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.
If It Ever Stops Rainin'
Graham Parker Lyrics
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By a strong Northeaster's
And it doesn't look like it's gonna end real soon
You've been stuck up there in the mountains
While I been swannin' around the West Coast
But I'll swear I'm gonna make it back there soon, yeah
If the sun ever breaks through and shines down from on high
I'll do all those things, I keep complainin' that I'm not doin'
And I'll put my arms around you under the blue blue sky
Blue blue sky, blue blue sky
Well, the bus stops and the stations are all empty
The cab driver says my plane's delayed
But I'll give him a tip to button his lip and get me to the airport
And I'll pay the pilot extra to get me on my way
And if it ever stops rainin'
If the sun ever breaks through and shines down from on high
I'll do all those things, you keep complainin' that I'm not doin'
And we'll walk outside together under the blue blue sky
Blue blue sky
So have patience, dear, have patience
I'm not making excuses
I hear the driveway got washed out
And the basement's sprung a leak
Yeah, the fence posts are collapsing
And the stream has blown its sluices
But I'm coming back tomorrow
Or at least some time next week
And if it ever stops rainin'
If the sun ever breaks through and shines down from on high
I'll do all those things, I keep complainin' that I'm not doin'
And I'll put my arms around you, yeah, I'll put my arms around you
Yeah, I'll put my arms around you under the blue blue sky
Blue blue sky
If it ever stops rainin', blue blue sky
If it ever stops rainin', blue blue sky
Blue blue sky, blue blue sky
The lyrics of Graham Parker's song "If It Ever Stops Rainin'" depict a man trying to make his way back to the East Coast to be with his loved one amidst a severe storm. The song portrays the challenges he faces in attempting to return to her, and how he hopes for the rain to stop so he can finally do all the things he's been putting off.
The chorus, "And if it ever stops rainin'/ If the sun ever breaks through and shines down from on high/ I'll do all those things, I keep complainin' that I'm not doin'/ And I'll put my arms around you under the blue blue sky," speaks to the idea of wanting to make up for lost time and the struggles of having to navigate obstacles in order to be with someone important.
The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency, with the man expressing his desire to be with his partner as soon as possible, regardless of the challenges he faces in getting there.
Overall, the song explores themes of perseverance, patience, and the power of love to overcome obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the whole East Coast is socked in
I am aware that the entire East Coast is covered with clouds
By a strong Northeaster's
It's because of the strong Northeasterly wind
And it doesn't look like it's gonna end real soon
It is unlikely to change in the near future
You've been stuck up there in the mountains
You have been stranded in the mountains
While I been swannin' around the West Coast
Meanwhile, I have been enjoying myself on the West Coast
But I'll swear I'm gonna make it back there soon, yeah
I vow that I will return there shortly
And if it ever stops rainin'
In the event that the rain stops falling
If the sun ever breaks through and shines down from on high
If the sun ever comes out and brightens up the sky
I'll do all those things, I keep complainin' that I'm not doin'
I will finally do all the things that you've been complaining about
And I'll put my arms around you under the blue blue sky
And I'll hug you under the clear blue sky
Well, the bus stops and the stations are all empty
The bus stops and train stations are deserted
The cab driver says my plane's delayed
The taxi driver informs me that my flight is delayed
But I'll give him a tip to button his lip and get me to the airport
But I'll bribe him to be quiet and take me to the airport
And I'll pay the pilot extra to get me on my way
I'll pay the pilot extra to let me board the flight quickly
So have patience, dear, have patience
Please be patient, my love, be patient
I'm not making excuses
I am not trying to justify my absence
I hear the driveway got washed out
I heard that the driveway is flooded
And the basement's sprung a leak
And the basement has started to leak
Yeah, the fence posts are collapsing
The fence posts are falling apart
And the stream has blown its sluices
And the stream's channels have shifted due to the storm
But I'm coming back tomorrow
But I will be returning tomorrow
Or at least some time next week
Or maybe in the following week
And if it ever stops rainin'
And if the rain ever stops falling
I'll do all those things, I keep complainin' that I'm not doin'
I will finally do all the things that you've been complaining about
And I'll put my arms around you, yeah, I'll put my arms around you
And I'll embrace you tightly
Yeah, I'll put my arms around you under the blue blue sky
Yeah, I'll hug you under the clear blue sky
If it ever stops rainin', blue blue sky
If the rain ever stops falling, we'll see a bright blue sky
If it ever stops rainin', blue blue sky
If the rain ever stops falling, we'll finally see a clear blue sky
Blue blue sky, blue blue sky
A bright and clear blue sky that we are longing for
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Madeleine Hague
GP is FINALLY coming to Toronto. It's been years (I mean....decades). 'Can't wait!
1761Charlie
First heard this on KPIG.
Charla Miller
Me too!
Joanne Hack
💥✨🌙🦠🌠
jaques ax
I think Mike Gent from the figs Helped GP with this one. I used to play with Mike Sr. father. Hi Vidya