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.
New York Shuffle
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A D A D A D
D A
Manhattan baby with a sing song voice
G D
she got her place in the human zoo
D A
I went to living on the boulevard
now that the revolution's due
G A
She said I've been around from town to town
G A
and I learned to love and hate
G A
But time don't change not a unique game,
G A D
they just keep herding through that gate
CHORUS
D A
And do the New York shuffle, baby New York scuffle,
G D
Going to stay awake all night
D A
Do the New York shuffle, baby New York scuffle,
G A D D A D
Get yourself uptight, get uptight
Stick around kids you're going to see some action
better shoot them in the street
Grab a gun before the police come,
Don't tell me you're too sweet
Down in the alley they are hitting harder
Not as blown as a ball can be
They're burnin flags here and just in drag here
It sure is a sight to see
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
Bm E Bm E
Mister Mayor give the key, let me lock you up
Bm E G A
Throw that key down the deepest subway in New York, New York
INSTRUMENTAL VERSE (2 lines end on D)
Ah primal scream I had electric dream
I had to
The song New York Shuffle by Graham Parker & The Rumour is a commentary on the city of New York in the 1970s, a time when the city was experiencing a period of upheaval and radical change. The lyrics are spoken from the perspective of someone who has experienced the city’s gritty underside and who is able to see both its beauty and its darker aspects. The opening verse sets the scene by describing a woman with a ‘sing song voice’ who lives in the city, while the second verse focuses on the violence and social unrest that is a part of everyday life in New York. The chorus encourages listeners to join in the ‘New York shuffle’ and ‘get themselves uptight’. This is a call to action, urging people to embrace the city’s energy and rebellious spirit.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of nostalgia for a time when the city was more free and alive, before it was overrun by violence and decay. The bridge section is a direct challenge to those in power, with the singer calling on the mayor to ‘give the key’ so that he can ‘lock you up’. The final instrumental section features a ‘primal scream’ and an ‘electric dream’, suggesting that the singer is experiencing a catharsis of sorts, releasing all the pent-up energy and emotion that the city has instilled in him.
Line by Line Meaning
(Spoken) All right, let's do the New York Shuffle
The singer is introducing the song and asking for the audience to follow along with the New York Shuffle.
Manhattan baby with a sing song voice
There is a woman in Manhattan who speaks in a musical tone.
she got her place in the human zoo
The woman mentioned exists in a diverse society of many people trying to coexist.
I went to living on the boulevard
The singer moved to a more prominent or significant location.
now that the revolution's due
With the impending social revolution, the singer feels like there will be changes soon.
She said I've been around from town to town
The woman the singer mentions has traveled from one place to another.
and I learned to love and hate
The woman has experienced both love and hatred during her time in different places.
But time don't change not a unique game,
Despite the passing of time, people are still prone to similar thoughts and actions.
they just keep herding through that gate
People continue to travel and flock to different locations.
And do the New York shuffle, baby New York scuffle,
The singer encourages people to participate in the New York Shuffle.
Going to stay awake all night
The singer implies that they will stay up late into the night.
Get yourself uptight, get uptight
The singer tells people to get excited about the New York Shuffle.
Stick around kids you're going to see some action
The singer says that if people stay around, they will experience some excitement.
better shoot them in the street
The singer makes a violent remark about shooting people in the street.
Grab a gun before the police come,
The singer voices the idea of arming oneself before the police arrive.
Don't tell me you're too sweet
The singer encourages people to toughen up and not be too innocent.
Down in the alley they are hitting harder
The singer describes a physical fight happening in an alleyway.
Not as blown as a ball can be
The fight isn't as intense as it could be.
They're burnin flags here and just in drag here
Some people are burning flags and others are in costume.
It sure is a sight to see
The singer acknowledges that what's happening is noteworthy.
Mister Mayor give the key, let me lock you up
The singer calls out the Mayor to imprison them for their faults.
Throw that key down the deepest subway in New York, New York
The singer suggests that the Mayor be imprisoned in the New York subway.
Ah primal scream I had electric dream
The singer shares that they had a vivid dream and felt a primal urge to scream.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OTT Consulting
Got into Graham late 1975 - a brilliant first two albums - so cool.
Daniel Craig
Flapping his wings at 1:08 !! 🤣🤣 so funny and proto punk !!! Kills me every time I watch !
MegaTurkeylips
Gimme a shot of that ol' Jack Daniels and put me behind bars. God I've always loved this song.
Richard Sykes
Such a great band, should’ve been huge, life’s unfair. Thank God for YouTube!
Chasbo Daniels
They were fantastic for sure! We can blame the US market for preferring blander and less challenging music. Peter Frampton, ABBA or Fleetwood Mac owned the pop rock charts for a few years.
Commander Nelson
Graham the man. I was just in NY so fitting then and now.
First Case
This is Crazy. I like it
bill hennig
Really A Super Example of what Rock and Rolling was happening during the years Main stream R & R had a mushiness begin and Dang we ... Gotta a trucking Convoy , and also the Disco craze peaked.
Keith skillen
Great song ever ever
Daniel Craig
This is possibly the hottest thing I’ve ever seen on the inter web ! God Bless these bastards !