Just Like Joe Meek's Blues
Graham Parker Lyrics


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My head was swimming in a Bangkok joint
You got paint on your coat like an arrow point
I followed where it led as if pulled by a bow
Fired into the night deep and slow to where I'll never know

The hotel was dark as we made our arrival 
Waiting breathlessly for the Joe Meek revival
But it didn't stand any chance of survival
You know Joe had an American rival
Poor old Joe, poor old Joe

It takes a leap of faith, 
To pull the trigger on the world you're accustomed to
You might as well take out the landlady too
It's only a small thing to choose

Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues

It's a twisted world so let's twist again
There's a bass drum sound going round in my brain
A cat communicates with an artichoke
Lord Sutch delivers a homophobe joke
Heinz gets his nose chewed again

So you turned up in Leon with very little luggage
Started talking in a foreign language
I tied two beds together with a strap from my bag
Everyone was dressed in white 
But you were dressed in black

Dressed in black again
Pull the trigger on the world you're accustomed to
You might as well save a bullet for me tooa footnote in tomorrow's news

Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues
Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues

Back in London and it didn't even rain
The Joe meek revival was happening again
But the clocks went forward and the revival got choked
British summertime came like a cruel joke
You went back dressed in black

It takes a leap of faith 
To really go for something right out of the blue
Sure we might have torn each other's hair out by the roots
And recorded it on two track tape

Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues




Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues
Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Graham Parker's "Just Like Joe Meek's Blues" tell a surreal and twisted story about the singer's experiences in Bangkok with a mysterious woman, and later their reunion in London. The first verse describes a hazy, drug-fueled encounter, where the woman's paint-stained coat becomes a metaphorical arrow pointing the way. The next verse brings in the titular figure of Joe Meek, a pioneering English record producer from the 1960s who was known for his experimentation with sound and electronics. Parker frames the Joe Meek revival as a chance for new beginnings and taking leaps of faith, but ultimately it fails to bring any lasting change. The final verse brings the story back to London, with a reference to the changing of the clocks and the arrival of British summertime. The singer muses on the potential for their relationship to be just another footnote in history, like Joe Meek himself.


The surreal imagery and references to pop culture throughout the song make it difficult to pin down a specific interpretation. However, the themes of taking risks, embracing the unknown, and the fleeting nature of relationships are all present. Joe Meek is a fitting figure to serve as a touchstone throughout the song, as his own life was marked by both great creativity and tragic endings.


Line by Line Meaning

My head was swimming in a Bangkok joint
I was overwhelmed and disoriented in a bar in Bangkok.


You got paint on your coat like an arrow point
Your coat has a noticeable stain on it that looks like the tip of an arrow.


I followed where it led as if pulled by a bow
I was so entranced that I followed without question, as if being pulled by a bowstring.


Fired into the night deep and slow to where I'll never know
Whatever it was that caught my attention faded into the night slowly, leaving behind more questions than answers.


The hotel was dark as we made our arrival
The hotel was dimly lit as we entered.


Waiting breathlessly for the Joe Meek revival
We were anxiously waiting for a tribute to Joe Meek's music.


But it didn't stand any chance of survival
The tribute was short-lived.


You know Joe had an American rival
Joe Meek had a competitor from America.


Poor old Joe, poor old Joe
A comment expressing sympathy for Joe Meek and regret for his early demise.


It takes a leap of faith,
It requires a great deal of trust and belief to take action.


To pull the trigger on the world you're accustomed to
To make a significant change in your life.


You might as well take out the landlady too
To go all the way and deal with all associated issues simultaneously.


It's only a small thing to choose
In the grand scheme of things, the decision may seem insignificant.


Just like Joe meek's blues, just like Joe meek's blues
As tough as it is, this is not a unique situation


It's a twisted world so let's twist again
The world is complicated, so let's navigate through it together.


There's a bass drum sound going round in my brain
A highly memorable sound is stuck in my head.


A cat communicates with an artichoke
A strange and confusing scenario in which two unrelated things interact.


Lord Sutch delivers a homophobe joke
A tasteless joke about homosexuals is told.


Heinz gets his nose chewed again
An unpleasant incident occurs to someone named Heinz.


So you turned up in Leon with very little luggage
You arrived in Leon with only a small amount of baggage.


Started talking in a foreign language
You began speaking a language that I didn't understand.


I tied two beds together with a strap from my bag
I was resourceful and managed to join two beds together using a strap from my bag.


Everyone was dressed in white
Everyone else was wearing white clothing.


But you were dressed in black
You were dressed in black attire.


Dressed in black again
You are once again wearing black clothing.


You might as well save a bullet for me too
If you're going to shoot at everything, why not shoot me as well?


A footnote in tomorrow's news
An insignificant or unimportant mention in the next day's news.


British summertime came like a cruel joke
The arrival of summer in England was unexpected and felt like a cruel trick.


It takes a leap of faith
It requires a significant amount of trust and belief.


To really go for something right out of the blue
To take a risk or pursue something without prior consideration.


Sure we might have torn each other's hair out by the roots
We could have been in conflict or disagreements.


And recorded it on two track tape
It could have been recorded for posterity.




Contributed by Gabriella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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