Graham Parker (born November 18, 1950 in London) is a British rock singer a… Read Full Bio ↴Graham Parker (born November 18, 1950 in London) is a British rock singer and songwriter. He continues to be best-known as the leader (and singer) of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour, though he has has a number of solo albums to his name. Despite moderate commercial success, he has consistently been hailed by critics as one the most prominent musicians of his generation, with his wittily-heated, often class-conscious lyrics and energy-fueled music preceding the arrival punk rock and new wave music. Many fellow musicians, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Frank Black, have expressed admiration for his music

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.

The Bleep
Graham Parker Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Graham Parker:

09 Last Couple On The Dance Floor Pre>e e/g# be f# a People call and ask how we're…
1st Responder Well it might get rough in this world for you It…
3 Martini Lunch I live near Hollywood out in the Canyon It's a good…
A Brand New Book Pre>intro f bb see see f bb see see f…
A Change Is Gonna Come I was born by a river In a little tent, and…
A Miracle a Minute oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh When you put your arms…
All Being Well I'll see you when the leaves are falling All being well An…
Almost Thanksgiving Day Full steam ahead come what may You get the world that…
Always Greener She likes it in this line of work But it doesn't…

Ambiguous Well i might seem ambiguous But i don't want to…
Ancient Past MY STAMP COLLECTION'S OUT TURNED TO THE BELGIAN CONGO IT WAS…
And It Shook Me Pre>chorus G em g em And it shook me, it shook me…
Anniversary Na na na Na na na yeah! Na na na yeah! Bienvenidas al…
Another Grey Area Pre> capo at 4 intro am am am see 4…
Anything For A Laugh I walk along a lonely path Spotlight in my eye Try to…
Back Door Love Pre> Intro see see see see Verse See am I've waited all nig…
Back in Time Pre>intro em am am7 G em You stop in the old cafe…
Back to Schooldays E B E Don't seem to be no break in the…
Bad to Me If you ever leave me I'll be sad and blue Don't…
Baggage Pre>capo at fret 2 intro em / am / em Em…
Beancounter Ci vil is ation Has come a long way Out of the mud…
Beating of Another Heart She comes from the hardest town …
Between You And Me All I knew were the lights in the harbour, All I…
Beyond a Joke Pre>d g It's gone beyond a joke, it's gone beyond a…
Big Fat Zero Pre>intro d a e D a e a Better listen to me,…
Big Man On Paper Pre>capo at 2 see am Oooh la la la la la…
Black Honey Oh black honey's in my soul, oh black honey's in…
Black Lincoln Continental Shake that cocktail and follow the road The doors are locke…
Blue Highways Pre>dmaj7: x 0 0 11 10 9 D: x x 0…
Blue Horizon We'd follow the sound Of the dirt tracking bikes Into th…
Brand of New Book Pre>intro f bb see see f bb see see f…
Break Down The Wind The missionary's position is clear Break them down Convertin…
Broken Skin It's not surprising That you have all those wounds They're…
Bubblegum Cancer Joe Camel was a friend of mine He had a…
Bullet of Redemption That bullet of redemption Didn't strike me well Others are…
Burnin' On A Higher Flame The night falls dark around me, and…
Call Me Your Doctor Pre>bm g (twice) E a d g Call me your doctor if…
Can't Waste a Minute Pre> Intro: the notes are e c# be c# c# be…
Canned Laughter Canned laughter Rings in my ears the morning after Canned la…
Cheap Chipped Black Nails Now that you're back in town You look around at everything W…
Children And Dogs She said she just wanted a friend And then…
Chloroform You look like you been here before One or two many…
Clear Head Pre>intro see g (8 times) See g see g see g…
Comfortably Numb Hello Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear…
Crawling from the Wreckage Got out really early from the factory Drivin' like a nut…
Cruel Lips What does it take to shut your cruel, cruel lips How…
Cruel Stage Take me for what I'm worth though it may not…
Crying for Attention Can you hear me? Baby can you hear me? Who do you…
Cupid [Chorus:] Cupid draw back your bow And let your arrow flow S…
Daddy's a Postman Pre> E asus4 a 4 times E asus4 a e asus4 a We…
Dancing For Money When I ask you for a light you don't turn…
Dark Days The sun has a solar flare The earth just tilted on…
Dark Side Of The Bright Lights Pre>intro a asus2 a6 a a (twice) (the notes go…
Depend On Me Don't let your head hang down like that As if there…
Devil's Sidewalk Pre> Like no holding back you can get the main melody…
Discovering Japan Her heart is nearly breaking, the earth is nearly quaking T…
Disney's America Pre>capo at 4 intro: e a e a Verse A amaj7 d…
Don't Ask Me Questions Pre>lead guitar intro em bm a em bm d a…
Don't Get Excited There is always some advantage to be wielded and brought…
Don't Let It Break You Down Intro: D G (4 times) …
Dont Ask Me Questions Pre>lead guitar intro em bm a em bm d a…
Don’t Let It Break You Down Pre>intro: d g (4 times) D g d g Now don't get…
Durban Poison The Zulus are rising from their shanty towns The Injuns are…
Empty Lives Pre>this one has bunch of chords that are easy to…
Endless Night Pre>(e) a e d a d e Uh, I had the…
England's Latest Clown England's Latest Clown His cultural importance Hasn't …
Every Day I Have to Cry There was a little girl I had planned to marry This was…
Everyone's Hand Is On The Switch Pre>intro: a g (several times) A g a d g Everyone's hand…
Everything Goes Pre>intro: d then briefly g a (4 times) D g a Another…
Fear Not Pre>intro c#m be a be a be c#m C#m e c#m…
First Day of Spring Pre>capo at 4 A be The sky might be massive up above E/a…
Fly As you look into an invisible landscape And the waves of…
Fool's Gold Pre>intro as per verse A d a d I been doing my…
Force of Nature [Intro:] [VERSE:] She's got everything she needs and it i…
Get Started Start A Fire The mona lisa's sister doesn't smile She tried to pose but…
Get Started, Start A Fire Thanx Kirk Anderson (kanderso@wheatonma.edu) for chords, he …
Get Started. Start a Fire The mona lisa's sister doesn't smile She tried to pose but…
Ghost In My House There's a ghost in my house The ghost of your memories The…
Girl In Need WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE WEARY YOU SOUND LIKE A GIRL…
Glass Jaw Pre> Intro c#m a g#m (three times) then c#m E be I got…
Green Monkeys In a distant street a distant beat repeats machine gun…
Guardian Angels Pre>022130 002220 002120 E7 a amaj7 Your guardian angels are…
Gypsy Blood Pre>capo at fret 2 intro D / d / g /…
Hard Side of the Rain Twisted shards of metal Silhouetted against the sky The du…
Haunted Episodes Pre>capo at 3 /c /b etc mean passing bass notes G…
Head On Straight I had my day in the sun Then it rained every…
Heat Treatment Pre>thanks to robert watson robert@gcmac.demon.co.uk For a c…
Help Me Shake It Pre> Verse G I've been sweating I've been fretting G I've be…
Here It Comes Again Let's talk about a criminal procedure Throw out the idea…
Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions Pre>lead guitar intro em bm a em bm d a…
High Horse The saddest animal in this zoo Is not the lion the…
hit the spot This groove is Em D Em Bm7 and the other…
Hold Back The Night Hold back the night, turn on the light Don't wanna dream…
Honest Work As long as you give me my pay you'll get…
Hotel Chambermaid When the lights are low you know I'm going to…
Howlin' Wind The waterfalls trinkling Like bells to my ear The earth roll…
Howling Wind C G D Em C Bm Am The waterfalls trinkling C Bm…
I Discovered America There was smoke up to my eyeballs Poison burned my…
I Don't Know Intro G D G see G D G see I don't know…
I Want You Back When I had you to myself I didn't want you…
I Was Wrong I dreamed I was someone special in another life They gave…
I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again Two young girls were swept down the culverts in the…
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down You think you've got it all set up, You think you've…
I'm Into Something Good Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine There's somethin' special …
