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
Don't Let Me Sleep
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is room for another lonely song
Can I lose myself inside your sails
Left by the sun
I've been shivering in this frozen land
Can I rest beside your fire tonight
While we're here, don't let the night fall over me
Never a change
In the wind blowing through my open door
I've been banished to live on a distant shore
Where I will be with you always
There in your arms
While we're here, don't let the night fall over me (don't sleep too long)
Now we're here, don't let me sleep too long
While we're here, don't let the night fall over me (don't sleep too long)
Now we're here, don't let me sleep too long
Here in my life
There is room for another lonely song
Can I lose myself inside your sails
The lyrics of Judie Tzuke's song "Don't Let Me Sleep" portray a sense of loneliness and vulnerability, and the desire for connection and comfort. The singer speaks of feeling lost and frozen, banished to a distant shore, and in need of shelter and warmth. The plea to not let the night fall over them and not to sleep too long indicates a fear of being alone with one's thoughts and emotions, and a need for someone to share and alleviate the burden.
The line "Can I lose myself inside your sails" is particularly significant, as it suggests a desire to surrender to someone else's direction and guidance, and to find solace in their presence. The image of sailing also invokes a sense of adventure and exploration, indicating that the singer wants to embark on a journey with their companion.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don't Let Me Sleep" convey a sense of longing for connection and companionship, and the fear of being left alone with one's inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in my life
The singer is expressing that they are currently at a point in their life where they feel alone
There is room for another lonely song
The singer feels that they have experienced sadness and loneliness frequently in their life
Can I lose myself inside your sails
The singer is asking the person they are addressing if they can find comfort and escape with them
Left by the sun
The artist feels abandoned or left behind by someone or something that they previously relied on
I've been shivering in this frozen land
The artist is using a metaphor to express that they have been feeling isolated, alone, and unhappy
Can I rest beside your fire tonight
The singer is asking if they can find comfort and warmth from the person they are addressing
While we're here, don't let the night fall over me (don't sleep too long)
The singer is expressing a desire to not be left alone in sadness and loneliness while they are with the person they are addressing
Now we're here, don't let me sleep too long
The artist is asking the person they are addressing to not allow them to become too withdrawn or isolated from the world
Never a change
The artist is expressing that their life has not seen much positivity or improvement
In the wind blowing through my open door
The artist is using a metaphor to express that the negativity and difficulty in their life is constant and always present
I've been banished to live on a distant shore
The singer is expressing that they feel like they have been exiled or cut off from things that could bring them happiness or fulfillment
Where I will be with you always
The artist is expressing a desire to be with the person they are addressing always, as they feel that this person can provide them with the comfort and support they need
There in your arms
The singer is expressing that they feel safe and protected in the embrace of the person they are addressing
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.