Discovering Japan
Graham Parker
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Her heart is nearly breaking, the earth is nearly quaking The Tokyo's taxi's braking, it's screaming to a halt And there's nothing to hold on to when gravity betrays you And every kiss enslaves you-oo-oo She knows how hard her heart grows under the nuclear shadows She can't escape the feeling repeating in her head When after all the urges some kind of truth emerges We felt the deadly surges Discovering Japan--an --an Discovering Japan--an --an The GIs only use her, they only ram right through her Giving an eastern promise, that they could never keep Seeing a million miles, between their joke and smiles She heard their hard denials [don't pause] As the tears dropped sideways down her face, face I woke up talking in the tongue of a different race, race And as the flight touches down my watch says 8:02 But that's midnight to you, Midnight to you Midight to you I dreamed headlong collisions in jet lag panavisions I shouted sayonara it didn't mean goodbye But lovers turn to posers show up in film exposures Just like in travel brochures Discovering Japan Discovering Japan (x6 and fade)
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Genre"Discovering Japan" is part of the new wave rock genre, blending the sounds of punk rock with rhythm and blues.
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Album InformationThe song featured as the opening track in Graham Parker’s third studio album, "Squeezing Out Sparks," released in 1979.
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Critical Acclaim"Discovering Japan" and the album as a whole are often recognized as Parker's best work, with the album making the list of Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time.
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ProductionThe song was produced by a well-known producer, Jack Nitzsche, who worked with famous artists like Neil Young and The Rolling Stones.
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CollaborationParker's consistent backing band, The Rumour, performed with him on this track and throughout the entire "Squeezing Out Sparks" album.
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SongwritingParker wrote all of the songs on the album, including "Discovering Japan," showcasing his storytelling and songwriting skills.
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Thematic ContentThe song is often interpreted as conveying Parker's feelings about the culture shock of touring in Japan for the first time.
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MusicianshipParker's snarly vocal delivery and guitar-driven sound are key characteristics of "Discovering Japan."
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Modest Chart SuccessWhile the song wasn't a major commercial hit, it was critically acclaimed with a devoted following.
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Popularity Among Fans"Discovering Japan" continues to be one of the fan-favorite songs during Parker's live performances.
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Punk InfluencesThe song displays elements of punk rock which is typical of Graham Parker's more energetic and edgier tracks.
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Song LengthThe song's duration is 3 minutes and 32 seconds, following the typical structure and length of most pop/rock songs in the era.
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Live Performances"Discovering Japan" was typically the opening song during Graham Parker's concerts promoting the "Squeezing Out Sparks" album.
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Digital AvailabilityToday, "Discovering Japan" is available to listen to on multiple digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
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High EnergyThe song is known for kicking off the album with a high level of energy that sets the tone for the remaining tracks.
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Citation
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"Discovering Japan Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/777249/Graham+Parker/Discovering+Japan>.
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