His eighties hits were promoted by particularly striking award winning videos, featuring an all-female, black-clad backing band. The memorable videos, directed by Terence Donovan, featured heavily on MTV and played a large part in his transatlantic success.
His eighties success was kickstarted by his participation in supergroup The Power Station, along with Andy Taylor and John Taylor of Duran Duran and Tony Thompson of Chic.
Robert Palmer died on September 26, 2003 in Paris, France, while staying at the Warwick de berri Hotel. The cause of death was of a heart attack. He was in Paris promoting his Drive CD which had been released in May of 2003. He was joined there by his longtime friend, Jack Bruce. He was survived by his parents, Anna and Leslie Palmer, his brother, Mark Palmer, and his children, James, Jane, Anna, Anthony and Martin. He is interred in London, England.
Solo Albums:
Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (1974)
Pressure Drop (1975)
Some People Can Do What They Like (1976)
Double Fun (1978)
Secrets (1979)
Clues (1980)
Maybe It's Live (1982) (live)
Pride (1983)
Riptide (1985)
Sweet Lies (1987) (single)
Heavy Nova (1988)
Addictions Volume I (1989) (compilation)
Don't Explain (1990)
Addictions Volume II (1992) (compilation)
Ridin' High (1992)
Honey (1994)
Very Best Of Robert Palmer (1995) (compilation)
Woke Up Laughing (1998) (compilation)
Very Best Of Robert Palmer (1997) (re-release of the 1995 compilation feat: "Addicted To Love '97)
Rhythm & Blues (1999)
Best Of Both Worlds: The Robert Palmer Anthology (1974-2001) (2002) (compilation)
Drive (2003)
At the BBC (2010)
Albums by the group Power Station (Feat: Robert Palmer):
Power Station (1985)
Living in Fear (1997)
The Best of The Power Station (2002)
Albums by the group Vinegar Joe (Feat: Robert Palmer):
Vinegar Joe (1971)
Rock n Roll Gypsies (1972)
Six Star Generals (1973)
Six Star Gypsies (1994) (Compilation)
Speed Queen of Ventura: An Introduction to Vinegar Joe (2003) (Compilation)
Albums by The Alan Bown Set (Feat: Robert Palmer on vocals)
The Alan Bown (1969) (Only the UK release featured Palmer on vocals)
Listen (1970) (although was re-recorded with Gordon Neville on vocals when Palmer left)
Johnny & Mary
Robert Palmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily
Johnny thinks the world would be right
Mary says he changes his mind
More than a woman
But she made her bet
Even when the chance was slim
Johnny says he's willing to learn
When he decides he's a fool
Johnny says he'll live anywhere
When he earns time to
Mary combs her hair
Says she should be used to it
Mary always hedges her bets
She never knows what to think
She says that he still acts like he
Is being discovered
Scared that he'll be caught
Without a second thought
Running around
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Trying to talk sense to her
Mary says he's lacking a real
Sense of proportion
So she combs her hair
Knows he tires easily
Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Says she should be used to it
Johnny's always running around
Running around
The lyrics to Robert Palmer's song Johnny and Mary explores the complex dynamic between two characters, Johnny and Mary. Johnny is a restless character, who constantly seeks validation from the world around him. He feels the need to be confirmed by the world to prove that he isn't a lonely person. Mary, on the other hand, is more practical in her approach and accepts the world for what it is. She recognizes that Johnny tires easily and tries to make peace with his quirks.
Johnny believes that the world would be a better place if it could buy the truth from him. He thinks he has all the answers and that the world needs to learn from him. Mary, however, sees through his facade and recognizes his tendency to change his mind more than a woman. Despite the slim chance of success, Mary decides to bet on Johnny and stick with him.
Johnny is open to learning new things but only when he decides he's a fool. He believes that he can live anywhere when he has the time to do so. Mary, meanwhile, is caught up in her own thoughts and constantly hedges her bets, never sure of what to think. She worries that Johnny is always acting like he's being discovered and fears that he will be caught running around without a second thought.
In conclusion, the song Johnny and Mary is a reflection of the human condition, exploring themes of restlessness, validation, and insecurity. It is a reminder that every individual is unique in their own way and has their own personality, quirks, and desires that deserve respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny's always running around
Johnny constantly moves from one place to another, never settling or staying at a single location for too long.
Trying to find certainty
Johnny seeks assurance and validation, both within himself as well as from external sources.
He needs all the world to confirm
Johnny has a deep-seated craving for acceptance, and he believes that only through the approval of society as a whole can he find peace.
That he ain't lonely
Johnny fears isolation and abandonment, so he constantly seeks out companionship and seeks to prove to himself and others that he is not alone.
Mary counts the walls
Mary is bored, has nothing to do and possibly feels trapped in their situation. She may be immersed in her own thoughts when Johnny is around.
Knows he tires easily
Mary is aware that Johnny's endeavors and struggles have left him emotionally and mentally drained, and he has difficulties in continuing.
Johnny thinks the world would be right
In Johnny's perspective, the world would be perfect if it were conforming to his vision of how it's supposed to be.
If it could buy truth from him
Johnny believes that he holds the truth, and that it's available for purchase. For the right sum of money, Johnny would be willing to sell his version of the truth to the world.
Mary says he changes his mind
Mary points out Johnny's inconsistency with his thoughts and beliefs, often times contradicting his previously stated opinions.
