Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Parker sang in small-time amateur English bands such as the Black Rockers and Deep Cut Three, while working in dead-end jobs at a glove factory and a petrol station. In late 1974 he placed an ad in Britain’s "Melody Maker" music mag seeking like-minded musicians and he began performing professionally. In 1975, he recorded a few demo tracks in London with Dave Robinson, who would shortly found Stiff Records and who connected Parker with his first backing band of note.
Graham Parker & the Rumour (with Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitar, Bob Andrews on keyboards, Andrew Bodnar on bass and Steve Goulding on drums) formed in the summer of 1975 and began doing the rounds of the British pub rock scene. Their first album, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows -- "White Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the top 40 in the UK. Like the pub rock scene he was loosely tied to, the singer's class-conscious lyrics and passionate vocals signaled a renewal of rock music as punk rock began to flower in Britain.
Parker preceded the other "new wave" English singer-songwriters, Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. Early in his career his work was often compared favorably to theirs, and for decades journalists would continue to categorize them together, long after the artists' work had diverged. Characteristically, Parker would not hesitate to criticize this habit with caustic wit.
The first two albums' critical acclaim was generally not matched with LP sales. Graham Parker and the Rumour appeared on BBC television's Top of the Pops in 1976, performing their top 30 hit version of The Trammps' "Hold Back the Night".
At this point, Parker began to change his songwriting style, reflecting his desire to break into the American market. The first fruits of this new direction appeared on Stick To Me (1977). The album broke the top 20 on the UK charts but divided critical opinions.
Energized by his new label, Arista, and the presence of legendary producer Jack Nitzsche, Parker followed with Squeezing Out Sparks (1979), widely held to be the best album of his career. For this album, The Rumour's brass section, prominent on all previous albums, was jettisoned, resulting in a spare, intense rock backing for some of Parker's most brilliant songs. Of particular note was "You Can't Be Too Strong", one of rock music's rare songs to confront the topic of abortion, however ambivalently.
Squeezing out Sparks is still ranked by fans and critics alike as one of the finest rock albums ever made. Rolling Stone named it #335 [1] on their 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In an early 1987 Rolling Stone list of their top 100 albums from 1967-1987, Squeezing Out Sparks was ranked at #45, while Howlin' Wind came in at #54 [2].
Although marginally less intense than its predecessor, 1980's The Up Escalator was Parker's highest-charting album in the UK and featured glossy production by Jimmy Iovine and guest vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Nevertheless it was Parker's last album with the Rumour, although guitarist Brinsley Schwarz would join most of the singer's albums through the decade's end.
The 1980s were Parker's most commercially successful years, with well-financed recordings and radio and video play. Over the decade, the British press turned unkind to him, but he continued to tour the world with top backing bands, and his 1985 release Steady Nerves included his only US Top 40 hit, "Wake Up (Next to You)". The singer began living mostly in the United States during this time.
In early 2011, Parker reunited with all five original members of The Rumour to record a new album. The record, titled Three Chords Good, was released in November 2012.
Anything For A Laugh
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spotlight in my eye
Try to make the people laugh
Instead of cry
I hang myself out on the edge
For the world to see
Let them know this funny guy
And anything for a good time
I've always taken that path
Anything for a good time
Anything for a laugh
I ride the Greyhounds across the state
A show in every town
I'm not that bad, I'm not that great
I'm just your average clown
People think that's my nature
That's how I want to be
But I wonder if it's just a
Shield in front of me
And anything for a good time
I've always taken that path
Anything for a good time
Anything for a laugh
So take a seat there's plenty spare
Fill a gaping hole
That's what I do every night
Somewhere in my soul
And anything for a good time
I've always taken that path
Anything for a good time
Anything for a laugh
The song "Anything For A Laugh" by Graham Parker revolves around the theme of comedy and the idea of being a funny person to make others laugh. The opening lines delve into the persona of the singer who has a lonely path and a spotlight in his eye as he walks along trying to make people laugh instead of cry. He hangs himself out on the edge for everyone to see, letting them know that his humorous persona is real and not just a front. The chorus highlights the fact that he will do anything for a good time and always take that path, even if it means sacrificing aspects of his true self.
The singer goes on to explain how he rides Greyhounds across the state to perform in different towns, neither being particularly bad nor great but simply an average clown. The public perceives his humorous facade as his nature but deep down, the persona may only be a shield to him. The song ends with the singer inviting the audience to take a seat and fill a gaping hole in his soul, as he is motivated by the concept of making others laugh.
The lyrics of the song shed light on the idea of a comedian's loneliness in balancing humor and achieving validation from the audience. It underlines how the performer's jolly exterior might be a result of his/her inner turmoil. Through his lyrics, Graham Parker showcases that people who use humor as a defense mechanism and to make others laugh, often find it hard to face their inner insecurities and end up suppressing their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk along a lonely path
I move through life with a sense of detachment, often feeling isolated.
Spotlight in my eye
I'm frequently the object of attention, often under pressure to perform for others' amusement.
Try to make the people laugh
I attempt to entertain others through humor, in the hopes of making their lives a little brighter.
Instead of cry
I aim to uplift, rather than bring down or sadden those around me.
I hang myself out on the edge
I'm willing to take risks, and expose myself emotionally or creatively, in order to achieve my goals of connecting with others through humor.
For the world to see
I don't hide my true self, instead performing in front of others in the hopes of eliciting genuine laughs and mirth.
Let them know this funny guy
I take pleasure in being seen as humorous, using my talent to build relationships and establish a sense of identity for myself.
Is really me
My comedic persona isn't just an act, but a true reflection of myself, which I use as a way to connect with others.
I ride the Greyhounds across the state
I devote myself to my craft, traveling across the country to perform in different venues and reach new audiences.
A show in every town
As a comedian, I'm always on stage, working hard to bring joy and laughter to as many people as possible.
I'm not that bad, I'm not that great
Although I work hard and put in a lot of effort, I recognize that I'm not perfect, and that there's always room for improvement.
I'm just your average clown
I'm a relatable, down-to-earth individual, who enjoys making others laugh and derives joy from seeing others happy.
People think that's my nature
Others often assume that I'm naturally funny, without realizing that it takes a lot of effort and hard work to develop a successful comedy routine.
That's how I want to be
While humor is indeed part of my identity, it's not the only aspect of myself that I want to focus on or be defined by.
But I wonder if it's just a
Despite my passion for comedy, I sometimes question whether or not my sense of humor is truly aligned with my own personality and values.
Shield in front of me
Using humor as a shield, I sometimes mask my true feelings or insecurities, in order to keep others at bay.
So take a seat there's plenty spare
I'm happy to make others feel welcome and included, sharing my talent with as many people as possible.
Fill a gaping hole
Humor has the power to heal and connect people from all walks of life, and I take pride in being able to use that power to make a difference.
That's what I do every night
I'm always hard at work, constantly striving to hone my craft and perfect my comedy routine to bring joy to others.
Somewhere in my soul
My sense of humor is an innate part of my being, one that comes from a deep, heartfelt place, and which I hope to share with as many people as possible.
Anything for a good time
I'm dedicated to using humor to build connections, lift spirits, and make people happy, and will go to great lengths to achieve that goal.
I've always taken that path
Humor has been a constant throughout my life, and has played an important role in shaping my identity, relationships, and career.
Anything for a laugh
Ultimately, my love of comedy is driven by a deep desire to bring joy and laughter to others, in the hopes of brightening up their lives and making a positive impact on the world.
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.