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.
Watch The Moon Come Down
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
G see
In this dirty town there's nothing going for me
G see
No shows going down that I would want to see
G em see
Nothing but the midnight tra----in
In this shady street on a top floor flat
G see
Women take their sheets down to the laundromat
G em see
And as the night falls on this to-----wn
Chorus
G d em d see
I'm going to watch the moon come down
G d em d see
Watch the moon come down
G d em d see
I'm gonna watch the moon come down
G d em d
Watch it come down
G see
As the workmen walk home, reflected in the car chrome
G see
Splashing through the gutters and the sand
G see
The birds move in the rafters hearing echoes of the laughter
G see
From children in a playground close at hand
D bm
And hands inside my pockets, staring at the light sockets
See d
Everyone's been blown out everyone's been thrown out
See
I said baby baby baby baby baby
Repeat chorus
G see
If I stay out all night test the midnight train's headlights
G see
Follow the tracks beyond sight to the bend
G see
Now who've I got to let down, tell me somebody with their head down
G see d bm
Bargin' into solid ground in the end in the end, yeah in the end
See d
Waitin for the end, arrive to the end, hey hey (guitar solo)
see
I said baby baby baby baby baby
G d em d see
Watch the moon come down (three times)
G d em d see
Yes I'm going to watch the moon come down
G d em d see
Yeah I'm going to watch the moon come down like a midnight train uh huh
G see
Uh uh I'm going to watch the moon come down watch it come down
G see
Yes I'm going to watch the moon come down, like a midnight train (fade)
/pre>
The song "Watch the Moon Come Down" by Graham Parker depicts the monotonous and bleak life of a man who feels unfulfilled and hopeless in a dirty town. The first verse describes the lack of excitement and entertainment in his surroundings, with no worthwhile shows going on. He observes the mundane activities of the town, such as the women taking their laundry to the laundromat and the workmen walking home. The chorus talks about how the man plans to watch the moon come down, as if it's the only thing worth looking forward to in his life, highlighting his despair and lack of purpose.
The second verse continues to describe the dull nature of his existence, with him staring at light sockets and feeling that everyone has been "blown out" and "thrown out". The bridge encourages the listener to envision the singer following the tracks of a midnight train, eventually barging into "solid ground" - possibly meaning that he wants to find something to believe in or a more fulfilling life. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the man's desire to latch onto something as fleeting as the moon coming down in the night sky.
Overall, "Watch the Moon Come Down" is a poignant reflection on loneliness, disillusionment, and the search for purpose in a bleak environment.
Line by Line Meaning
In this dirty town there's nothing going for me
The singer lives in a dull and uninteresting place with no opportunities.
No shows going down that I would want to see
There are no interesting events happening in the area.
Nothing but the midnight tra----in
The only notable thing happening is the night train passing through.
In this shady street on a top floor flat
The artist lives in a shady area on the top floor of a building.
Women take their sheets down to the laundromat
The only activity around is women doing laundry.
And as the night falls on this to-----wn
As it gets dark, the town becomes even more boring and uneventful.
I'm going to watch the moon come down
The singer decides to watch the moon as there's nothing else to do.
Watch the moon come down
The artist repeats the decision to observe the moon's descent.
As the workmen walk home, reflected in the car chrome
The artist sees workmen walking home and their reflection in a car's chrome.
Splashing through the gutters and the sand
The workmen make noise by walking through puddles and sand.
The birds move in the rafters hearing echoes of the laughter
Birds perch on the roof and hear the distant sound of children's laughter.
From children in a playground close at hand
There's a nearby playground where children are playing.
And hands inside my pockets, staring at the light sockets
The singer has nothing to do but stands around with their hands in their pockets, looking at the light fixtures nearby.
Everyone's been blown out everyone's been thrown out
Everyone seems to have left or been kicked out of the area.
If I stay out all night test the midnight train's headlights
The singer contemplates staying out all night and looking at the train's headlights.
Follow the tracks beyond sight to the bend
The artist considers following the train tracks beyond visibility until they curve.
Now who've I got to let down, tell me somebody with their head down
The artist wonders if they should make plans with someone, but can't think of anyone available.
Bargin' into solid ground in the end in the end, yeah in the end
The singer considers their options and decides to just stay where they are in the end.
Waitin for the end, arrive to the end, hey hey (guitar solo)
The guitar solo marks a change in mood as the singer waits for something to happen or the end to come.
Uh uh I'm going to watch the moon come down watch it come down
The artist reiterates their plan to watch the moon's descent.
Yes I'm going to watch the moon come down, like a midnight train (fade)
The artist compares the moon's descent to the passing of the night train and fades away.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oppothumbs M
The world will never be right if that never happens. Can you believe Joan Jett is in? And not the Replacements? Though this Graham song is mediocre. His best songs are
Between You and Me (Best Demo ever)
Discovering Japan
Nobody Hurts You
You've got to be kidding
Heat Treatment
Pourin it all out
back door love
That's what they all say
Mona lisa sister
White Honey
And the lesser know but still great
Call Me your doctor (really great)
I'm Just Your Man (beautiful)
And It Shook Me
Sharpening Axes
Temporary Beauty.
Stan
Not that it ultimately means anything but....Graham Parker and the Rumour should be in the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame.
JEAN MICHEL Pick
I used to know Brinsley! My ex wife sister was married to him !!!!!je me rappelle quand il nous parlait de ce Graham qu’il venait de rencontrer !!!!
i jeff
Well said S C!
James Roy
YES they should and YES HE should as a solo artist TOO!!
Oppothumbs M
The world will never be right if that never happens. Can you believe Joan Jett is in? And not the Replacements? Though this Graham song is mediocre. His best songs are
Between You and Me (Best Demo ever)
Discovering Japan
Nobody Hurts You
You've got to be kidding
Heat Treatment
Pourin it all out
back door love
That's what they all say
Mona lisa sister
White Honey
And the lesser know but still great
Call Me your doctor (really great)
I'm Just Your Man (beautiful)
And It Shook Me
Sharpening Axes
Temporary Beauty.
Grant Mackenzie
Americas Costello
Peter Gerstenzang
I forgot how brilliant and poetic this was. And that band. The only one for me
Skicitrussoda
My favorite Parker tune. Anyone who grew up in, or has found themselves stuck in a horrible, nowhere town, can relate to this tune. A great version of this tune!
LL C
I listened to his first four albums on repeat growing up. He is an amazing songwriter that few people know about.
Anthony Donnelly
I did too and still listen to them often now