More than a woman
Mary seems to be saying that Johnny changes his mind frequently, and even more frequently than a stereotypically inconsistent female.
But she made her bet
Mary had initially vested her trust and faith in Johnny, and was willing to give him a chance even when the probability of success was low.
Even when the chance was slim
Despite the possibility of failure or rejection, Mary still supported Johnny and his endeavors.
Johnny says he's willing to learn
Johnny claims to acknowledge his lack of knowledge, and is willing to gain more information to grow and develop further.
When he decides he's a fool
Johnny believes that only when proven wrong and embarrassed in a particular situation, would he be willing to learn from it.
Johnny says he'll live anywhere
Johnny is willing to move and reside in any location, as long as he gains more time for his projects and ambitions.
When he earns time to
Johnny believes that he would only be able to live in different locations, only when he has earned and successfully allocated more of his time towards his work.
Mary combs her hair
Mary is possibly trying to calm herself and fight the boredom and restlessness by carrying out a menial task like grooming herself.
Says she should be used to it
Mary is familiar with Johnny's behavior, but she still feels the need to remind herself of that every once in a while.
Mary always hedges her bets
Mary is always cautious, and tends to play it safe when it comes to decisions and risks.
She never knows what to think
Mary is often uncertain and indecisive when it comes to comprehending Johnny's thought process and actions.
She says that he still acts like he
Mary claims that Johnny still behaves similarly to how he did in his youth, possibly with a lack of maturity and growth over time.
Is being discovered
Johnny is continuously seeking validation and admiration from others, as if he is yet to realize his own worth and value.
Scared that he'll be caught
Johnny is afraid of the possibility of getting caught and exposed as a fraud or someone who has been putting up a facade, thus losing his respect and status.
Without a second thought
Johnny is impulsive, and is willing to jump headfirst into actions and decisions without even considering the potential consequences or risks involved.
Running around
Johnny maintains his character of constantly moving and being unable to settle down or stay at one place for an extended period of time.
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Johnny has been repeating the same things over and over, but feels his efforts and words are not being valued or taken into consideration.
Trying to talk sense to her
Johnny is attempting to explain his perspective to Mary, hoping to change her views on a particular topic or situation.
Mary says he's lacking a real
Mary believes that Johnny isn't exhibiting genuine emotions, and is putting up a facade of sorts that doesn't allow others to comprehend his true feelings and personality.
Sense of proportion
Mary is pointing towards the imbalance and irrationality in Johnny's actions and decisions when compared to the situation at hand.
Johnny's always running around
Reiteration of Johnny's habit of constantly moving from one place to another, never settling down in a single location.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Allan Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alanramirez2211
Johnny's always runnin' around
Tryin' to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily
Johnny thinks the world would be right
If it could buy the truth from him
Mary says, "He changes his mind more than a woman"
But she made her bed
Even when the chance was slim
Johnny says, "He's willing to learn
When he decides, he's a fool"
Johnny says, "He'll live anywhere
When he earns time to"
Mary combs her hair
Says, "She should be used to it"
Mary always hedges her bets
She never knows what to think
She says that he still acts
Like he is bein' discovered
Scared that he'll be caught
Without a second thought
Runnin' around
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Tryin' to talk sense to her
Mary says, "He's lackin' a real
Sense of proportion"
So she combs her hair
Knows he tires easily
Johnny's always runnin' around
Tryin' to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Says, "She should be used to it"
Johnny' s always runnin' around
Runnin' around
@leilaaida9225
Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily
Johnny thinks the world would be right
If it could buy truth from him
Mary says he changes his mind
More than a woman
But she made her bet
Even when the chance was slim
Running around
Running around
Johnny says he's willing to learn
When he decides he's a fool
Johnny says he'd live anywhere
When he earns the time
Mary combs her hair
Says she should be used to it
Mary always hedges her bets
She never knows what to think
She says that he still acts like he's
Being discovered
Scared that he'll be caught
Without a second thought
Running around
Running around
Running around
Running around
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Trying to talk sense to her
Mary says he's lacking a
Real sense of proportion
So she combs her hair
Knows he tires easily
Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Says she should be used to it
Running around
Running around
Running around
Running around
@zciliyafilms5508
As much as I miss Robert Palmer I miss the time when this song was on the charts. It's hard to capture just how good it felt to have this feeling in the air. I know people go overboard with the 80's nostalgia, but really, songs like this make you understand why it's so prevalent. It was just a great time to grow up.
@mippim8765
........there's a reason mid aged adults express they're sorrow for the young. ........especially this batch.
@DrLoverLover
No it wasnt. Youre just nostalgic. It does that
@mippim8765
@@DrLoverLover .......looks like misery can be un-nostalgic too.
@zciliyafilms5508
@@DrLoverLover I'm nostalgic for something real. This is something I think about a lot. The time period I grew up in was about the only good thing about my childhood. I'm sorry if it doesn't match your experience.
@mjw123
@@DrLoverLover Wow - not a clue, the 80's was an incredible decade. Try comparing it to the horror show we are living atm.
@liammccarron8191
19 then. 63 now, 44 years gone in a blink of a brilliant song. Merry Christmas.
@craigav68
And Merry Christmas to you..am listening to this through some good headphones 🎧.. Bluetooth time machine..ah nostalgia
@The_Macaroon
Yup time flies. Enjoy it while you can.
@MagruderSpoots
Same