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)
Woman Out Of Control
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a woman out of control
A woman out of control
You never seen nothin' so cold
Like a woman out of control
When we met she was still very young
She had no experience, I was her first one
(Her first) Mmm (For her)
Who knows what her and her friends discussed
(Sure ain't monogamy)
All at once she started gettin' curious
(To see what else is out there)
Says I'm holding her back
(???) Mmm
(She's too young and wild)
(You can't hold her back) No
(She don't want to stop)
(???) Oh
I got a woman out of control
A woman out of control
You never seen nothin' so cold
Like a woman out of control
I taught her every little trick she knows
(I showed her) Yeah (For her to)
For her to show it off to another man
(I'm hurtin') Mmm (I'm hurtin')
Listen, I recall when she was to nice
(Too nice to love me)
Now she claims variety is the spice
(She don't really like it) She don't know
(She's young and excited)
(I can't change her mind) No
(I can't make her stop) No
(The girl is too wild) {No, no}
(The girl is too hot) Oh
I got a woman out of control
A woman out of control
You never seen nothin' so cold
Like a woman out of control
She's out of control (Out of control)
{She's a wild thing} (Out of control)
The lady is out of control
(Woman out of control) {Yeah...whoa} Mmm
This has definite effect on my ego
?Cause she feels there must be more to life than lovin' me, mmm
She's a runaway child runnin' wild, searchin' for her freedom
{Whoa, yeah, yeah} Mmm
(Can't change her mind) Oh
(Can't make her stop) Oh...oh...
(The girl is too wild)
(The girl is too hot) {Hey, hey, hey, hey}
I got a woman out of control
(Woman out of control) Let me tell you
You never seen nothin' so cold
Like a woman out of control
She's out of control (Out of control)
{She wants to be free} (Out of control)
She's a wild thing, out of control
(Woman out of control)
She's out of control (Woman out of control) {Yeah}
Out of control (Woman out of control)
You see, you never seen nothin' so cold {So cold}
Like a woman out of control
The lyrics to Ray Parker Jr.'s song "Woman Out Of Control" depict a man who is struggling with his relationship as his partner becomes increasingly independent and adventurous. The song opens with the man acknowledging that his woman has become unpredictable and cold, like someone he has never seen before. He reflects on their early days together, mentioning that she was young and inexperienced, and he was her first love.
As the relationship progresses, the woman starts to become curious about what else is out there, perhaps influenced by her friends' discussions about non-monogamy. She feels that the man is holding her back and wants to explore more. The chorus emphasizes the man's frustration as he realizes that he cannot control or change her behavior.
In the second verse, the man remembers when his partner used to be nice and loving towards him, but now she claims that variety is the spice of life. He admits that he cannot change her mind or make her stop her wild behavior. The chorus repeats, further highlighting the man's struggle with his out-of-control partner.
The bridge of the song reflects on the impact this situation has on the man's ego. He feels that his partner believes there must be more to life than just loving him. She is portrayed as a runaway child in search of freedom and excitement, symbolizing her desire for independence and exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmm
An expression of contemplation or uncertainty.
I've got a woman out of control
I am in a relationship with a woman who is behaving in an unrestrained or unpredictable manner.
A woman out of control
She is acting in a way that is beyond my influence or control.
You never seen nothin' so cold
Her behavior is exceptionally cold or distant.
Like a woman out of control
Similar to the actions of a woman who is not under control.
When we met she was still very young
At the time we started our relationship, she was still in her youth.
(She was young) Yeah (So young)
She was indeed young, very young.
She had no experience, I was her first one
She lacked any previous knowledge or expertise, and I was her first romantic partner.
(Her first) Mmm (For her)
It was her initial experience, something new and significant for her.
Who knows what her and her friends discussed
It is uncertain what topics she and her friends conversed about.
(Sure ain't monogamy)
It definitely did not involve a commitment to a monogamous relationship.
All at once she started gettin' curious
Suddenly, she began to feel inquisitive or interested in exploring other options.
(To see what else is out there)
She wanted to discover what other possibilities or opportunities were available.
Says I'm holding her back
She claims that I am restraining or impeding her progress or growth.
(???) Mmm
Unclear response or emotions.
(She's too young and wild)
She is too youthful and unpredictable in her actions.
(You can't hold her back) No
It is not possible to restrain or control her.
(She don't want to stop)
She has no desire to cease her behavior.
(???) Oh
Uncertain reaction or emotions.
I taught her every little trick she knows
I instructed her in every skill or technique she currently possesses.
(I showed her) Yeah (For her to)
I demonstrated or displayed the knowledge to her so that she could
For her to show it off to another man
She now exhibits or demonstrates those skills to someone else.
(I'm hurtin') Mmm (I'm hurtin')
I am experiencing emotional distress or pain.
Listen, I recall when she was too nice
I remember when she used to be excessively kind or pleasant.
(Too nice to love me)
She displayed an excessive level of kindness that made it hard for her to love me.
Now she claims variety is the spice
Presently, she asserts that having a variety of experiences is exciting or stimulating.
(She don't really like it) She don't know
She does not genuinely enjoy it, but she is unsure.
(She's young and excited)
She is still young and feels enthusiastic or thrilled about new experiences.
(I can't change her mind) No
I am unable to persuade or influence her to think differently.
(I can't make her stop) No
I lack the ability to compel her to cease her behavior.
(The girl is too wild) {No, no}
She is excessively untamed or unrestrained in her actions.
(The girl is too hot) Oh
She is remarkably attractive or desirable.
She's out of control (Out of control)
Her behavior is not managed or restrained.
{She's a wild thing} (Out of control)
She is an unpredictable or untamed individual.
The lady is out of control
The woman is behaving in an uncontrolled or unpredictable manner.
(Woman out of control) {Yeah...whoa} Mmm
The woman is not under control, expressing uncertainty or surprise.
This has definite effect on my ego
Her actions have a clear impact on my self-esteem or sense of self-worth.
?Cause she feels there must be more to life than lovin' me, mmm
She believes that life must offer more than just being in a relationship with me.
She's a runaway child runnin' wild, searchin' for her freedom
She behaves like a rebellious or unruly child, seeking her independence.
{Whoa, yeah, yeah} Mmm
An exclamation of surprise or approval, expressing uncertainty or contemplation.
(Can't change her mind) Oh
I am unable to alter her perspective or opinions.
(Can't make her stop) Oh...oh...
I am incapable of causing her to halt or cease her actions.
(The girl is too wild)
She possesses an excessive amount of untamed or unruly behavior.
(The girl is too hot) {Hey, hey, hey, hey}
She is exceedingly attractive or desirable.
I got a woman out of control
I am in a relationship with a woman who is behaving in an unrestrained or unpredictable manner.
(Woman out of control) Let me tell you
I want to inform you that this woman is not under control.
You never seen nothin' so cold
Her behavior is exceptionally cold or distant.
Like a woman out of control
Similar to the actions of a woman who is not under control.
She's out of control (Out of control)
Her behavior is not managed or restrained.
{She wants to be free} (Out of control)
She desires to be liberated or unrestricted.
She's a wild thing, out of control
She is an unpredictable or untamed individual, behaving in an uncontrolled manner.
(Woman out of control)
A woman who is not under control or acting unpredictably.
She's out of control (Woman out of control) {Yeah}
Her behavior is not managed or restrained, expressing certainty or agreement.
Out of control (Woman out of control)
She is behaving in a manner that is not under control.
You see, you never seen nothin' so cold {So cold}
You have never witnessed behavior as exceptionally cold or distant as this.
Like a woman out of control
Similar to the actions of a woman who is not under control.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY ERSKINE PARKER, RAY ERSKINE JR. PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind