The first album by Graham Parker and the Rumour, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and was 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,Van Morrison) 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.
Parker and the Rumour built a reputation as incendiary live performers: the promotional album Live at Marble Arch was recorded at this time and shows off their raw onstage style. 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.
Bob Andrews left The Rumour in early 1980, and was not officially replaced. However, in studio sessions for the next album (The Up Escalator), Nicky Hopkins and Danny Federici (of The E Street Band) sat in on keyboards.
1980's The Up Escalator was Parker's highest-charting album in the UK and featured production by Jimmy Iovine and guest vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Significantly, the front cover of the album credited only Graham Parker, not "Graham Parker and The Rumour".
The Up Escalator would prove to be Parker's last album with the Rumour, although guitarist Brinsley Schwarz would reunite with Parker in 1983 and play on most of the singer's albums through the decade's end. As well, bassist Andrew Bodnar would rejoin Parker from 1988 through the mid 1990s, and drummer Steve Goulding would play on Parker's 2001 album Deepcut To Nowhere.
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.
Don't Ask Me Questions
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bm g bm g
Crimson autograph is what we leave behind, everywhere man set foot.
Em bm f#m bm
War mongers laughing loud behind a painted face
Em bm f#m bm
Throwing titbits to the crowd then blowing up the place.
Chorus
Bm g
Hey lord don't ask me questions, hey lord don't ask me questions
Bm f#m
Hey lord don't ask me questions please!
Bm g
Hey lord don't ask me questions, hey lord don't ask me questions
Bm f#m bm
Hey lord ain't no answer in me. (solo)
Well I stand up for liberty but can't liberate
Pent up agony I see you take first place.
Well who does this treachery I shout with bleeding hand
Is it you or is it me well I never will understand.
Chorus then solo
Well I see the thousands screaming rushing for the cliffs
Just like lemmings into the sea, well well well
Who waves his mighty hand and breaks the precious rules?
Well the same one must understand who wasted all these fools.
Chorus
Ain't no answer in me no, ain't no answer in me
Fade on uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh /pre>
Graham Parker's song Don't Ask Me Questions is a commentary on the state of modern society, particularly in relation to war and politics. The opening lines, "Crimson autograph is what we leave behind, everywhere man set foot" speaks to the bloodshed and destruction that seems to be ubiquitous. The war mongers who hide behind painted faces and throw scraps to the masses before destroying everything, represent the manipulative leaders who exploit people's emotions for their own gain.
The chorus "Hey lord don't ask me questions, hey lord don't ask me questions, hey lord ain't no answer in me" is a plea for helplessness and powerlessness. It shows that there is a sense of absurdity and confusion around the actions of these leaders, and there seems to be no way out of it. Despite standing up for liberty and trying to take action, the agony remains pent up, and there is a sense of hopelessness.
The song is a powerful yet cynical critique of the current state of affairs, highlighting the voices of those who feel powerless in the face of government leaders' deception and manipulation. It calls for people to question the decisions made by those in power so that they will always remain accountable.
Line by Line Meaning
Crimson autograph is what we leave behind, everywhere man set foot.
We leave a trail of bloodshed and destruction everywhere we go.
War mongers laughing loud behind a painted face
People who profit from war hide behind a facade, laughing at the destruction they cause.
Throwing titbits to the crowd then blowing up the place.
They use propaganda to gain support and then cause chaos and destruction.
Well I stand up for liberty but can't liberate
The singer believes in freedom but is unable to achieve it.
Pent up agony I see you take first place.
People's pain and suffering are prioritized over freedom and justice.
Well who does this treachery I shout with bleeding hand
The singer questions who is responsible for the injustice and cruelty.
Is it you or is it me well I never will understand.
He is unsure if he is responsible or if it's the fault of society's systems and structures.
Well I see the thousands screaming rushing for the cliffs
The masses blindly follow leaders to their deaths.
Just like lemmings into the sea, well well well
People blindly follow the crowd, just like lemmings.
Who waves his mighty hand and breaks the precious rules?
Whoever is in power breaks the very laws they are meant to uphold.
Well the same one must understand who wasted all these fools.
Those in power must understand the consequences of their actions and the lives they ruin.
Ain't no answer in me no, ain't no answer in me
The singer can't provide any solutions to the problems of society.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Graham Parker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnbooth2005
β¦ Crimson autograph
Is what we leave behind
Everywhere, where that man set foot, yeah
A warmonger's laughin' loud
Behind a painted face
Throwing titbits to the crowd then
Blowin' up the place
β¦ Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Please
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, ain't no answer in me
β¦ Well, I stand up for liberty
But I can't liberate, uh
And pent up agony
I see you take first place
Well, who does this treachery
I shout with bleedin' hands
Is it you or is it me, well
I never will understand
β¦ Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Please, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, ain't no answer in me
β¦ Who waves his mighty hands
And breaks the precious rules
Well the same one got to understand
Who wasted all these fools
β¦ Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
Please, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, don't ask me questions
(Hey Lord) Hey Lord, ain't no answer in me, yeah
β¦ Ain't no answer in me, no
Ain't no answer in me
Oh no, oh no
Ain't no answer, ain't no answer, no answer in me
Ain't no answer, ain't no answer, no answer in me
Ain't no answer, ain't no answer, no answer in me
@iesus68
I do believe Graham Parker is the most underrated singer and writer in rock history, he has written and sung so many incredible songs. Such a brilliant artist supported by one of the greatest bunch of musicians ever seen on a stage.
@Enigmatism415
+iesus68
I began as a big fan of Joe Jackson, moved on to Elvis Costello, and then heard that this bloke was a bit of alright. Can you recommend a few of his best albums?
@iesus68
Enigmatism415Β His double live lp set called Parkerilla is one of the best live album I've ever heard, on studio side I'd suggest you Stick to Me (his early period) and Squeezing Out Sparks. There's a great triple CD anthology done by Rhino Records called "Passion Is no Ordinary Word" which is really well done too
@Daniel-dz2ie
+iesus68 I personally love his album Heat Treatment
@iesus68
Heat Treatment, another must to have
@TheGodParticle
Maybe underrated but I'm sure he made good money and don't forget the royalties
@markstenzler271
Graham is the man.
One of the greatest songs of all time.
@Tcat506
Heard this on the radio today!!!! I'd forgotten how freakin much I loved this !!!!! Still sounding epic in Nov 2020
@nickmcgivern2791
And 3years later...Go the cool 80's
@flyingfishsurf
I've seen tons of acts starting in '62 and see no end in sight.Β Β I'veΒ experienced the surf rock explosion, the English invasion, folk,Β psychedelia,Β Β prog rock, metal, funk, punk, reggae,Β new wave, indie, rap, andΒ everything in between.Β Β My last live show was last weekend.Β Seeing these guys around '77 with this lineup was still one of the finest shows I've ever witnessed.Β Parker, Schwartz and the horn section were absolutely on fire.Β This video only captures half of it.