music career in the 1980s under the name Howlin' Wilf. His later solo recordings feature rhythm and blues in the style of the 1950s and 60's, pitched between R&B, early rock and roll, and early soul.

His 1994 solo debut, Believe What I Say, had guest appearances by Doris Troy and Van Morrison, and Hunter appeared on a couple of Morrisons's mid-'90s albums, as well as performing as part of Morrison's Rhythm and Blues Revue. Hunter, who jokingly refers to his career as an "overnight success that took 20 years", is also a skilled guitarist, and writes most of the material on his albums, including his 2001 release, Kick It Around.

He released People Gonna Talk in 2006 which garnered him much acclaim and his first stateside recognition in year end top ten lists of major media outlets. His most recent album, The Hard Way, released in 2008, was recorded at Toe Rag Studios in London and includes a cameo from Allen Toussaint.

Hunter seems poised for additional career breakthroughs via increased exposure through television and radio, and distribution through Starbucks music label feeding a demand for other retro sounding artists like Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele, who too echo the classic soul sounds from the '50s and 60s.

Official Website: James Hunter

Til The End
James Hunter Lyrics

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Tell me what's your hurry
To bid this world goodbye
You ain't even half way through the story
You got your whole life to die

You never know what's coming 'round the bend
Try to hold on 'til the end

You got to keep on living
If only for someone else's sake
Just 'cause life's something you've been given
Don't mean it's yours to take

You never know what's coming 'round the bend
Try to hold on 'til the end

This world is harder than ever
Even I know that's true
But tell me how much better
Would it be for losing you

You never know what's coming 'round the bend
Try to hold on 'til the end

You never know what's coming 'round the bend
Try to hold on 'til the end

Try to hold on 'til the end
Mmmm...

Overall Meaning

The song "Til The End" by James Hunter is a heartwarming message about the preciousness of life and the importance of holding on to it till the end. The singer addresses someone who seems to be contemplating suicide and urges them to hold on and keep living. The first stanza is a plea to not give up on life as it is a continual story that unfolds gradually. The chorus repeats the phrase "You never know what's coming 'round the bend, try to hold on til the end" emphasizing that life is unpredictable and even when it seems hopeless, things can turn around.

The second stanza emphasizes that life is a gift and should not be taken for granted. The singer emphasizes that even if one's life seems to be meaningless to oneself, it could mean a lot for someone else. The third stanza talks about how the world is cruel and difficult, but even in the midst of all the hardships, giving up is not the way out. The final line in the stanza emphasizes that losing the person would not make the world any better.

Overall, the song is a reminder of the value of life, even when it seems hard and hopeless. The message is positive and uplifting, urging one to hold on and keep living even when all seems lost.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me what's your hurry
Ask me why you're rushing to end your life

To bid this world goodbye
To leave this world behind permanently

You ain't even half way through the story
You have yet to live half of your life

You got your whole life to die
You have plenty of time to die, no need to rush

You never know what's coming 'round the bend
It's impossible to know what's going to happen in the future

Try to hold on 'til the end
Try to survive until the natural end of your life

You got to keep on living
You must continue to live your life

If only for someone else's sake
Do it for the sake of someone else who cares about you

Just 'cause life's something you've been given
Just because you were born into this life

Don't mean it's yours to take
Doesn't mean you can take your life away

This world is harder than ever
The world is currently a difficult place