John Parr's first entrance in to music was when he was 12-years-old and devised a band with two fellow schoolmates, which they named The Silence. The band enjoyed considerable success in the U.K. as the years went on. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe. When Parr left the band, he joined a group called Ponders End. The progressive rock outfit picked up praise in the 70s as the 'best live act around' in Newcastle, along with the Dire Straits. In the end, however, they did not make a record deal, and the band's chapter in history closed, despite their local fame, without much fanfare.
Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin Music in 1983, and American rocker and performer Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album in the same year. That led to the fateful meeting with John Wolfe (manager of The Who). Foreseeing the demise of The Who, a band that had been adrift upon the death of drummer Keith Moon, Wolfe was looking for a new venture and Parr seemed to be the one. The year of 1984 was Parr's first trip to America. He worked with Meat Loaf on the album 'Bad Attitude' while Wolfe was putting finishing touches on Parr's recording deal in New York.
The spirited arena rock track "Naughty Naughty" became Parr's first U.S. top 40 hit record, the single pushing his 1984 debut album, titled simply 'John Parr', up to #48 on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart. The song built his career up very quickly by achieving top three positions on rock station after rock station in America for up to six weeks. Then, 1985 saw him on the road with the band "The Business" (not to be confused with the British punk outfit of the same name), supporting fellow progressive rockers Toto and playing 10,000-seater venues across America. Though lightening didn't quite strike twice, Parr's tune "Magical" hit a respectable #28 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, giving him some momentum. By the end of the tour, Parr had a call from one of the world's most successful producers, David Foster, that would be a key moment in his career
Foster requested Parr help with the soundtrack for the movie 'St. Elmo's Fire', a film featuring the popular 'brat pack' group of performers such as Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was the result, a song that fit in well with the movie yet also had an important history as it was also written on behalf of Canadian wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen (the 'man in motion'). The song became a #1 hit for Parr in the United States while additionally reaching the top 40 in over six different nations. Though Parr would create many songs later on, over the years, the tune has become his 'signature song'.
Parr notably co-wrote "Under a Raging Moon" for Roger Daltrey, a song that paid tribute to the late Keith Moon while also telling the general story of The Who. The parent album became Roger Daltrey's biggest solo success in America. In 1986, Parr joined up with Marilyn Martin to sing the duet "Through the Night (Love Song from Quicksilver)", a part of the soundtrack to the cycling-themed Kevin Bacon movie of the same name. Though earning some critical praise, the album was only moderately successful commercially.
Parr additionally wrote and produced further tracks for Marylin's debut album, including her popular tune "Night Moves". After the success of Meat Loaf's mid-80s work, Parr got out in front once again with the song "Rock & Roll Mercenaries". From there, he began work with Albert Magnili (director of the film 'Purple Rain') on the movie 'American Anthem'; Parr wrote and performed the main theme, a number titled "Two Hearts". Though he maintained his own supportive fan base, he found mainstream commercial success to the degree of "St. Elmo's Fire" elusive.
The Pepsi Company and Jack Calmes Satellite TV Corporation wanted to try something new, specifically a gig from London beamed live across America, Japan & Australia on the college Satellite Network, in the late 1980s. Parr ended up serving as the featured act, having done two similar shows before (one from the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles where the flame was lit for a special performance of St. Elmo's Fire and was beamed live for Japan as well as the New Year Christmas Show from London). The special ended up being a great success, reaching almost 50-million people and making broadcast history for the network.
Another dream came true for John Parr in 1988 when he was offered to collaborate with one of the most successful record producers ever. Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had assisted with hard rock mega-hit albums such as AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' and Def Leppard's 'Hysteria', agreed with work with Parr. Lange and Parr produced the self-titled debut album for the British blues rock outfit Romeo's Daughter, a work that earned mixed popular success yet had strong critical acclaim.
Nonetheless, when the 80s began to come to a close, Parr's fortunes declined as the arena-ready pop rock and progressive rock that he had produced fell out of style in favor of alternative rock and grunge music. Parr soldiered on, even trying his hand at commercial jingle writing in the 90s. Though saddled with the 'two hit wonder' label due to the outside success of his "Naughty Naughty" and "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" singles commercially, Parr has kept on touring over the years, and he more recently joined the musical project known as Acoustic Fever alongside Herman Rarebell (from Scorpions), Bobby Kimball (from Toto), and others, touring in locations such as Hannover, Germany in 2014.
Website: http://www.johnparr.net/
St Elmos Fire
John Parr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead you knew it all
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain
You'll find you're all alone everything has changed
Play the game you know you can't quit until it's won
Soldier on, only you can do what must be done
You know, in some ways you're a lot like me
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire, ooh
Burning up don't know just how far that I can go
Soon be home, only just a few miles down the road
I can make it, I know I can
You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the wildest sea
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me, burning in me
Just once in his life, a man has his time
And my time is now I'm comin' alive
I can hear the music playin' I can see the banners fly
Feel like a man again
I'll hold my head high
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the wildest sea
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me
Burning, burning in me
I can feel it burning, ooh burning inside of me
"St. Elmo's Fire" is a song by John Parr that talks about the struggles and challenges of growing up and trying to find one's place in the world. The opening lines of the song, "Growin' up you don't see the writing on the wall, Passin' by, movin' straight ahead you knew it all" suggest that we often don't pay attention to the signs around us during our adolescent years and instead march forward with our own convictions. However, as we age, a point comes when we experience hardships that can change our perceptions of the world around us. When life gets tough, one might feel alone and abandoned, but despite the difficulties, we must continue to play the game and pursue our dreams.
The lyrics also showcase moments of self-reflection and motivation, as the singer looks forward to a better future despite the obstacles in his way. "I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky" suggests a bright future, and "Gonna be a man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels, take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire," represents the singer's desire to keep moving forward towards his goals. The line "Just once in his life, a man has his time, and my time is now I'm comin' alive" embodies the feeling of hope and excitement for the future. The overall message of the song emphasizes perseverance and self-awareness, and the idea that, despite the hardships of growing up, one must keep striving towards their aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
Growin' up you don't see the writing on the wall
As kids, we often don't notice the warning signs or the looming dangers around us.
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead you knew it all
We rush past the obvious and walk toward the future with confidence - sometimes, blinded by our egos.
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain
You'll find you're all alone everything has changed
Painful moments can change everything, leaving you to face your struggles alone, and your perception of the world may be completely different.
Play the game you know you can't quit until it's won
Soldier on, only you can do what must be done
Life is a game that you have to keep progressing through, even if you don't know the meaning of it all. Only one thing is true: you are the only one who can fight your battles.
You know, in some ways you're a lot like me
You're just a prisoner, and you're tryin' to break free
We are bound by different chains, trapped by something, and we are all fighting to break these chains and find freedom from them.
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire, ooh
I can visualize a brighter future ahead, where I can rise above my problems and soar like an eagle. I am motivated and driven to keep moving forward, propelled by my desire to achieve something big.
Burning up don't know just how far that I can go
Soon be home, only just a few miles down the road
I can make it, I know I can
You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man
I am pushing myself to the absolute limit, unsure how much further I can go. However, I am close to the finish line and will soon be able to rest. You may have destroyed a part of me, but you will not destroy me completely - I am stronger and won't back down.
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the wildest sea
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me, burning in me
I believe I can achieve anything, no matter how hard the task may be, and that fire inside of me continues to burn brighter, motivating me to work harder.
Just once in his life, a man has his time
And my time is now I'm comin' alive
There are moments in life that define us, and this moment is mine. It's a moment where I am truly alive, and I am going to make the most of it.
I can hear the music playin' I can see the banners fly
Feel like a man again
I'll hold my head high
I am filled with energy and enthusiasm; the celebration has begun, and I feel powerful and confident once again.
Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire
I am determined to keep on moving forward, and with a little help, anything is possible. Take me to a place with endless possibilities and endless potential.
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me
Burning, burning in me
I can feel it burning, ooh burning inside of me
That fire is still burning brightly, and it won't be extinguished anytime soon. It drives me forward, giving me the courage to chase my goals and dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: David Foster, John Stephen Parr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miteam1035
Whos still listening in 2024 😁😁 one of the best from the 80's
@top_green
Me! It's been a while since I thought of it, so I searched came in. When it was on the Billboard chart, I was a 9th grader and now I'm in my 50s.
@esthervanlanen538
Me, I watched the movie too. It's such a good movie
@darylkanofski9327
I'm in Australia and a few radio stations have been playing this weekly atm
@lindapearcr3138
❤ me here in Idaho
Happy day!
@987jasy
I do at full VOLUME!! Even in work it's playing on the radio but at home, I put it to speakers
@JohnM-rl3ci
I am proud to be Gen-x person! The late 70s to late 80s was the best time to ever grow up.
@fufffufffuff
So true
@johnnyindeep6893
I was born in 88. Wish I got to experience the 80s!
@Thetransporter22
Hell ya no helicopter parents here lmfao 😂🎉