ENDLESS NIGHT

Graham Parker's album version



Uh, uh, uh
I had the time but I blew it, I had the power and I knew it
Had the energy, but outgrew it, the identity but saw through it, yeah
I had the walk, but got trampled, had the taste, it was sampled
Had the engine dismantled, had the flame, but no candle

I can't bear to see how it all looks in the light, keep it hidden now
If I could only find a switch that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, ah-ah-ah-uh

If there's a wire, must cross it, if there's a coin, must toss it
If it's dirt can't wash it, it's my head, d-don't cosh it
Ah, there's a door, but they shut it, we all bleed, they cut it
It's so dark when you don't fit, it's a gauntlet you gotta run it, oh baby

I can't bear to see how it all looks in the light, keep it hidden now
If I could only find a switch that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, ah-ah-ah-uh
Turn on the endless night

Turn on the endless, turn on the endless, turn on the endless night

If there's a cross, ah then bear it, if there's a loss, ah then share it
If it's a risk let's dare it, if it's blindness, outstare it, uh

I can't bear to see how it all looks in the light, keep it hidden, baby
If I could only find a switch that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, that turns on the endless night
That turns on the endless night, that turns on the endless night
Let's turn on the endless night, just turn on the endless night
Let's turn on the endless night, and turn on the endless night
Turn on the endless night
Ah turn on the endless night
Yeah, yeah, turn it
Turn on the endless night


Info

ENDLESS NIGHT is a song written by Graham Parker and released on his 1980 album The Up Escalator. The above lyrics are for Graham Parker's album version of ENDLESS NIGHT as released in 1980.

Graham Parker -- The Up Escalator
Graham Parker -- The Up Escalator

LP - Stiff Records (SEEZ 23) - UK, 1980
LP - Arista (AL 9517) - USA, 1980

Bruce Springsteen contributed to the studio recording of ENDLESS NIGHT. This should not be confused with WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, an unreleased Bruce Springsteen song also known under the title "Endless Night".

Recording and Release

Around December 1979 Graham Parker was recording his upcoming album at The Power Station in New York City, NY. Bruce Springsteen was also recording his upcoming album The River at the same studio. He dropped in and jammed with Graham Parker and his backup band The Rumor and ended up recording support vocals on one of the album's tracks, ENDLESS NIGHT.

Graham Parker's album The Up Escalator was released in the UK on Stiff Records on 23 May 1980. It was distributed in the United States on Arista Records. Up The Escalator was produced by Jimmy Iovine who co-mixed Springsteen's Darkness On The Edge Of Town album.

The Up Escalator was reissued in the US on Razor & Tie Records in 1991. It was also reissued in the UK on Demon Records in 1993, on Diablo Records in 1998, and Cherry Red / Lemon in 2003.

Other Official Releases

In addition to its release on The Up Escalator, ENDLESS NIGHT was also released as a single in Germany and Australia and as a B-side the US. It was also included on two Graham Parker compilation albums.

Graham Parker -- "Endless Night / Mercury Poisoning"
Graham Parker -- "Endless Night / Mercury Poison"

7" single - Stiff Records (6.12872) - Germany, 1980

Comes in a picture sleeve.

A1- ENDLESS NIGHT
B1- MERCURY POISONING
Graham Parker -- "Endless Night / Jolie, Jolie"
Graham Parker -- "Endless Night / Jolie, Jolie"

7" single - Vertigo (6038 011) - Australia, 1980

No picture sleeve.

A1- ENDLESS NIGHT
B1- JOLIE, JOLIE
Graham Parker -- "No Holding Back / Endless Night"
Graham Parker -- "No Holding Back / Endless Night"

7" single - Arista (AS 0549) - USA, 1980

No picture sleeve.

A1- NO HOLDING BACK
B1- ENDLESS NIGHT
Graham Parker -- Look Back In Anger
Graham Parker -- Look Back In Anger

LP - Arista (ALB6-8391) - USA, 1985
Graham Parker -- Master Hits
Graham Parker -- Master Hits

CD - Arista (07822-14601-2) - USA, 1999

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help. Some of the above recording info is taken from Brucebase.

Request

Please contact me if you have scans or info about any official release containing ENDLESS NIGHT that's not mentioned on this page. Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of ENDLESS NIGHT on this website:

ENDLESS NIGHT [Graham Parker's album version]

Page last updated: 16 Apr 2013