I'm Just Your Man Pre>e^ as 0 14 14 13 12 0 A~ as 0…
If It Ever Stops Rainin' I hear the whole East Coast is socked in By a…
Impenetrable Pre>intro: am / am+9 / em7 / dm7 (twice) Am+9 means…
Is The Sun Out Anywhere IS THE SUN OUT ANYWHERE IS IT IN PARIS OR ROME LOOKS…
It Takes A Village Idiot I got my dunce's cap and cardboard sword And I'm droolin'…
It's All Worth Nothing Alone Pre>bm (4 times) then a g f# Bm Speak to me baby…
I’m Just Your Man Pre>e^ as 0 14 14 13 12 0 A~ as 0…
Jolie Jolie There's no remedy I just keep yearning for the sound of…
Just Like a Man Just like a man, flexing his muscle and not really…
Just Like Hermann Hesse I took off my mask that night and bared my…
Just Like Joe Meek's Blues My head was swimming in a Bangkok joint You got paint…
Kid With the Butterfly Net Pre>intro: (fiddle over) g / see / d / d…
Lady Doctor Pre>bb f (3 times) G see g see I've got a lady…
Last Couple on the Dance Floor Pre>e e/g# be f# a People call and ask how we're…
Last Stop Is Nowhere Last stop is nowhere That's where I'm bound Last stop is n…
Life Gets Better Pre>cmaj9 320010 dmaj9 xx0220 see cmaj9, am, f (four times)…
Little Miss Understanding Pre> D g d a d Intro: understanding understanding (twice) D …
Local Girls Sit by my window and look outside, wonder why the…
Locked Into Green Pre>(the subject of this song, william wittmam informs us, i…
Long Stem Rose My long stem rose won't sit on the mantelpiece She's not…
Love Gets You Twisted Love gets you twisted Love gets you twisted all the way The…
Love Is A Burning Question We work through the rituals and cover our poisonous tracks M…
Love or Delusion I was right there near the goal In the information…
Love Without Greed Pre>dsus4 xx0233 Intro d dsus4 d dsus4 d bm g a D…
Loverman I can take those riff raff and get them out…
Lunatic Fringe Pre>verse in g G em I want to thank you for sticking…
Manoeuvres Pre>b e g a Be e g a C7 f7 c7 f7 C7…
Mercury Poisoning No more pretending now, the albatross is dying in its…
Mighty Rivers Pre>intro: the chords I have worked out here consist of…
Milk Train You know your mamma's good lookin' you're gonna eat a…
Miracle A Minute oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh When you put your arms…
More Questions Than Answers There are more questions than answers Pictures in my mind t…
Mr. Tender Mr. Tender is something I'm not I pulled too tight…
Museum Of Stupidity One day there'll be a museum of stupidity Where we can…
Museum Piece (alright, let's do the museum piece!) Elvis p. and jerry le…
My Love Is Strong Pre>intro a / d a / d (d) a d a…
Nation Of Shopkeepers I come from a nation of shopkeepers Window cleaners, turf a…
Next Phase Pre>capo at 4 intro: g see g see g see…
No Holding Back Pre> (capo at 2) intro: D a d dsus4 d bm gsus4 D…
No More Excuses Pre>intro riff the high notes are f# g be f#…
Nobody Hurts You Pre>riff over e d a e be a e d…
Not If It Pleases Me Pre>blues in f (capo at 1) Instrumental verse E e7 If I sh…
Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart Pre>intro e a e a E a e a d be If…
Oasis I am a lucky man that's what I think I might…
Obsessed With Aretha Pre>intro: hey ay ay ay etc Em d see am twice (am)…
OK Hieronymus I break a heart in a thousand places, she makes…
Over The Border A man smokes and a dog stretches A woman works…
Paralyzed I'll wait for someone to tell me what I already…
Partner For Life Pre>this is reported to be played with open tuning but…
Passion Is No Ordinary Word Pre>intro a e d A e a It worked much better in…
Passive Resistance Pre> Capo at 2 see f see am see f am…
Platinum Blonde Stuff comes down from the golden triangle On ferries from De…
Pollinate Pre>c dm7 see f see I can feel it in the…
Pourin' It All Out Pre>intro e d (4 times) (played as barre chords 7th,…
Protection So all of you be damned we can't have heaven…
Queen of Compromise How can you take the crown from the queen of…
Release Me Na na nah I can still feel your teethmarks in my…

and many more tracks by Graham Parker.

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS