Canada's singer/blues shouter, songwriter and bandleader Big Rude Jake's si… Read Full Bio ↴Canada's singer/blues shouter, songwriter and bandleader Big Rude Jake's six official albums show a diversity of styles and talents. Many who know him as the original 'Swing Punk' may not be aware that he writes, performs and records ragtime, blues, jazz, punk, rockabilly, americana, cabaret, gospel, poetry, folk and much more... .

Top hits include "Gotham City Serenade", "Steppin' Out Under the Moon", "Queer for Cat", "Swing Baby" and the naughty "The Girl in the Pink Canoe". In live performance, he and the band were renowned for Jake's great tunes, wit, attitude, style and, of course, leaving the stage to play from the top of the bar and tables!
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He formed his "swing punk" band in the 1990s. After 8 years away from the recording industry spent playing under pseudonyms, Quicksand was launched in Canada on September 24th, 2009. "LIVE & Out Loud" was released in October of 2012.

Jake tours his material with BR2, BR4, The Jump Devils and The BRJ Sextet. Solo too - he plays a mean ragtime guitar.

In his spare time, Rude has more bands - with very different flavour. Releases from his retro punk and rockabilly bands are forthcoming. Watch for Blue Mercury Coupe and its hillbilly cousin, Tennessee Voodoo Coupe.

"...He lamented the rise of the stuffy 'jazz intellectual', and longed for a return to a time when the style was, instead, rich in emotion, sensuality and desire. Thus was born his vision to bring jazz back to its streetwise and rough hewn roots. Jake's stage persona evoked strident passion and longing. He performed his jazz and swing compositions in rock venues and blues bars across Canada, where he found many kindred spirits who appreciated his dream of a 'Bawdy House Jazz' revival."
www.bigrudejake.ca

Swing Baby!
Big Rude Jake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When they turn the lights out
Faces in the shadow
When they turn the latch in,
Tapping at your window
Skinny up out of your bedroom
Shimmy up on the drainpipe
Stand tall in the rooftop
And let slip into the night

Would you surrender to despair?
Or go on as if you're unawares?
Would you let ‘em tear apart you mind?
Or would you come running with our kind?
Tell me what would you do?
If I told you
That they lied to you,
And all the things they said
Just wasn't true?
Tell me what would you do?
Swing Baby!

And they'll hate you for what you are boy,
And they'll say you oughtta be ashamed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Big Rude Jake's song "Swing Baby!" speak about the battle between conformity and individuality. In the first verse, the singer describes a scenario where society tries to control and suppress those who are different or rebellious. The image of faces in the shadow and tapping at the window create a sense of fear and danger, but the singer encourages the listener to rebel and break free from society's expectations. The lines "Would you surrender to despair? Or go on as if you're unawares? Would you let ‘em tear apart your mind? Or would you come running with our kind?" highlight the choice between giving in to the pressure or standing up for oneself.

In the chorus, the singer asks the listener what they would do if they were told that the things society had taught them were lies. Would they continue to conform or embrace their individuality and rebel? The line "Swing Baby!" is a call to action, encouraging the listener to live life on their own terms and swing to the rhythm of their own drum. The final lines of the chorus, "And they'll hate you for what you are boy, and they'll say you oughtta be ashamed," highlight the price of rebellion but also imply that being true to oneself is worth the judgment of society.

Overall, "Swing Baby!" is an anthem for individuality and encourages listeners to embrace their unique selves and not let society dictate their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

When they turn the lights out
When they impose darkness

Faces in the shadow
Features blurred in obscurity

When they turn the latch in,
When they lock the entrance

Tapping at your window
Knocking at your pane

Skinny up out of your bedroom
Slenderly send out of your chamber

Shimmy up on the drainpipe
Swirl up on the conduit

Stand tall in the rooftop
Stay erect on the roof

And let slip into the night
And loosen into the darkness

Would you surrender to despair?
Would you capitulate to hopelessness?

Or go on as if you're unawares?
Or continue as if you were unaware?

Would you let ‘em tear apart you mind?
Would you allow them to split your psyche?