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.
White Honey
Graham Parker & The Rumour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see g f g
see f see f see f see f
White honey get it from the candy man
See f see f see f see f
White honey yeah any time I think I can.
You wake up early in the morning
G see
A-playing on the clarinet
G see
Whole town down when the man comes around
F g
And no one pays their rent it's all spent on
See f see f see f see f
White honey get it from the candy man
See f see f see f see f
White honey yeah any time I think I can.
G see
She's come and laid on a sample
G see
A little sweet white honey bee
G see
Tastes so good that the whole town stood
F g
And stared and looked at me they all see the
See f see f see f see f
White honey get it from the candy man
See f see f see f see f
White honey eee any time I think I can.
c'mon and (scat to chorus and the chords as in intro)
Sax break and repeat see g f g as in intro
G see
But now I ain't wanna criticise
G see
But let me tell you what I found
G see
Since they took away the record machine
F g
White honey don't come around. get down!
See f see f see f see f
White honey get it from the candy man oh oh oh oh oh
See f see f see f see f
White honey-ee any time I think I can
See f see f
Said honey what you doing what you doing what you doing
See f see f
What you're doing downtown tell me baby.
See f see f
Honey what you do what you do what you doing
See f see f
You're trying to make me look like a clown.
See f see f
I said hit white honey when the chips are down
See f see f
I'm gonna taste white honey when ain't no one around
See f see f see f
I said honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey yeah
See f see f
Wah wah wah I said bop do do do do do bop do do do do do
See f see f see f
Bop do do do do do bop do do do do do bop do do do do do
See f see f see f see g f g
Bop do do do do do bop do do do do do bop yeah yeah
See f see f see f see g f g
White honey white white honey honey white now yeah yeah.
Fade on variations of the above /pre>
In "White Honey," Graham Parker sings about a substance that is hard to come by and greatly sought after. The "white honey" he refers to is a metaphor for something that is elusive and desirable, and he compares it to the candy man who sells it. The song has a jazzy feel to it, with the clarinet playing a prominent role in the instrumentation.
The opening lines suggest that the singer has a connection to the candy man, who provides him with the white honey whenever he wants it. The candy man is a mysterious figure, and the lines "You wake up early in the morning / A-playing on the clarinet" suggest that he may be a musician himself. The second verse introduces a female character who has something to do with the white honey, but it's not clear whether she is the candy man's accomplice or someone else entirely.
Line by Line Meaning
White honey get it from the candy man
Refers to buying drugs from a dealer.
White honey yeah any time I think I can.
The singer is always willing to buy drugs.
You wake up early in the morning
Describes the morning routine of a person addicted to drugs.
A-playing on the clarinet
The person plays music in the morning to satisfy their addiction.
Whole town down when the man comes around
When the dealer arrives, everyone is eager to buy from him.
And no one pays their rent it's all spent on
People spend all their money on drugs instead of necessities like rent.
She's come and laid on a sample
Refers to the dealer giving free drugs to potential buyers.
A little sweet white honey bee
The drug is referred to as a sweet honey bee due to its addictive nature and temporary happiness it provides.
Tastes so good that the whole town stood
People are drawn to the drug due to its pleasurable effects.
And stared and looked at me they all see the
Others watch in envy as the singer consumes the drug.
But now I ain't wanna criticise
The singer is not trying to criticize but wants to give his opinion.
But let me tell you what I found
The singer wants to share his knowledge about the drug.
Since they took away the record machine
Referring to laws that made it difficult to obtain drugs, causing the increase of drug-related crimes.
White honey don't come around. get down!
Drugs are harder to obtain now.
Said honey what you doing what you doing what you doing
Asking the drug dealer what they're doing in the area.
What you're doing downtown tell me baby.
Asking the dealer why they're in the city.
Honey what you do what you do what you doing
Asking the dealer what they're selling.
You're trying to make me look like a clown.
Accusing the dealer of tricking the singer.
I'm gonna taste white honey when ain't no one around
The singer wants to consume drugs when no one is watching.
I said honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey yeah
Reaffirms the singer's love for drugs.
Wah wah wah I said bop do do do do do bop do do do do do
Musical interlude.
White honey white white honey honey white now yeah yeah.
Repeating the chorus about the singer's love for drugs.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MORRISON, JAMES NEIL MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind