Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't think it's fair
Do you baby
I don't think that man should sleep alone
Some body should be there
This world that we live in
The thought of you and me sleeping here
Seems like everybody disapproves
Now I'm not I'm not saying
That I'm right and everyone else is wrong
I admit I've got a problem
I can't stand sleeping alone
I don't think that man should sleep alone
I don't think it's fair
Do you baby
I can't seem to get warm enough
Evene with four blankets and a sheet
I may as well be honest girl
I think I need a little body heat
Wake up wake up baby
Yes I know it's a quarter to 3:00 a.m.
But either you're coming here
or I'm coming there
'Cause I just can't get to sleep
I don't think that man should sleep alone
I don't think it's fair
Do you baby
Baby come on
I want to feel you lying next to me
Don't you baby
Sugar come on
Rock this baby to sleep
Come on come on
Let's hold each other real good
Come on come on
I won't try nothing baby
Come on come on
But honey it could feel good
If you'll only let loose; come on
I don't think that man should sleep alone
I don't think it's fair
Do you baby
Help me baby
Baby come on
I need body heat
Don't you baby
Sugar come on girl
I want to feel your-
Baby come on
Rock Rock me to sleep
Sugar come on girl
I want to feel your heat
The lyrics to Ray Parker Jr.'s song "I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone" express the singer's desire to have someone to sleep with, as he can't stand sleeping alone. The song appears to be addressing a female partner, urging her to come and be next to him in bed. The lyrics suggest that there are societal norms and expectations around sleeping alone, and that the singer feels like he is breaking those expectations by wanting someone with him.
The lyrics also convey a sense of physical discomfort and a need for warmth and intimacy. The singer mentions that even with multiple blankets, he still feels cold and seems to be seeking physical closeness to alleviate this discomfort. Overall, the song feels like a plea for human connection and intimacy, even if it goes against societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't think that man should sleep alone
The singer believes that it is unfair for a man to have to sleep by himself.
I don't think it's fair
The singer thinks that it is unjust for a man to have to sleep alone.
Do you baby
The singer is asking his partner if she agrees with his opinion.
Some body should be there
The singer believes that a person should be present when a man is sleeping.
This world that we live in
The singer is referring to the current society.
Has too many laws and too many rules
The singer thinks that there are too many restrictions and regulations in society.
The thought of you and me sleeping here
The singer is referring to the idea of him and his partner sleeping together.
Seems like everybody disapproves
The singer believes that society does not approve of him and his partner sleeping together.
Now I'm not I'm not saying
The singer is clarifying that he is not trying to say that his opinion is the only correct one.
That I'm right and everyone else is wrong
The singer is acknowledging that he may not be correct and that others may disagree with him.
I admit I've got a problem
The singer is accepting that he has a difficulty or challenge regarding sleeping alone.
I can't stand sleeping alone
The singer cannot tolerate the idea of sleeping by himself.
I can't seem to get warm enough
The singer is struggling to stay warm with his current sleeping arrangements.
Even with four blankets and a sheet
The singer emphasizes that even with multiple layers, he is still struggling to stay warm.
I may as well be honest girl
The singer is being candid with his partner.
I think I need a little body heat
The singer believes that he requires the warmth of another person's body.
Wake up wake up baby
The singer is trying to get his partner's attention and wake her up.
Yes I know it's a quarter to 3:00 a.m.
The singer knows that it is very late at night, but he still needs his partner's help.
But either you're coming here or I'm coming there
The singer is presenting two possible solutions to his problem: his partner can come over, or he can go to her.
'Cause I just can't get to sleep
The singer cannot fall asleep without someone else's warmth beside him.
I want to feel you lying next to me
The singer desires physical contact with his partner.
Don't you baby
The singer is asking his partner to agree to sleep beside him.
Sugar come on
The singer is using a term of endearment to address his partner.
Rock this baby to sleep
The singer is requesting soothing physical contact to help him fall asleep.
Let's hold each other real good
The singer wants intimate physical contact with his partner.
I won't try nothing baby
The singer assures his partner that he will not make any unwanted advances.
But honey it could feel good
The singer believes that physical contact with his partner would be pleasurable.
If you'll only let loose; come on
The singer is encouraging his partner to let go and relax in his embrace.
Help me baby
The singer is asking his partner for assistance with dealing with his inability to sleep alone.
I need body heat
The singer requires another person's warmth to sleep comfortably.
Sugar come on girl
The singer is using a term of endearment to encourage his partner to help him.
I want to feel your-
The singer is implying that he wants to feel his partner's body heat to fall asleep comfortably.
Rock Rock me to sleep
The singer requests comfort or soothing physical contact to help him sleep better.
I want to feel your heat
The singer desires physical contact with his partner to feel her warmth and fall asleep more comfortably.
Contributed by Alexis N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kelvinarnold2417
Great song. You can hear Marvin's inspiration all over it.đśđľđśđľ
@MrPorkmann
I agree, top song. However, I feel more Billy Dee.
@FolsomBluesPrison
Benny Harvey R.I.P Miss you big man,
Gone but not forgotten.
@johnmilbourn8876
It's nice people like my music thanks
@SandyOgilvie10
BEAST
@kingpooh6429
sandy ogilvie hahahahaha limmy!
@FolsomBluesPrison
Benny Harvey R.I.P Miss you big man,
Gone but not forgotten.
@Scienide1995_Deep_and_Dub
Yeah, that's the one! ))
@Gontse
This is some fine music! I can't believe they don't make them like this anymore... I am just a 21 year old with an old soul đŠ
@reginaldward3242
Nothing wrong with that