John Parr

Songwriter: John Parr

Producer: Julia Downes Jerry Hey John Parr

Under your protective wing I walked into the night
And a thousand angry demons up and took flight
I went running through the fields with the fever in my veins
And the rain came crashing down and tried to clear my name
Above my head, all in red, I could see you bearing down on me
You said you're not running out, you said you're not leaving now
I will find you, there is no way
I'll keep tracking you down in the still of the night
Forever, you're mine forever

Don't leave your mark on me, no need to reply
I'm not staying, I'm just killing time
Don't leave your mark on me, no need to reply
I'm not staying, no, I'm not staying no
This nightmare never ends, memories of absent friends
Mistress of the darkness, accomplice of the night
A shadow in the doorway beckons me inside
And something led the way though I couldn't see its face
And a voice from deep inside me screamed to get out of this place
In my head, someone said that the jailor turned the key on me
He said you're not running out, he said you're not leaving now
I will find you, there ain't no way, no way, yeah
Don't leave your mark on me, no need to reply
I'm not staying, I'm just killing time
Don't leave your mark on me, no need to reply
I'm not staying, no, I'm not staying no

This nightmare never ends, memories of absent friends

Don't leave your mark on me
(Nightmares that will never end, drink a toast to absent friends)

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

Running The Endless Mile

From the album

Running The Endless Mile (1986)

John Parr popular songs

Don’t Leave Your Mark on Me (Mark 2)John Parr

John Parr

Running The Endless Mile