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.
Blue Highways
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D: x x 0 5 5 7
D6: x x 0 7 7 7
Intro: dmaj7 / d / d6 / dmaj7 / d / d6 / dmaj7 / d / d6
D bm d bm
The kid's left home, the kid's got a kid of her own
Don't knock that door, don't knock it, nobody's home
Em bm em bm
The mystery sign, turn off and follow it blind
Em d g d
The interstate is jammed and crammed with exhaust mist
Em d g
It only leads to somewhere you'll never miss
A
You'll never miss
D bm d bm
Get on the blue highways, follow the blue highways
Em bm em bm
You know that they're there, you know that they're there
F#m g a d bm d bm
Where the real america lies
D bm d bm
The rusty chrome, the shutters swing open and closed
D bm d bm
Don't knock that door, don't knock it, nobody's home
Em bm em bm
The blood runs cold, the blood runs cold
Em d
There must be gold where fools are
G a
That's what we are, that's what we are
D bm d bm
Get on the blue highways, follow the blue highways
Em bm em bm
You know that they're there, you know that they're there
F#m g a bm
Where the real america lies
Em bm em bm em d bm d bm
Blue highways, blue highways, blue highways
(outro same as intro) /pre>
The opening lines of "Blue Highways" by Graham Parker set the tone for a poignant and reflective song that speaks deeply to the human experience. The song starts with the realization that the singer's child has grown up and left home, and now has a child of their own. The kid's gone, and nobody's home. As the song progresses, we are taken on a journey that is as much about discovering oneself as it is about exploring the physical world. The lyrics evoke a sense of yearning for a simpler time, a time when things were more authentic and real.
The song's title, Blue Highways, is a reference to the small, meandering roads that often run parallel to larger highways across the United States. These roads are often overlooked by travelers seeking the fastest route from one destination to another, but they offer a more intimate experience of the land and its people. The song urges the listener to take these roads instead of the busy interstate highways that lead to nowhere. The blue highways are where the real America lies, where the rusty chrome and shutters swing open and closed, and where the blood runs cold. The song's themes of self-discovery and the search for authenticity resonate deeply with listeners and offer a heartfelt message of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
The kid's left home, the kid's got a kid of her own
The singer's child has grown up and has a child of her own now.
Don't knock that door, don't knock it, nobody's home
The singer advises against bothering someone who is not there.
The mystery sign, turn off and follow it blind
A sign with an unknown destination should be followed blindly.
The interstate is jammed and crammed with exhaust mist
The main highways are congested with heavy traffic.
It only leads to somewhere you'll never miss
The popular routes do not lead to anything special.
You'll never miss
You won't regret not taking the common path.
Get on the blue highways, follow the blue highways
The singer suggests taking less-traveled roads.
You know that they're there, you know that they're there
These uncharted roads are available to those who seek them.
Where the real america lies
These routes lead to the true essence of America.
The rusty chrome, the shutters swing open and closed
The artist describes the worn-out and abandoned buildings along these roads.
The blood runs cold, the blood runs cold
This area is eerie and desolate.
There must be gold where fools are
The artist suggests that there may be something valuable in places most people ignore.
That's what we are, that's what we are
The singer admits that they are among the foolish.
Blue highways, blue highways, blue highways
The singer repeats the phrase, emphasizing the importance of these less-traveled roads.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bryanddd
what a brilliant song. The punk band Farside do a great cover of this as well.
Rifamos
Till tonight, I hadn't heard this song since I was in college. Holy shit -- it still packs a punch.
Christopher Kramer
Thank you I haven't listened to this in years. I was lucky enough to see him live at the Park West in Chicago more than a few times. Thanks
youcanttunafish
Brilliant album!! Timeless.
Soila Cantu
Love this tune,❤ Graham parker
Joseph Murray
Love this sing...
whatottenchu
How can there be no live version of this posted?
Chris Gilbert
That's how I came here....wanted to hear the original. Both are Great.
Nat Fletcher
i got a book written by William Least Moon "Blue Highways" A Journey Into America. GREAT
N Smith
The songs of Graham Parker are blue highways.