John Parr

Songwriter: John Parr

There comes a time
In every young boy's life
When he takes in his hand for the first time
And holds it like a wife

Up there in his bedroom
Full of dreams and fantasies
I guess a boy can't help himself
Doin' what comes naturally

Practice every day
That's what my Dad would say
You gotta practice boy
If you go what it takes
You know practice makes
Just practice boy

Teasin' it squeezin' it
For all it was worth
Strummin' it lovin' it
I gotta be first

Practice every day
That's what my Dad would say
You gotta practice boy
If you got what it takes
You know what practice makes
P-E-R-F-E-C-T
He's good enough for me

Other kids were duckin' school
Playin' football playin' the fool
I was up there in my bedroom
Bangin' out those twelve bar blues

Practice every day
That's what my Dad would say
You gotta practice boy
If you go what it takes
You know practice makes
Just practice boy

P-E-R-F-E-C-T
He's good enough for me

John Parr (born 18 November 1952) is a Grammy-nominated English musician, best known for his 1985 US #1 single “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” and for his 1984 single “Naughty Naughty” (US Rock #1). Parr was nominated for a Grammy award for “St Elmo’s Fire” in 1985.

Parr first entered the music scene when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates, which they named The Silence. The band had achieved some success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe. He then joined a band named Bitter Suite who were a huge success in the working men’s clubs in Yorkshire, he then formed a “Super Band” with musicians from other working men’s club bands, and named the band Ponders End , a band that set a new precedent for the bands in the north.

Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin America in 1983 and in the same year Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album. It led to a fateful meeting with John Wolff, who was tour manager for The Who. Foreseeing the initial demise of The Who, Wolff was looking for a new venture and considered Parr to be a suitable partner. Parr first visited America in 1984 and worked with Meat Loaf on Bad Attitude. Meanwhile, Wolff secured Parr’s solo Atlantic recording deal in New York.

more tracks from the album

Letter to America

From the album

Letter to America (2011)

John Parr popular songs

PracticeJohn Parr

John Parr

Letter to America