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.
Loverman
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and get them out of your hair
Clean up your doorstep and polish your chair
I could move your house slightly to the left
Squeeze you till you're breathless
then breathe you full of breath
I can give the Zulu's a point to their spears
I can give the lechers a reason for their leers
I can get the bees a buzzin' in their hive
CHORUS
I can get you flyin' baby higher than a kite
you know I can Oh baby I can
I would stop my cryin' if you'd only let me
be your loverman
The people that you hang with
well you know they're not my style
I'd like to sort of kill them at least for a short while
They treat me like a lackey they call me a yob
They made me build their outhouse
though they know that ain't my job
I know I seem edgy but that's because I'm sharp
I know I could pluck you like the strings of a harp
I know I seem jumpy but it's not amphetamine
It's just that certain parts of me are gettin' out of line
CHORUS
I could press your buttons I can fly you like a kite
You know I can, oh baby I can
I could be a glutton for you
if you let me be your loverman
I know you don 't think much of me
but these jerks you're attracted to
I'll make 'em look like monkeys hangin' up in the zoo
cos I could charm the birds right out of the sky
at least if they were flightless and couldn't really fly
Did I tell you I was lucky did I tell you I was charmed
Did I tell you you'd look perfect hangin' on my arm
Did I tell you I had money in a safe deposit
Did I tell you last night I found Elvis hangin' up in my closet
Well maybe I'm borin' you it looks like you're bored
Well it hurts to be crucified but it's worse to be ignored
Repeat 1st chorus
In "Loverman," Graham Parker presents himself as a capable and devoted lover, highlighting his ability to rid his lover's life of anything that might stand in the way of their happiness. He claims he can take care of riff-raff, make her house perfect, and even give bees a reason to buzz in their hive. Parker then shifts to a more personal level, revealing that he has been mistreated and disrespected by the people in his lover's life, who treat him like a servant. Despite all this, he promises to be the perfect partner, pressing all the right buttons and flying his lover higher than a kite, if only she would accept him as her loverman. He ends by asking if he has bored her and suggests that being ignored or rejected is far worse than being crucified.
The song seems to be about the longing for validation and acceptance from a lover who is hesitant or uninterested in reciprocating those feelings. Parker presents himself as someone who is capable of making his lover's life perfect and himself the perfect partner, yet he is constantly overlooked in favor of other people who mistreat him. However, despite this mistreatment, he remains devoted and confident in his abilities as a lover, perhaps hoping that eventually, his constant efforts and affection will be enough to win over his lover's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I can take those riff raff
I am capable of removing any riff raff from your surroundings
and get them out of your hair
I can eliminate any bothersome or unwanted people from your life
Clean up your doorstep and polish your chair
I have the ability to clean and straighten up your home
I could move your house slightly to the left
I am capable of making minor adjustments to your living arrangements
Squeeze you till you're breathless
I can cause you to feel pleasure and desire so strongly that you struggle to catch your breath
then breathe you full of breath
I can bring you back to a state of calm and relaxation after a passionate encounter
I can give the Zulu's a point to their spears
I have the ability to inspire and motivate others to fight for a worthwhile cause
I can give the lechers a reason for their leers
I can provide a source of excitement and sexual attraction for those who desire it
I can give the angels a need to be alive
I can bring new meaning and purpose to the lives of those who are pure and virtuous
I can get the bees a buzzin' in their hive
I have the ability to stir up excitement and activity in others
I can get you flyin' baby higher than a kite
I have the power to make you feel exhilarated and euphoric
you know I can Oh baby I can
I am confident in my abilities to satisfy you
I would stop my cryin' if you'd only let me
Being with you would make me happy enough to stop feeling sad
be your loverman
Being your lover and partner is what I desire most of all
The people that you hang with
The friends or acquaintances you choose to surround yourself with
well you know they're not my style
I do not relate to or respect those people
I'd like to sort of kill them at least for a short while
I feel extreme annoyance or anger towards your associates, and would like nothing more than for them to be gone or silenced
They treat me like a lackey they call me a yob
Your acquaintances disrespect me and treat me poorly
They made me build their outhouse
They took advantage of me and made me do undesirable or unpleasant work
though they know that ain't my job
They were aware that the work they assigned to me was not my responsibility
I know I seem edgy but that's because I'm sharp
I may come off as irritable or tense, but it is because I am keenly aware of my surroundings and can anticipate issues
I know I could pluck you like the strings of a harp
I am confident in my ability to please you and make you feel desired
I know I seem jumpy but it's not amphetamine
I may seem anxious or overexcited, but it is not because of drugs
It's just that certain parts of me are gettin' out of line
I am becoming overcome with desire and excitement for you
I could press your buttons
I know how to excite you and make you feel passionate
I can fly you like a kite
I have the power to take you on a journey of exhilaration and joy
I could be a glutton for you
I would happily indulge in you and your love if you would allow me to do so
if you let me be your loverman
If you would allow me to be your devoted partner and lover, I would indulge in the pleasures and joy that come with it
I know you don 't think much of me
I am aware that you do not have a high opinion of me
but these jerks you're attracted to
I view your associates as unpleasant or inferior people
I'll make 'em look like monkeys hangin' up in the zoo
I am capable of making your acquaintances appear foolish or pathetic
cos I could charm the birds right out of the sky
I have the ability to enchant and captivate others with my charisma and charm
at least if they were flightless and couldn't really fly
However, this would only work if they were not very accomplished or had no means of escaping from my power
Did I tell you I was lucky did I tell you I was charmed
I believe that I am particularly fortunate or blessed
Did I tell you you'd look perfect hangin' on my arm
I find you to be incredibly attractive and desirable as a partner
Did I tell you I had money in a safe deposit
I have wealth or resources that could benefit both of us
Did I tell you last night I found Elvis hangin' up in my closet
I may be prone to telling tall tales or exaggerating to make myself seem more interesting or impressive
Well maybe I'm borin' you it looks like you're bored
I am sensing that I may not be entertaining or interesting enough for you
Well it hurts to be crucified but it's worse to be ignored
I would rather be criticized or rejected than ignored or passed over completely
I could press your buttons I can fly you like a kite
I am capable of exciting and pleasing you in more ways than one
You know I can, oh baby I can
I am certain that I have the skills and charm necessary to make you happy and satisfied
I could be a glutton for you
I would indulge myself in your love and attention
if you let me be your loverman
If only you would allow me to be your devoted lover and partner
Contributed by Blake N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.