Just because...Graham Parker

Underrated, angry, articulate, Graham Parker.




Temporary Beauty
You have to do your best to come up to par,
From straight off the production line like a car,
Till everything you put on is a put-on,
And you don't know who's face you're gazing upon
Could be anyone you're sending out there tonight,
Is it any wonder all the lights are too bright?

And you need temporary beauty,
And hope to god that it doesn't rain
You need temporary beauty,
Even though it might be love in vain

The world is full of little people like you
They have to read a book to learn what to do
They hang around in second hand stores for clothes
And every kind of pressures steps on their toes
Love doesn't fall out of a magazine
You mustn't always believe what you see

Ah-ah-ah temporary beauty, ah-ah-ah temporary beauty,
Ah-ah-ah temporary beauty

You might be the sweetest little girl in your heart
But still the world ignores that and tears you apart
You think of the parties you'll never attend
You dream of someone who's more than a friend
Love doesn't jump out of a magazine
You mustn't always believe what you see

And you need temporary beauty,
And hope to god that it doesn't rain
You need temporary beauty,
Even though it might be love
In vain (like intro)

Stupefaction
The sun is burning it never changes
The people look up with nothing in their eyeballs
They stare at billboards as if for guidance
There's something wrong here i can't but my finger on

Same thing same way everyday stupefaction oh yeah

Drive out on sunset but nothing's moving
The lights are green or is that my imagination
The people sit there cameras without action
I can't see the point but i see the attraction

Same thing same way everyday stupefaction oh yeah

We're going to get clear outa this some day
Because the comfort's so appealing the bodies so revealing
Just get to feeling like a wheel without traction
Stupefaction oh yeah

I ask the landlord how much you making
Don't you get tired of just taking and taking
I ask the neighbour why are you so stupid?
Giving us those dirty looks and tryin to murder cupid

Same thing same way everyday stupefaction ah yeah

We're going to get clear outa this some day
Because the comfort's so appealing the bodies so revealing
Just get to feeling like a wheel without traction
Stupefaction oh yeah

Turn up the tv turn up the radio
Turn up the volume nothing seems to matter
Lay back and slumber bring out the number
Ask the operator what spell we are under its the

Same thing same way everyday stupefaction ah yeah

Stupid stupid stupid hey hey hey (6 times)

Same thing same way everyday stupefaction ah yeah

Stupid stupid stupid hey hey hey (repeat and fade)

You Can't Take Love For Granted
Took her to a party and danced with the host
Took her to a restaurant and treat her like a ghost
Took her to a movie and looked at another screen
Paid for entertainment she'd already seen

I get so hungry, i'm eating my heart out
Oooh i felt it go empty i'm wondering what i can be thinking about

But you can't take love for granted, underneath another skin
Can't take love for granted, up behind another grin

Demonstrated passion in a grip hard to shake
Took up every fashion till everything went fake
Pulled a coat over her shoulder, cracked a joke over and over
Watch the rain turn the night colder, stared into the headlight beam

I get so wired i'm making all the wrong connections
And i get so tired i'm picking up bad affections

Can't take love for granted, can't take love for granted,
Can't take love for granted, can't take love for granted

Watch the swans out on the lake, circle circle circle (circle circle)
Talk and talk and talk around it (circle circle)