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.
Big Fat Zero
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D a e a
Better listen to me, you better stay blind and you better not see
D a e a
You think it feels alright but you don't have to lie awake all night
Chorus
Fumble with the money and fumble with the keys
D d a
Somebody has to end up on his knees
D d a
Go to a funeral dressed in pink
D e
Stop to love and not stop to think
D a e
Big fat zero (3 times)
They all lose their cool
They all see the money and they start to drool
They all shuffle their feet
They shuffle their cards and they turn up the heat they tell you
Chorus
Bridge (musical with solo)
(then) big fat zero (x5) repeats and fades /pre>
The song "Big Fat Zero" by Graham Parker is an upbeat, fast-paced rock song that critiques materialism and the lengths people will go to attain wealth and status. The opening lines warn listeners to "better stay blind and...not see," urging them to ignore the superficial attractions of wealth and fame that ultimately lead to sleepless nights and disappointment. The chorus underlines this message by painting a picture of chaos and desperation, with people "fumbling" with money and keys and ending up on their knees, unable to escape the destructive cycle of greed.
The song's title, "Big Fat Zero," serves as a sort of mantra, repeated throughout the song as a reminder of the emptiness that lies at the heart of the quest for material gain. The lyrics go on to describe people losing their cool and drooling over money, shuffling cards and turning up the heat in an effort to win big. But despite all their efforts, they still end up with nothing of real value - a big fat zero.
Overall, "Big Fat Zero" is a warning against materialism and a call to embrace more meaningful values, such as love and reflection. By presenting a vivid depiction of the trappings of wealth and status, the song encourages listeners to think critically about their own priorities and to pursue lives of greater purpose and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Better listen to me, you better stay blind and you better not see
I am warning you to listen to me and ignore the truth. Don't see what's in front of you.
You think it feels alright but you don't have to lie awake all night
You may think everything is going well, but you won't have to suffer the consequences.
Fumble with the money and fumble with the keys
People make mistakes when dealing with money and possessions.
Somebody has to end up on his knees
Someone is bound to be humbled or defeated.
Go to a funeral dressed in pink
You will attend a funeral, but the color of clothing you decide to wear doesn't matter.
Stop to love and not stop to think
It's better to just love and not overthink things.
Big fat zero (3 times)
Everything amounts to nothing in the end.
They all lose their cool
Everyone eventually loses their composure.
They all see the money and they start to drool
People become greedy when they see money.
They all shuffle their feet
People become nervous or uncomfortable.
They shuffle their cards and they turn up the heat they tell you
People will cheat or deceive you.
Big fat zero (x5)
Repeated reminder that everything amounts to nothing in the end.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind