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.
You Got The World
Graham Parker Lyrics
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As you hit the bank machine at night
Drinking money for tomorrow's flight
As you count your loss or bet on a black horse
Sit behind the wheel of a black Porsche
Use your leather organizer with your name embossed
The night is thick with frost It chills your heart
Where do you want where do you want the world?
You got the girl right where you want her
But where do you want where do you want the girl?
I pulled up at your door And turned the key once more
Took a calculator from my pocket
Checked a picture of us in a locket
I knew you were not in An alarm began to ring
Punched a number on a cordless phone
Made an offer on a Docklands condominium home
Somewhere with no soul That won't remind me
You got the world right where you want it
Where do you want where do you want the world?
You got the girl right where you want her
But where do you want where do you want the girl?
You got the world right where you want it
Where do you want where do you want the world?
You got the girl right where you want her
But where do you want where do you want the girl?
In "You Got The World," Graham Parker explores the theme of materialism and the dissatisfaction that can come with it. The verses paint a picture of someone living a luxurious lifestyle - washing their hair with Perrier, withdrawing money at night, driving a black Porsche, and using a leather organizer with their name embossed. However, despite all of this, the night is "thick with frost" and the person's heart is left cold.
The chorus poses a question to the subject: "You got the world right where you want it. Where do you want the world? You got the girl right where you want her. But where do you want the girl?" Here, Parker is pointing out that even though the person has all of these material possessions and seemingly has control over their romantic relationship, they are still searching for something more. The singer of the song - who may or may not be Parker himself - is positioned as an outsider looking in, checking a locket with a photo of the couple inside, and making an offer on a Docklands condominium, somewhere "with no soul" that won't remind him of his past.
Overall, "You Got The World" is a critique of a society that prizes material wealth above all else and the hollow feeling that can come with achieving that kind of status. Parker's lyrics are incisive and introspective, calling into question the values of those who pursue this kind of lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
As you wash your hair and bathe in Perrier
As you indulge in luxurious and unnecessary activities.
As you hit the bank machine at night
As you withdraw money without care for the consequences.
Drinking money for tomorrow's flight
Spending money frivolously without saving for the future.
As you count your loss or bet on a black horse
As you struggle with financial losses or take risky bets.
Sit behind the wheel of a black Porsche
Driving an extravagant and flashy car for show.
Use your leather organizer with your name embossed
Displaying your status and wealth through a branded and personalized accessory.
The night is thick with frost It chills your heart
The coldness of the world and its materialistic values has left you feeling empty and alone.
I pulled up at your door And turned the key once more
I come to you for comfort and familiarity.
Took a calculator from my pocket Checked a picture of us in a locket
Calculating if the relationship is worth it based on memories and pictures of us.
I knew you were not in An alarm began to ring
Realizing you are absent and feeling a sense of anxiety and urgency.
Punched a number on a cordless phone Made an offer on a Docklands condominium home
Trying to distract myself and make an impulsive decision to distract from the pain of your absence.
Somewhere with no soul That won't remind me
Choosing a new home that has no emotional connection to you, to try and forget you.
You got the world right where you want it Where do you want where do you want the world?
You have achieved external success, but what do you truly desire and value in life?
You got the girl right where you want her But where do you want where do you want the girl?
You have control over the relationship, but what is it that you really want from it?
You got the world right where you want it Where do you want where do you want the world?
Repeated reminder that external success does not equal true happiness and fulfillment.
You got the girl right where you want her But where do you want where do you want the girl?
Repeated reminder to reflect on what you really want from the relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind