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.
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Don't Look Behind You
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Images flash past the window
You're chasing the wind
And you know there's something there
Something left unsaid
But don't look behind you
But just do as I do
Keep straight on, it's the only way I know
You can't let go
And you know you must move on
'Cause what's done is done
Don't look behind you
Just do as I do
And when you think about the past
What is there left to hold on to?
Nothing lasts
You've got to leave it where it falls
Look to yourself to believe in
You can't mend it all
Don't look behind you
Just do as I do
Then if you're lucky
Your shadow won't find you
So don't look behind you
We can shelter from the rain
And hide in the clouds if you want to
They won't catch you again
Well, come with me and close your eyes
No one will know where to find you
Bless the child
Don't look behind you
Just do as I do
And then if you're lucky
Your shadow won't find you
So don't look behind you
There you are with your head in your hands
There you are with your head in your hands
Don't look behind you
Don't look behind you
Just do as I do
And then if you're lucky
Your shadow won't find you
So don't look behind you
Don't look behind you
Don't look behind you
There you are, your head in your hands
There you are with your head in your hands
Don't look behind you
Don't look behind you
The lyrics of Judie Tzuke’s song “Don’t Look Behind You” speak to the idea of moving on from the past and not getting stuck in regrets. The opening verse describes the singer observing someone who is struggling to let go of something, perhaps a dream or a relationship. The person is holding onto something left unsaid or undone, but the singer urges them not to look behind and to keep moving forward, as that is the only way forward. The second verse urges the listener to let go of the past, as nothing lasts and there is nothing to hold on to. Instead, the singer suggests looking within oneself to find the resilience needed to keep moving forward despite past setbacks.
The chorus of the song repeats the message to not look behind and to simply do as the singer does. The bridge suggests a way to escape the difficulties of the past is to find a safe place to “shelter from the rain” and to “hide in the clouds” where no one can find them. The final repetition of the chorus brings back the image of someone with their head in their hands, but instead of being stuck there, the singer urges them to keep moving and never look back.
Line by Line Meaning
There you are with your head in your hands
You're feeling lost and overwhelmed
Images flash past the window
Memories and regrets are haunting you
You're chasing the wind
You're pursuing something elusive and impractical
And you know there's something there
You sense that there's something missing or unresolved
Something left unsaid
There are words or feelings that you haven't expressed
But don't look behind you
Don't dwell on the past and the things you can't change
But just do as I do
Follow my lead and focus on moving forward
Keep straight on, it's the only way I know
My advice is to stay the course and not look back
You're trying to hold on to a dream
You're clinging to an unrealistic hope or expectation
You can't let go
You're struggling to release your attachments and move on
And you know you must move on
You recognize the need to let go and start anew
'Cause what's done is done
The past is irreversible and unchangeable
And when you think about the past
Reflecting on history and what's gone before
What is there left to hold on to?
There's nothing remaining to grasp or retain
Nothing lasts
All things are temporary and fleeting
You've got to leave it where it falls
You must let go of what's gone before and not try to salvage it
Look to yourself to believe in
Believe in your own strength and resilience
You can't mend it all
You can't fix everything or make everything right again
We can shelter from the rain
We can find protection from the storms of life
And hide in the clouds if you want to
We can escape from reality or live in our own illusions
They won't catch you again
You can avoid or elude the things that trouble you
Well, come with me and close your eyes
I invite you to trust me and let go of your fears
No one will know where to find you
You can disappear or stay hidden from the world
Bless the child
May you find peace and happiness in your innocence
Your head in your hands
Expressing desolation and grief
Your shadow won't find you
Your past won't catch up to you if you keep moving forward
Don't look behind you
Don't get stuck in the past or hindered by regrets
Just do as I do
Follow the example and guidance of someone else
Contributed by Harper V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.