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.
My Love Is Strong
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(d) a d a d
When the world's asleep and there's no one in your arms
(d) a d a d
Raindrops hit the window like distant alarms
(d) a d a d
You don't have to worry hey girl don't you cry
(d) a d a d
F#m d a e f#m d
And I got a real human soul don't tell me that I'm wrong
Chorus
A d a d (3 times)
I'll be there and my love's strong
When you have to work, ike a slave everyday
Pounding the concrete and counting your change
When you have to sweat, while the privileged relax
When you feel invisible baby, and falling through the cracks remember
You got a real human soul. don't tell me that I'm wrong (then) chorus
Bridge
Bm e a e f#m
Strong and relentless behind the veil of forgetfulness
Bm e
That covers the heart not tied up in bondage
A d e
Or nailed to the wall with a dart
When you have to suffer or howl out in pain
And act like you're hungry for more of the same let me tell ya!
You got a real human soul you can't tell me I'm wrong (then) chorus
(2nd line of chorus modulates to b/e on "strong", then repeats 4 times,
Before dropping back to a/d another 4 times
And fades.
Thanks to kirk anderson (kanderso@wheatonma.edu) for help with the chords
E 4 7 6 4 5 4 (an open see chord fretted up 4) /pre>
In "My Love's Strong," Graham Parker offers his love and support to someone going through difficult times. The song describes moments of loneliness and despair, when the world seems against you and the raindrops falling outside feel like warnings. Parker's message is clear: despite adversity, his love will always be a source of strength, enabling his partner to face challenges and overcome them. The lyrics draw upon themes of resilience, inner strength, and human dignity, praising the enduring qualities of the human soul even in the face of hardship.
Throughout the song, Parker uses various metaphors to illustrate his point. Raindrops become alarms, windows become screens through which the world is seen, and souls become veiled by forgetfulness. By placing these images against the backdrop of mundane, everyday situations (such as work or feeling invisible), Parker creates a world in which struggle is the norm but also a challenge that can be met with courage and love. The final verse sums up this message, emphasizing the value of a "real human soul" and its ability to resist pain and find purpose in even the most difficult of times.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world's asleep and there's no one in your arms
When you're alone and feeling lonely at night
Raindrops hit the window like distant alarms
The sound of raindrops hitting the window is like hearing an alarm in the distance
You don't have to worry hey girl don't you cry
Don't worry, my love will protect you and make everything okay
My love beats adversity baby eats it alive
My love can overcome any obstacles or hardships in your life
And I got a real human soul don't tell me that I'm wrong
I am a real person with genuine feelings and emotions, and I know what I'm talking about
I'll be there and my love's strong
I will always be there for you, and my love for you is powerful and unwavering
When you have to work, ike a slave everyday
When you have a tough job that requires a lot of hard work and effort every day
Pounding the concrete and counting your change
Working hard and earning very little money
When you have to sweat, while the privileged relax
While others enjoy their life of luxury, you have to work hard and struggle just to make ends meet
When you feel invisible baby, and falling through the cracks remember
When you feel ignored and overlooked by others, remember
Strong and relentless behind the veil of forgetfulness
My love for you is strong and persistent, even when it seems like others have forgotten about you
That covers the heart not tied up in bondage
The love I have for you is not constricting or oppressive
Or nailed to the wall with a dart
My love for you is not fragile or easily destroyed
When you have to suffer or howl out in pain
When you are going through hard times and feel like screaming out in agony
And act like you're hungry for more of the same let me tell ya!
And people expect you to keep going even though you feel like you're suffering
You got a real human soul you can't tell me I'm wrong
You are a real person with real emotions and experiences, and I understand what you're going through
I'll be there and my love's strong
I will always be there to support you, and my love for you is unbreakable
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jiggs111
Love, love, love this song!!
Puck Paul
Great performance! The song is “My Love’s Strong” from the album Human Soul.
seeamanaboutahorse
Title corrected, thank you for the heads up!
Zo Zepp
The song is wicked underrated
SuperBuzz71
Totally agree. Used to play it in my band when came out. Now I’m getting ready to start playing out again after 16 of raising a kid and I thought of this gem and came back to this performance I remember watching to relearn the bridge. This is a great song, totally underrated. GP even underrates that whole album. That melody just floats over that groove. I can’t wait to play it out again.