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.
Saturday Nite Is Dead
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I draw a blank every time I think
The football crowd is going to give me a boot
CHORUS
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
It don't matter what they say
You've got to use your own head some day
Yeah it's dead
The ultraviolet light hurts me so it used to be my friend
I used to know a good place to go but now it's nothing like it was then
CHORUS (WORD VARIATION)
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
It don't matter what they say I'm going to the funeral Sunday
Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead Yeah it's dead
It must have been murder it ain't no accident
Oh no it means nothing to me
The clock goes tick tick tick in my head
Saturday is dead Saturday is dead
I look inside to find a place to hide but there ain't no place I know
It's just as well that I'm stupified it makes it easy
It makes it easy to deliver the fatal blow
(Intro chords)
Deliver deliver deliver
CHORUS (FIRST VERSION)
Saturday night is dead REPEAT AND END
In Graham Parker & The Rumour's song "Saturday Nite Is Dead", Parker seems to express a sense of alienation and disconnection from the world around him, particularly on the weekend. He describes feeling like he can't make sense of the information and people around him, and even fears being rejected by a football crowd. The once-familiar places and experiences of Saturday night have lost their appeal, with the ultraviolet lights now hurting him rather than providing a sense of excitement. Parker even imagines the possibility of murder, suggesting a sense of desperation and anxiety.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Saturday night is dead" as a sort of refrain, emphasizing the idea that something has been lost or killed off. However, the lyrics suggest that Parker believes there is something to be gained by using one's own head and thinking independently. The last lines, "Deliver deliver deliver", perhaps suggest a call to action, a need to take control and make things happen rather than just feeling lost and powerless.
Overall, "Saturday Nite Is Dead" articulates a sense of disillusionment with traditional ideas of weekend revelry and social connection, as well as a longing for something more authentic and meaningful. Parker's lyrics and delivery convey a sense of frustration and anxiety but also a desire to find a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody just looks ugly now information don't compute
People don't look attractive anymore, and I can't understand what's going on around me.
I draw a blank every time I think
I can't come up with any ideas or solutions to my problems.
The football crowd is going to give me a boot
I'm afraid the energetic crowd at the football game will hurt me.
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
The exciting and lively Saturday night scene is no more.
It don't matter what they say
Other people's opinions don't affect the reality of the situation.
You've got to use your own head some day
You have to think for yourself and make your own decisions eventually.
The ultraviolet light hurts me so it used to be my friend
The bright lights are now painful, even though they used to be enjoyable.
I used to know a good place to go but now it's nothing like it was then
I used to have a favorite spot to hang out, but it doesn't have the same appeal anymore.
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
The exciting and lively Saturday night scene is no more.
It don't matter what they say I'm going to the funeral Sunday
Regardless of others' opinions, I'll be attending a funeral on Sunday instead of going out Saturday night.
Yeah it's dead
Saturday night is truly over and no longer exciting.
It must have been murder it ain't no accident
The change is drastic and intentional, not just a coincidence.
Oh no it means nothing to me
The current state of things doesn't have any significance or value to me.
The clock goes tick tick tick in my head
Time is passing by in my mind and I'm not sure how to make the most of it.
Saturday is dead Saturday is dead
The once-exciting Saturday is now uneventful and uninspiring.
I look inside to find a place to hide but there ain't no place I know
I'm looking for a way to escape or avoid the unpleasantness, but can't seem to find any options.
It's just as well that I'm stupified it makes it easy
Being numb or dazed helps me cope with the reality of the situation.
It makes it easy to deliver the fatal blow
Being detached from my emotions makes it easier to do what I need to do, even if it's destructive.
Deliver deliver deliver
I'm ready to take action and make the necessary changes, no matter how difficult they may be.
Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
The once-exciting Saturday night scene is no more.
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.