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.
Under The Mask Of Happiness
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The majors can be played by sliding the E shape up and
leaving bottom and top strings open. A* 0077650 B* 099870
All the dirt's lying under the carpet
He swallowed a drink then checked her heartbeat
Fanned by the flutter of her false eyelashes be
One last chance to kiss again She looked so good he looked so sane
Not forever could they last Under the mask under the mask
Under the mask of happiness Under the mask of happiness
She got colder with each incision
No-one knew he had a fatal vision
One last chance to kiss again Your mother knows her baby's pain
Not forever could they last Under the mask under the mask
Under the mask of happiness Under the mask of happiness
Under the mask, Under the mask, Under the mask,
Under the mask, Under the mask, Under the mask
(lead guitar) Instrumental chords
Look at them walking look at them kiss
What a picture of domestic bliss
Laughing and laughing like clockwork toys
Until they're broken girls and boys
One last chance to kiss again
she looked so good he looked so sane
Not forever could they last
Graham Parker's song "Under The Mask of Happiness" talks about the hidden truth or ugliness behind the facade of a happy or perfect life. The lyrics mention the dirt being swept under the carpet, which is a metaphorical representation of how people hide their dark secrets to maintain a happy image. The song implies that people often mask their true feelings and put on a façade, concealing the harsh emotions that they are feeling within.
As the song progresses, Parker uses vivid and dark imagery to describe how the illusion of happiness is shattering. There is a reference to a burning wedding gown, which symbolizes the end of a marriage or relationship, and also to the girl’s false eyelashes fanning the flames, linking her false sense of happiness to the fire. The lyrics "She got colder with each incision, no one knew he had a fatal vision" suggest that the relationship turned sour, but no one knew the truth or the depth of the issues present. Overall, the song highlights the theme of how people can be masking their true pain or problems to portray a false sense of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
All the dirt's lying under the carpet
There are hidden secrets and lies that are being concealed or ignored.
He swallowed a drink then checked her heartbeat
He drank something and then made sure that she was still alive, possibly suggesting some kind of foul play or danger.
Her wedding gown has been burned to ashes
The symbol of her innocence and purity has been destroyed, representing a loss of hope and happiness.
Fanned by the flutter of her false eyelashes be
Her manipulation and deceitfulness is contributing to the destruction of her own happiness.
One last chance to kiss again She looked so good he looked so sane
Their love is a desperate attempt to find happiness despite underlying issues, emphasizing the idea of living in denial and delusion.
Not forever could they last Under the mask under the mask
Their happiness is only temporary as it is being masked or hidden by their own lies and illusions.
She got colder with each incision
She is becoming more distant or disconnected with each cut, either physically or emotionally.
No-one knew he had a fatal vision
He had a deadly plan or idea that nobody was aware of or suspected, possibly referring to murder or suicide.
Your mother knows her baby's pain
Mothers have an instinctual understanding of their children's suffering or struggles, highlighting the theme of empathy and maternal love.
Look at them walking look at them kiss
The facade of their happiness is on display for everyone to see, reinforcing the idea of putting up appearances or hiding true feelings.
What a picture of domestic bliss
They appear to be the ideal image of a happy couple, but the reality is far from perfect and even dangerous.
Laughing and laughing like clockwork toys
They are putting on a fake and mechanical display of joy, as if they are just going through the motions without any true feeling.
Until they're broken girls and boys
Eventually their false happiness will lead to a complete breakdown, revealing the damage that has been done to them.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marty B
Another superb but almost unknown masterpiece
Digital Assets
The word-play of genius.......
xenophonon123
totally good.
Gerald Majchrzak
keep wearig the mask of happiness