Hall was an active member of the burgeoning Coventry music scene of the late 1970s, playing in local punk band Squad, and being credited as a composer on their single "Red Alert" / "£8 a Week". This scene also produced acts such as The Selecter and Hazel O'Connor.
As the frontman for The Specials (though initially called The Coventry Automatics), Hall primarily struck it big in Britain in 1979 when BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel played their single "Gangsters" on his show; the song was included in his Festive Fifty at #7 in that year. The Specials' first self-titled album features some of Hall's most recognizable and notable performances, including "Little Bitch", "Nite Klub", "Concrete Jungle", and "Gangsters".
In October of 1980, The Specials released their second album, More Specials. While singing such fan-favourites such as "Enjoy Yourself", "Rat Race", and "Hey, Little Rich Girl", Terry successfully helped the band recreate the upbeat music that the first album possessed. The next album The Specials recorded, 1984's In The Studio, did not include Hall.
After The Specials' last single with Hall, the UK #1 hit "Ghost Town", Hall left the band to start a new-wave group, Fun Boy Three, with two other Specials members, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples. Fun Boy Three's first hit single occurred in late 1981, entitled "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)", then followed-up in early 1982 with "It Ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)", a duet with Bananarama. Fun Boy Three then provided guest vocals for Bananarama's single, "Really Saying Something". That same year, Hall and his bandmates appeared in the video for "Driving in My Car" by ska band, Madness. In February 1983, Fun Boy Three released Waiting. It consisted of the Top Ten hits "The Tunnel of Love" and the classic "Our Lips Are Sealed". The latter was a song Hall wrote with Jane Wiedlin, who had already made it into a hit the previous year with her group, The Go-Go's.
In 1984 Hall formed the Coventry based band The Colourfield, releasing the album Virgins & Philistines in 1985, which included the single "Thinking of You" (UK #12 hit single). This new musical direction would culminate in collaborations with the Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie, contributing a number of songs to the Seeds' Sense (1992), Jollification (1994), Dizzy Heights (1996) and Tilt (1999) albums. Hall also co-wrote the song "Smoke Rings" for Broudie's debut solo album Tales Told. The track was subsequently released as the lead track on the Smoke Rings EP.
In 2001 he appeared as a guest on the Gorillaz-D12 single "911", which was a song about terrorist attacks in the U.S.
In 2007 he provided vocals for many tracks on the Dub Pistols album Speakers and Tweeters.
Hall was still struggling with his mental health. In 2003, he had begun self-medicating with alcohol. In the last decade of his life, he sought medication, having been wary of it since being put on Valium as a teenager, as well as taking up art therapy.
“It got to a point where I didn’t have a choice – and it’s done me so much good,” he said. “Talking about mental health problems is a conscious decision. It’s something I want to share with people.”
Terry Hall, an early singer in influential ska/new wave group The Specials, died on Dec, 18, 2022. He sang on the band's first two albums, The Specials and More Specials and, after rejoining when The Specials reformed in 2008, he sang on an additional two records.
Thinking Of You
Terry Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i ought to be thinking of you
but the friendship's built on trust
and that's something you never do
well who knows maybe tomorrow
we can share each other's sorrow
and compare our grave manner
as we wave our lonely banners
if you ever think of me
i'll be thinking of you
if you decide to change your views
i'm hinking of you
you can walk away from loneliness
anytime you choose
and you're the sort of person
that hasn't anything to lose
but who cares maybe tomorrow
you can lead and i could follow
so walk where angels fear to tread
for everything you've ever wanted
and if you ever think of me
i'll be thinking of you
if you can spare an hour or two
you'll know what to do
i could be the one thing there
in your our of need
so if you decide to change your views
i'm thinking of you
let's roll the dice
in the fools paradise...
share moonlit nights
breathing nothing but lies
let's open our eyes...
we should take a bus to somewhere else
to somewhere new
thank god we're alive
and bite off more than we can chew
do the things that just don't matter
laugh while others look in anger
stumble over four leaf clovers
and say goodbye to lonely banners
if you ever think of me
i'll be thinking of you
through thick and thin i bear it and grin
and never give in
if you ever think of me
i'll be thinking of you
through thick and thin i bear it and grin
and never give in
i could be the one thing there
in your our of need
so if you decide to change your views
i'm thinking of you
The lyrics to Terry Hall's song "Thinking of You" speak about the struggle of maintaining a platonic relationship with someone you have romantic feelings for. He acknowledges that he knows he should be thinking of this person, but their friendship is based on trust, which he feels this person doesn't reciprocate. He expresses his hope that they will be able to share their pain one day, as they wave their "lonely banners."
He then tells this person that he will always be thinking of them, regardless of whether or not they reciprocate his feelings. He offers himself as a source of support, saying that he could be the one thing there in their hour of need. The song's ending expresses a desire to take risks, to "bite off more than we can chew" and "do the things that just don't matter," in order to break free of loneliness and find happiness.
The song seems to be a reflection on the difficulties of maintaining a relationship with someone when both parties have different desires. It also speaks to the universal desire for connection and the lengths we go to maintain that connection.
Line by Line Meaning
i guess i kinda sort of know
I have a vague understanding
i ought to be thinking of you
I should be focusing on you
but the friendship's built on trust
Our friendship is based on trust
and that's something you never do
And you never break that trust
well who knows maybe tomorrow
Perhaps in the future
we can share each other's sorrow
We can comfort each other in difficult times
and compare our grave manner
And discuss how we handle serious and difficult situations
as we wave our lonely banners
As we deal with our personal struggles alone
if you ever think of me
If you ever consider me
i'll be thinking of you
I will also be thinking of you
if you decide to change your views
If you change your mind
i'm hinking of you
I am still thinking of you
you can walk away from loneliness
You have the power to leave your loneliness behind
anytime you choose
Whenever you want to
and you're the sort of person
And you are the type of person
that hasn't anything to lose
Who doesn't have anything to lose
but who cares maybe tomorrow
But it doesn't matter, perhaps in the future
you can lead and i could follow
You can take charge and I will follow
so walk where angels fear to tread
Take risks and go where others won't
for everything you've ever wanted
For everything you've ever desired
if you can spare an hour or two
If you have a couple of hours to spare
you'll know what to do
You will know what actions to take
i could be the one thing there
I could be the one thing that is there
in your our of need
When you are in need
let's roll the dice
Let's take a chance
in the fools paradise...
In our own delusions
share moonlit nights
Share romantic nights
breathing nothing but lies
Living in a world where everything is a lie
let's open our eyes...
Let's become aware
we should take a bus to somewhere else
We should travel to a different place
to somewhere new
To somewhere we haven't been before
thank god we're alive
We should be grateful for being alive
and bite off more than we can chew
And take on more than we can handle
do the things that just don't matter
Do things that may not have any real significance
laugh while others look in anger
Laugh when others may become angry
stumble over four leaf clovers
Find good luck by chance
and say goodbye to lonely banners
And leave our personal struggles behind
through thick and thin i bear it and grin
I will stay with you through good times and bad
and never give in
And never give up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHALON ALEXANDER, FREDERICK HALL, HOWARD SIMMONS, KOREY ROBERSON, MONTAY HUMPREY, COREY HOOKER, ANTHONY PLATT, FARD SHAHID, ERNIE ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY, CHRISTOPHER H. JASPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1a1nb
So sad to hear of the passing of Terry Hall. Such an immense part of my teenage years. What an incredible catalogue of songs he has left us 😢
@twitchygiraffe4636
Both Terry Hall and Kirsty Maccoll are very underrated! So much more to Terry than just the specials! This is a classic and always will be!!!!
@philipmartin5757
Very sad too on hearing the news 10 minutes ago. Terry Hall was a very, very brave guy. By being open about his past, he must have helped thousands of adults deal with mental health problems stemming from childhood 'experiences'. I was slightly too young for the Specials but I bought everything by the Fun Boy 3 and I played the first Colourfield LP to death. I can't think of anyone else in music remotely like him. 63 is no age at all. Very sad.
@gdgbd
RIP
@manoutoftime9057
So sad. 😔
@kaprica.1
so sad, huge part of my youth. the man had endless talent 💙
@patrickbryceland8295
I can’t believe we have lost Terry Hall. An absolute genius. RIP
@eightiesmusic1984
RIP Terry Hall. A good soul who made some great music and leaves a powerful legacy. Ghost Town will forever be remembered for its message alongside so much more music.
@MostCurious
RIP Terry Hall. Such a brilliant songwriter, singer, and musician. You will be missed by many.
@thomasarnsbjer7248
Love Love Love Terry miss you forever R.I.P.