After an education in the arts, music and drama, by the age of 15, Tzuke spent most of her time writing poems which she turned into songs and playing folk clubs, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. She went to Island Records to try and get a record deal and after she'd played two songs was asked if she had any more. She replied that she had twenty, which she didn't, and they asked her to come back and record them the following week. She didn't return, but their interest made her realise that she could have a career in music.
In 1977 Tzuke went to see managing director David Croker at Elton John's label 'Rocket Records' as their motto was "a label for artists". She played them a few songs, one of which was "Stay with Me Till Dawn" and was immediately signed to the new label. Judie and collaborator Mike Paxman spent the next six months or so recording her first album Welcome to the Cruise at Air Studios in London, with producer John Punter.
The first single was released in the summer of 1978, entitled "For You" and was greeted with great critical acclaim and substantial air-play but only reached the top 40.
This was to all change with the release of the Welcome to the Cruise album and the single "Stay with Me Till Dawn". The song stayed in the UK charts for 16 weeks, and she made three live appearances on Top of the Pops. The song became a firm favourite and is still played regularly on radio in the U.K. It has appeared on dozens of compilation albums and regularly appears in lists of all time most popular songs.
With the success of her debut album, Judie and Mike put together the first Judie Tzuke band. Paul Muggleton on guitar and backing vocals and Bob Noble on keyboards, along with bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich.
Tzuke and her band then toured for the next 18 months and made her second album Sportscar at Virgin's Manor studios, in Oxfordshire.
In 1980, Tzuke and her band toured America for three months as support to Elton John. The tour was well received, but during the tour Elton John decided to change the US distribution for his Rocket label from MCA to the new Geffin label. MCA consequently decided to stop all tour support and promotion for the acts on the Rocket label, which meant that Judie was playing to huge audiences, including 450,000 people in New York's Central Park, but no-one knew who she was and her records were not available in the shops.
She recorded her third album I Am the Phoenix, followed by another lengthy UK tour which culminated in appearances headlining the Glastonbury CND Festival and some summer festivals in Europe. She then made the decision to leave Rocket and to sign with Chrysalis Records.
Judie was by this time selling out halls all over the UK and in parts of Europe. Her next album Shoot the Moon was recorded mainly at Rockfield studios in Wales and was released in 1982.
During the spring tour two sell out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon (now The Carling Apollo) were recorded and later that year the acclaimed live album Roadnoise was released.
Judie, Mike and Paul wrote new songs and went to Mayfair studios in London to record her fifth album, augmenting her stage band with a number of other musicians.
Throughout the late 80s and 90s, Judie has continued to record and tour, and has set up her own record label. In addition, she is now successfully writing songs for other artists.
www.tzuke.com
All At Sea
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need a rope come rescue me
Take my heart and sail me home
’Cause without love we’re all alone
And I’m here on the outside
Too far away to read the tide
I’m lost, will you come quickly
Winds will change, and I’ll be thrown
If you’re an island I’m your stone
When will life mirror art
Find the right colours and we can start
And I’m here on the outside
Too far away to read the tide
I’m lost, will you come quickly
I’ll leave this storm behind me
And I’m here on the outside
Too far away to read the tide
I’m lost, will you come quickly
I’ll leave this storm behind me
Pull me in, I’m all at sea
I need a rope come rescue me
The opening lines of Judie Tzuke's song "All At Sea" convey a sense of helplessness and abandonment, as the singer calls out for rescue. The imagery of being lost at sea is a common metaphor for feeling adrift and alone in the world, and Tzuke uses it to great effect here. The line "Take my heart and sail me home" suggests the idea of finding safety and belonging in a loving relationship, and reinforces the theme of loneliness and isolation that runs through the song.
The following verse highlights the singer's sense of distance from others, and their inability to navigate their own emotions. The line "Too far away to read the tide" shows the singer's confusion and indecision, as they struggle to chart their own course in life. This is contrasted with the plea "will you come quickly", which shows their desperation for human connection and support.
The final verse brings the metaphor full-circle, with the idea of the singer being a "stone" to someone else's "island". This suggests the possibility of mutual support and stability in a relationship, but also implies a certain level of dependency and power imbalance. The last line, "Find the right colours and we can start", is a hopeful note, suggesting that love and connection can help us create a new and brighter path forward. Overall, "All At Sea" is a powerful expression of loneliness, vulnerability, and the need for human connection and support in order to navigate life's uncertain waters.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull me in, I’m all at sea
I am lost and struggling, I need someone to help guide me
I need a rope come rescue me
I require a lifeline to be pulled to safety
Take my heart and sail me home
Offer me love and belonging, give me a sense of place
’Cause without love we’re all alone
Loneliness is inevitable without emotional connections
And I’m here on the outside
I am feeling detached from the situation
Too far away to read the tide
I cannot predict what will happen or what to do next
I’m lost, will you come quickly
I am in need of assistance to find my way and regain a sense of direction
I’ll leave this storm behind me
I need to escape from the turmoil and stress of the current situation
Winds will change, and I’ll be thrown
The future is unpredictable and it may affect me negatively
If you’re an island I’m your stone
I am committed to supporting and helping you if you give me the chance
When will life mirror art
When will reality align with the beauty and harmony found in art?
Find the right colours and we can start
If we can discover the right combination of elements, we can begin to create a beautiful and fulfilling life
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.