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.
Hold Back the Night
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
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Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
When you left you took the sun right out of my sky, yes you did
Wonder why you went away, and never told me why
When the sun go down, the moon is near
I'm scared to death 'cause your face appear
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Loneliness, haunting me when I go to bed yes I do
Like a character in a book, that I have read
When the sun go down, the moon is near
I'm scared to death 'cause your face appear
Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
I said hold back the right, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night, turn on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
Hold back the night,
Turn on the light
Hold back the night, turn on the light
The lyrics of "Hold Back the Night" by Graham Parker and The Rumour depict the emotions of a person who can't stop thinking about their past lover. The singer is haunted by his memories of his former partner and cannot bear to dream about her anymore. The imagery in the song is powerful, where the absence of the lover has left the sky devoid of the sun that once brightened the singer's life. The moon now scares the singer because it reminds him of his lost love who appears in his dreams. The loneliness that he feels is like a character in a book that he has read and cannot forget.
The repetition of the phrase "Hold back the night, turn on the light" is like a mantra that the singer uses to fight off those haunting memories. He wants to stop dreaming about his former partner and bring light back into his life. The lyrics are raw and honest, the pain of a broken heart is palpable.
The song has a catchy beat and a rock sound that complements the heartfelt lyrics. It was one of Graham Parker and The Rumour's most successful singles in the UK, reaching #22 on the UK charts. The song was also featured in the movie "The Warriors" and was included in the soundtrack.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold back the night, turn on the light
I don't want to dream about you, so I need to hold back the darkness by turning on the light
Don't wanna dream about you baby (dream about you baby)
I don't want to think about you in my dreams, but I can't help it
When you left you took the sun right out of my sky, yes you did
Ever since you left, everything in my life has felt dark and gloomy
Wonder why you went away, and never told me why
I'm still trying to figure out why you left without any explanation
When the sun go down, the moon is near
Nighttime is not a happy time for me, because that's when I start to miss you the most
I'm scared to death 'cause your face appear
When I see your face in my dreams, it scares me because I can't have you in real life
Loneliness, haunting me when I go to bed yes I do
Even though I try not to think about you, loneliness still haunts me every night when I go to sleep
Like a character in a book, that I have read
My feelings for you are like a character in a book that I can't forget, no matter how hard I try
Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it
I need to take control of my thoughts and feelings before they consume me
Hold back the night
I need to try my best to stop thinking about you and let myself move on
Turn on the light
By shedding light on my emotions, I can gain a clearer understanding of them and learn to let go
Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.