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.
Soul On Ice
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
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Ah, someone else’s therapy
Well, someone else’s fears
Every body said ah, come onto my side
Just to lead me up a blind alley way
Nothing worse than a fool’s advice
And it ain't hot enough for a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice, freezin'
Try to read the sharp words
But they don’t even cut
They’re stupid and they’re absurd
They’re just another rut
Well, baby I am gonna crash on a main road
Yeah, and I am run aground on a sea
Nothing worse than a fool’s advice
And it ain't hot enough for a soul on ice
Nothing I can do, babe I’m trying to
Can’t even get a hand from you
Like a stranglehold, way you least expect
Stand right here baby
Freeezin' too, freezin' too, freezin' too
Freezin', freezin'
Everybody’s sweet words
They fall on stony ground
There’s nothing that they can do
Can do, can do to thaw this soul down
Well, every body said ah, come onto my side
Just to lead me up a blind alley way
Nothing worse than a fool’s advice
And it ain't hot enough for a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice, freezin'
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice, freezin'
The song Soul On Ice by Graham Parker & The Rumour is a powerful reflection of the struggle of human connection amidst the chaos of daily life. The opening lines indicate that the singer has become disconnected from others, as if the stories they hear from people around them are pointless and do not resonate. The verse "Every body said ah, come onto my side, Just to lead me up a blind alleyway, Nothing worse than a fool’s advice" highlights how the singer has lost trust in others and feels that others are more trouble than they are worth. The title phrase, "soul on ice," seems to represent a state of being where a person's emotions have become numb, walled off from the world by the way that others have treated them.
The chorus, "Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice, Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice" repeats itself throughout the song, highlighting the idea that the singer feels trapped in a state of isolation and detachment. The verse "Everybody’s sweet words They fall on stony ground" reinforces this idea, as the singer sees other people's words as hollow and meaningless. The final lines "Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice, freezin'" bring the song to a dramatic close, emphasizing the frozen and isolated state of the singer's soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Every story told me is wasted on my ears
People keep telling me their problems but I'm not really listening or caring
Ah, someone else’s therapy
Their stories are like therapy for them, but meaningless to me
Well, someone else’s fears
Their fears are not mine, so I can't relate or empathize
Every body said ah, come onto my side
Everyone wants me to join their cause, but they're not really offering anything worthwhile
Just to lead me up a blind alley way
They're leading me down a dead-end path with no real purpose or benefit
Nothing worse than a fool’s advice
Advice from people who don't know what they're talking about is the worst kind
And it ain't hot enough for a soul on ice
The situation is not intense or exciting enough to get me motivated
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Feeling stuck and cold, with no real direction or purpose
Try to read the sharp words
I'm trying to understand their criticisms, but they're not really making sense
But they don’t even cut
Their words aren't having any impact on me, since they're not making any sense
They’re stupid and they’re absurd
Their criticisms are pointless and ridiculous
They’re just another rut
I'm stuck in a cycle of pointless criticisms and advice
Well, baby I am gonna crash on a main road
I'm heading towards a disaster or failure that everyone can see
Yeah, and I am run aground on a sea
I'm stuck and unable to move forward, like a ship stuck on shallow water
Nothing I can do, babe I’m trying to
I'm doing my best, but the situation is out of my control
Can’t even get a hand from you
I'm not getting any help or support from the people around me
Like a stranglehold, way you least expect
The situation is suffocating and getting worse, and it's catching me off guard
Stand right here baby
I'm stuck and unable to move, like a statue standing in place
Everybody’s sweet words
People are being nice to me, but it's not making any difference
They fall on stony ground
Their nice words are not having any impact, since I'm not receptive to them
There’s nothing that they can do
Even though people are trying to help, there's nothing they can do to change my situation
Can do, can do to thaw this soul down
They can't help me become less stuck or less apathetic
Well, every body said ah, come onto my side
People are still trying to recruit me to their cause, even though it's not helping
Freezin', freezin' like a soul on ice
Feeling stuck and unmotivated, with no clear direction or purpose
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind