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.
Mighty Rivers
Graham Parker Lyrics
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Some of them are power chords (neither major nor minor, no 3rd)
D5 55xxxx
Bm* 75xxxx
Asus4 55xxxx (same as d*)
G5 35xxxx
A5 57xxxx
/ / / / / / / /
The intro sequence I think, is this d5 bm* asus4 g5 a5
Verse
Bm* d5 bm* asus4 g5 d5 d d dsus2 d
Darlin' wake up now, I'm makin' a promise that I'm gonna keep
Bm* d5 bm* asus4 g5 a5
I'll never give up now, when love is a passion that can't go to sleep
Chorus
A5 d5 g5 a5 d5 g5 a5
Until the mighty rivers, until the mighty oceans dry up, I'll be your man
A5 d5 g5 a5 d5 g5 a5
Until the mighty rivers all run dry and fade away girl you understand
Verse
They tell you there's no chance, for love to be stable when everything shakes
It only took the one glance, for my heart to tremble and my soul to quake
Repeat chorus (plus)
A5 bm* d5 a5 d5
Till the mighty rivers ooh mighty rivers,
Bridge
Bm* d5 bm* d5
Ooh can you hear me as you run into my back
Bm* d5 bm* a5
And the customs never clear me, they want to put me behind black
Repeat intro
Verse
Oh darlin wake uh up now, before there's no sunshine left up in the sky
I'll never give up now, let's shed all the teardrops and let our hearts dry
Repeat chorus (plus)
D5 bm* d5
Until the mighty rivers, the mighty rivers, the mighty rivers,
Bm* d5 bm*
The mighty rivers, the mighty rivers, the mighty rivers,
Repeat chorus
D5 a5 bm* g5 a5 d5
Till the mighty rivers oooooh mighty rivers... /pre>
In "Mighty Rivers," Graham Parker & The Shot sing about the undeniable strength of love and the promise to be faithful and devoted to their partner until the end of time. The song starts with a simple yet powerful chord progression of D5, Bm*, Asus4, G5, and A5, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. In the verses, Parker sings about the determination to keep the promise of love and never let it go to sleep. The choruses emphasize the strength of that promise with the repeated line "Until the mighty rivers, until the mighty oceans dry up, I'll be your man."
In the bridge, Parker talks about the difficulties of keeping that promise in a world that wants to tear it apart. The repetition of the intro and chorus at the end drives home the central message of the song: that love can endure all things as long as two people are committed to each other. "Mighty Rivers" is a timeless anthem of devotion that showcases Parker's versatile voice and the Shot's musical skills.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' wake up now, I'm makin' a promise that I'm gonna keep
The singer is urging his partner to wake up and listen to his promise of unrelenting devotion.
I'll never give up now, when love is a passion that can't go to sleep
The singer will not give up on their love, as it is too strong and intense to ever wane.
Until the mighty rivers, until the mighty oceans dry up, I'll be your man
The singer promises to remain devoted to their partner for as long as the natural elements of the world endure.
Until the mighty rivers all run dry and fade away girl you understand
The singer reiterates his promise of undying love, emphasizing that he will remain faithful and committed even if the rivers were to run dry.
They tell you there's no chance, for love to be stable when everything shakes
The singer acknowledges that others may be skeptical about the stability of love during tumultuous times, but he is confident in his steadfast commitment.
It only took the one glance, for my heart to tremble and my soul to quake
The singer fell deeply in love at first sight and his heart and soul were completely shaken by the intensity of his emotions.
Till the mighty rivers ooh mighty rivers,
The chorus repeats the promise of eternal devotion, emphasizing the importance of this commitment through repetition.
Ooh can you hear me as you run into my back
The singer is asking his partner if she can hear him as she retreats from him emotionally.
And the customs never clear me, they want to put me behind black
The singer may feel like an outsider when it comes to love and the expectations of others.
Oh darlin wake uh up now, before there's no sunshine left up in the sky
The singer pleads with his partner to wake up and not let their love fade away completely.
I'll never give up now, let's shed all the teardrops and let our hearts dry
The singer is still committed to their love, and suggests they move forward together and put any past hurt behind them.
Till the mighty rivers, the mighty rivers, the mighty rivers,
The chorus is repeated once more, emphasizing the eternal nature of the singer's commitment to his partner.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind