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.
Fool's Gold
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A d a d
I been doing my homework now for a long long time
A d a d
And everything that I look for I know I will one day find
E d e d
I'm a fool so I'm told I get left in the cold
Cause I will search the world for that fool's gold,
D a d a
Fool's gold
Oh the world may be full of girls with their charms on show
But the one that I seek will have much more than any I know
People say heaven knows see what comes I suppose
But I will search the world for that fool's gold, fool's gold
E a d
Huh I eye eye eye eye eye eye eye
E a d e a d
I eye eye eye eye eye eye eye oh yeah
Instrumental verse (a d a d a d a d a d)then oh
E d e d
People say heaven knows heaven knows heaven knows see what comes I suppose
E d a
But I will search the world for that fool's gold
(sax) d a d a
Oh yeah fool's gold oh ho yeah fool's gold
D a d
Fool's gold fool's gold fool's gold
A d a d (just a and d to the end)
Fool's gold fool's gold fool's gold fool's gold
Keep searching in the mountains in the valleys, in the deep blue sea
I will search I will search I will search for fool's gold
Go oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
I will search for fool's gold, I will search for fool's gold
I will search, I will search, I will search
I will search for fool's gold, I will search for fool's gold
I'm a fool, I will search, I will search, I will search for fool's gold
Fades /pre>
In "Fool's Gold," Graham Parker & The Rumour delve into the theme of romantic quests and the feeling of being a fool for continuously chasing an elusive dream. The first verse introduces the idea that the singer has been searching for something for a long time and is determined to find it. The use of the phrase "fool's gold" implies that the search may be unrealistic and that the object of the search may not be what it seems. However, despite the warnings from others and potential setbacks, the singer continues to search for their goal.
The second verse lists the potential distractions on this quest, like the "charms" of other women, but emphasizes the importance of the one person who has "much more" than any other. The repetition of "heaven knows" in the pre-chorus underscores the idea that the search is both endless and potentially futile. However, the singer will continue to search the world for this elusive prize. The song ends with a repetition of the phrase "fool's gold" as a kind of mantra for the singer's search.
Overall, "Fool's Gold" is a song that delves into the idea of chasing after something that may be elusive, but also emphasizes the importance of perseverance and a dogged determination to find what one is looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
I been doing my homework now for a long long time
The singer has spent a considerable period of time in gathering the knowledge required to find what they are looking for.
And everything that I look for I know I will one day find
The singer is confident that their search will bear fruit, and everything they have been looking for will come to them one day.
I'm a fool so I'm told I get left in the cold
The singer may be called foolish for their search, and may be left alone or ignored because of it.
Cause I will search the world for that fool's gold, fool's gold
Despite the challenges and criticisms, the artist is determined to search the whole world in pursuit of their goal - even if it is just a fool's errand.
Oh the world may be full of girls with their charms on show
The world may offer plenty of alluring opportunities, but the artist is looking for something more substantial than surface-level charm.
But the one that I seek will have much more than any I know
The singer is seeking someone or something that has qualities beyond any they have encountered so far.
People say heaven knows see what comes I suppose
Perhaps some believe that only fate or divine intervention can lead one to true fulfillment, but the singer remains undeterred in their search.
But I will search the world for that fool's gold, fool's gold
The chorus reinforces the idea that despite all odds, the artist will continue on their quest for what may ultimately be a fruitless pursuit.
I eye eye eye eye eye eye eye
This line may be a vocalization of the artist's unyielding determination or a cry of frustration.
People say heaven knows heaven knows heaven knows see what comes I suppose
The repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that the artist is aware of the prevailing doubts and opinions but chooses to disregard them.
But I will search the world for that fool's gold
The chorus is repeated again to emphasize the singer's unwavering commitment to their search.
Oh yeah fool's gold oh ho yeah fool's gold
This line may be a celebratory ode to the idea of fool's gold, or it may reflect the irony of how the pursuit itself may ultimately be the reward.
Keep searching in the mountains in the valleys, in the deep blue sea
This line emphasizes the vastness of the singer's search - they are willing to look everywhere in pursuit of their elusive goal.
I will search I will search I will search for fool's gold
Repetition of the phrase underscores the singer's commitment to their search.
Go oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
This line may be interpreted as a battle cry or a call to action.
I'm a fool, I will search, I will search, I will search for fool's gold
The song concludes with a reiteration of the artist's self-proclaimed foolishness and their determination to continue their search, regardless of the obstacles.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM BAILEY, CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON BELL, ALANNAH JOY CURRIE, PETER DODD, JOSEPH MARTIN LEEWAY, JOHN ROOG, MATTHEW THOMAS ARTHUR SELIGMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind