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.
Waiting For The UFO's
Graham Parker Lyrics
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Even the skeptics are unsure when they stop to think
People are not worth their life now they are obsolete
We're dying to be invaded and put the blame on something concrete
Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for the UFOs
We are waiting for the UFOs We know that they're there
The government is holding back, they won't say a word
Now is that a light in sky or just a spark in my heart?
Can I accept this as evidence or will that tear the whole act apart?
This new obsession is turning us alien too too
Much more resounding my heart just stopped pounding for you
Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for the UFOs
We are waiting for the UFOs Waiting Waiting
The song "Waiting for the UFO's" by Graham Parker And The Rumour is a social commentary on the state of humanity at the time. The lyrics suggest a sense of disillusionment and despair, with lines like "People are not worth their life now they are obsolete" and "We're just a joke they sometimes crack, they'll get away with anything." The chorus repeats the phrase "Waiting for the UFO's," which can be interpreted as both a literal desire for the arrival of extraterrestrial life, as well as a metaphor for seeking liberation from the overwhelming problems of society.
The verse that goes, "Even the skeptics are unsure when they stop to think," highlights the idea that even those who may not believe in the existence of aliens can feel disillusioned with humanity and might be willing to believe in something that can offer hope. However, the government is hiding information from the public, suggested by the line "The government is holding back, they won't say a word", which further adds to the sense of hopelessness as no one knows what to believe or what the future holds. The song ends with "This new obsession is turning us alien too," perhaps expressing a fear that the more we crave for something to free ourselves from our earthly problems, the more we might become disconnected from what it means to be human.
Line by Line Meaning
No-one can hide it anymore we know it's not imagining
The truth about the existence of UFOs is now widely accepted and cannot be denied or covered up.
Even the skeptics are unsure when they stop to think
Even those who doubt the existence of UFOs are starting to question their beliefs when confronted with credible evidence.
People are not worth their life now they are obsolete
Human beings feel insignificant in the face of a potential extraterrestrial threat and doubt their worth.
We're dying to be invaded and put the blame on something concrete
People are secretly longing for aliens to invade so they can blame their problems on an outside force instead of taking responsibility for their own actions.
We're just a joke they sometimes crack, they'll get away with anything
People feel helpless and powerless in the face of the government's secrecy about UFOs and their unwillingness to share information with the public.
The government is holding back, they won't say a word
The government is keeping important information about UFOs from the public and refusing to acknowledge their existence.
Now is that a light in sky or just a spark in my heart?
People are desperately trying to find evidence of UFOs but are often mistaken or see things that aren't really there.
Can I accept this as evidence or will that tear the whole act apart?
People are hesitant to accept any proof of UFOs for fear that it will challenge their worldview and beliefs.
This new obsession is turning us alien too too
People's preoccupation with UFOs and aliens is causing them to feel like outsiders or foreigners in their own world.
Much more resounding my heart just stopped pounding for you
The excitement and anticipation of a potential UFO sighting is causing people's hearts to race and pound with anticipation.
Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for the UFOs
People are eagerly anticipating the appearance of UFOs.
We are waiting for the UFOs We know that they're there
People have a gut feeling that UFOs exist and are waiting for concrete proof to vindicate their beliefs.
Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for the UFOs
People are eagerly anticipating the appearance of UFOs.
We are waiting for the UFOs Waiting Waiting
People can't wait for UFOs to make their presence known and are growing impatient.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind