Junior Parker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi as Herman Parker, Jr. He played on the various blues circuits beginning in his teenage years, playing with artists like Sonny Boy Williamson (his mentor) and Howlin' Wolf. Parker was discovered by Ike Turner in 1952, who signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label, "You're My Angel."
He and his band, The Blue Flames, signed onto Sun Records in 1953, and produced three successful songs: "Feelin' Good", "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train" (later covered by Elvis Presley).
Parker had periodic success over the next decade: Remakes of Roosevelt Sykes' songs, "Driving Wheel" and "Sweet Home Chicago"; Guitar Slim's The Things That I Used to Do; Don Robey's "Mother-in-Law Blues"; and his own "Stand by Me." His success was limited after he left the employment of his label in the late 1960s. He died of a brain tumor in 1971.
In The Dark
Junior Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kissin' another fella, and you know it wasn't me
That ain't right, no no no, that ain't right
What goes on in the dark, will soon come to light
They say you whispered low, an' spendin' all of my dough
You told that fella things, you never told me before
That ain't right, no no no, that ain't right
One of these days, just you wait and see
Baby you'll realize, the way you're treating me
That ain't right, no no no, that ain't right
What goes on in the dark, will soon come to light
The lyrics to Junior Parker's song "In the Dark" tell the tale of a man who hears rumors about his partner's infidelity. Despite not wanting to believe them, he confronts her and learns that not only has she been kissing another man, but she has also been spending all of the singer's money and confiding in the other man about things that she never discussed with the singer. The singer is hurt and disappointed, and warns his partner that what goes on in the dark will soon come to light. The song's title is a clever metaphor, implying that the truth will inevitably be revealed, no matter how hard anyone tries to keep it hidden.
The lyrics are a powerful commentary on the importance of honesty and communication in relationships. The singer feels betrayed by his partner's actions and is left feeling powerless to change the situation. He knows that eventually, the truth will come out, and his partner will have to answer for her actions. The song is a reminder that relationships are built on trust and that betraying that trust can have serious consequences.
Interestingly, "In the Dark" has been covered by a wide variety of artists over the years, including Etta James, Ray Charles, and Grateful Dead. It has also been sampled by numerous hip-hop producers, including J Dilla and Pete Rock. The song's memorable chorus has made it a favorite of music fans of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you was out, high as you could be
I heard that you were out and about, under the influence of drugs or alcohol to the highest extent possible.
Kissin' another fella, and you know it wasn't me
I heard that you were being unfaithful and kissing another man, and you knew it wasn't me.
That ain't right, no no no, that ain't right
This behavior is wrong and unacceptable.
What goes on in the dark, will soon come to light
Whatever is happening secretively will eventually be exposed and come to light.
They say you whispered low, an' spendin' all of my dough
I've heard rumors that you were whispering to another man and using all of my money.
You told that fella things, you never told me before
You were confiding in another man about things that you never shared with me.
One of these days, just you wait and see
In the future, you will see what you are doing to me.
Baby you'll realize, the way you're treating me
Eventually, you will come to an understanding of how poorly you are treating me.
That ain't right, no no no, that ain't right
This behavior is wrong and unacceptable.
What goes on in the dark, will soon come to light
Whatever is happening secretively will eventually be exposed and come to light.
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.