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.
It's All Worth Nothing Alone
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bm
Speak to me baby across this room
See f#
I never noticed silence like this before
Bm
Cry for me baby I'm empty too
If I could pull myself up off the floor
Chorus
F# g bm a g
Sometimes you play around and I don't know what your game is
F# g bm a f#
Sometimes it hurts so bad I don't know where the pain is
Bm a g f#
But it's all worth nothing alone
Bm a g f#
It's all worth nothing alone
Give me a break now I'm what I am
Try to fill up all the empty space in me
Give me a shakedown and tie my hands
And make me be what I could never be
Chorus 2
Sometimes I act just like world owes me a favour
Sometimes bitterness has been my only flavour
But it's all worth nothing alone
It's all worth nothing alone (solo)
Bridge
A g a g
I've got everything I desire oh but it's easy to tire
A g
If I had your love I could be strong
A f# bm g f#
But you're always right and I'm never wrong (solo)
Chorus 2
It's all worth nothing alone it's all worth nothing alone
It's all worth nothing alone (repeats and fades) /pre>
The lyrics of Graham Parker's song It's All Worth Nothing Alone evokes feelings of loneliness and emptiness. The song's narrator is longing for companionship and a deep connection with someone else to fill the voids in their life. The first verse paints a picture of a couple sitting in complete silence with the singer noticing the unusual quietness and asking the other person to speak and cry for them. The second verse continues with the singer begging for a break and asking someone to help them overcome their insecurities and flaws.
The chorus suggests that sometimes the singer doesn't understand the actions of the other person and doesn't know where the pain they feel is coming from. It follows that even when the singer feels they have everything, it's all worth nothing if they don't have someone to share it with. The bridge expresses a similar sentiment, acknowledging that while the singer has everything they desire, they still tire easily because they lack love and companionship. The song ends with a repeated chorus emphasis that without someone to share life with, everything else is meaningless.
Overall, It's All Worth Nothing Alone is a poignant meditation on the importance of human connection and companionship in life. It presents an idea that material possessions and individual achievements mean less than the people we love and share our lives with. The song highlights Parker's skill in crafting powerful, emotionally resonant lyrics that connect with audiences on a personal and emotional level.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak to me baby across this room
The singer wants his partner to communicate with him even though they are physically distant.
See, I never noticed silence like this before
The silence between the couple is unfamiliar and uncomfortable for the singer.
Cry for me baby I'm empty too
The singer is also feeling empty and seeks emotional support from his partner.
If I could pull myself up off the floor
The singer feels helpless and wants to overcome his emotional state.
Sometimes you play around and I don't know what your game is
The singer feels confused about his partner's intentions and is not sure if they are being playful or deceitful.
Sometimes it hurts so bad I don't know where the pain is
The emotional pain is so intense that the singer is unable to locate its source.
But it's all worth nothing alone
The singer believes that life has no value unless he shares it with his partner.
Give me a break now I'm what I am
The singer wants to be accepted for who he is, flaws and all.
Try to fill up all the empty space in me
The singer wants his partner to help him overcome his emotional emptiness.
Give me a shakedown and tie my hands
The singer is willing to be vulnerable and let his partner take control.
And make me be what I could never be
The singer hopes that his partner can help him become a better version of himself.
Sometimes I act just like world owes me a favour
The singer sometimes feels entitled and expects the world to cater to his every need.
Sometimes bitterness has been my only flavour
The singer has a tendency to be bitter and negative.
But it's all worth nothing alone
The singer reiterates the importance of having his partner by his side.
I've got everything I desire oh but it's easy to tire
The singer has achieved everything he wants but still feels unfulfilled and easily fatigued.
If I had your love I could be strong
The singer believes that his partner's love would give him the strength to overcome his emotional weaknesses.
But you're always right and I'm never wrong
The singer feels like his partner always has the upper hand and that he is always in the wrong.
It's all worth nothing alone it's all worth nothing alone
The singer repeats his belief that life has no value unless it is shared with his partner.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind