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
Left Hand Talking
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Most of my dreams and heroes were shot down in cold blood
I couldn't seem to find my heart
It was lost inside me like a broken dart
I had to wonder if I was the one who was holding the gun
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
The wind has kept me from my sleep
It had all of my night terrors screaming
Like the broken trees on the hard ground
I cried when I felt the force snap their brittle bones
I think a part of me died when my father left home
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
It's been a very strange few years
Some of my friends have gone down in the war
Someone turned the light off in my eyes
When it came back on I'd lost my disguise
I really thought I was one of those who had died
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
This is my left hand talking
The lyrics to Judie Tzuke's song "Left Hand Talking" are deeply reflective and introspective, touching on the struggles and challenges that the singer has faced over the course of the past few years. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Tzuke sings about the disillusionment and disappointment she has felt as many of her dreams and heroes have been shattered by tragedy and violence. She reveals that she has been struggling to find her own heart, feeling lost and broken like a dart that has been rendered useless.
In the second verse, Tzuke continues to explore these dark motifs, drawing a connection between her own sense of loss and the shattered landscape around her. The wind keeps her from sleeping, and her night terrors fill her with a sense of dread, as if everything around her is in a state of chaos and disarray. Even the trees are brittle and broken, unable to withstand the force of the world's turmoil. Tzuke hints at deeper wounds in her life, including the absence of her father, which may have contributed to the sense of despair and hopelessness she feels.
Throughout the song, Tzuke uses the refrain "This is my left hand talking" to convey the idea that she is speaking from a deeper, more primal place within herself. Her left hand is often associated with intuition and feeling, and by using this phrase repeatedly, Tzuke is suggesting that she is channeling something raw and emotional. Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the pain and suffering that can come with living in a difficult and uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a very strange few years
The recent years have been particularly unusual or unexpected
Most of my dreams and heroes were shot down in cold blood
The things that I hoped for and admired were destroyed in a cruel manner
I couldn't seem to find my heart
I was unable to locate the source of my emotions
It was lost inside me like a broken dart
It remained hidden and ineffective like a damaged weapon
I had to wonder if I was the one who was holding the gun
I questioned whether I was responsible for causing harm
This is my left hand talking
I am expressing myself in a direct and honest manner
The wind has kept me from my sleep
I have been unable to rest due to the effects of the wind
It had all of my night terrors screaming
I experienced intense fear during my sleep due to the wind
Like the broken trees on the hard ground
The wind caused damage to the trees, leaving them in a vulnerable state
I cried when I felt the force snap their brittle bones
I experienced deep emotional pain when I witnessed the trees being broken
I think a part of me died when my father left home
The departure of my father caused a significant loss and trauma in my life
Some of my friends have gone down in the war
My acquaintances were killed in a battle
Someone turned the light off in my eyes
I lost my optimism and enthusiasm for life
When it came back on I'd lost my disguise
When my perspective returned, I realized that I had lost my facade
I really thought I was one of those who had died
My outlook was so negative that I believed that I had perished alongside others
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Siret Ester
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
It was the last thing I had on my mind when I saw you was to love you
I was looking for new ideas
I was young then, just a child in years
And reaching out I found your arms so warm
Comme une fleur de la terre je reviens
And touching you I knew I'd found a home
J'aime rentrer chez moi
You were never part of the deal but you haunt me and I wake up
Feeling lonely for your embrace
In a cold world I'm so out of place
And reaching out I found your arms so warm
Comme une fleur de la terre je reviens
And touching you I knew I'd found a home
J'aime rentrer chez moi
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
I will find a way
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
If I could travel in time I'd be driving with your hand on mine
That little French song you sang
Do you sing it now that you're a man?
Reaching out I found your arms so warm
Comme une fleur de la terre je reviens
And touching you I knew I'd found a home
J'aime rentrer chez moi
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
I will find a way
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
I will find a way
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
I will find a way
One day I will live in France
One day I will be with you
One day I will live in France
Un deux trois nous irons dans le bois
Quatre cinq six pour ceuillir des cerises
Jon Fairway
Amazing how many of Judie's songs bring the tears to eyes ! Such a Beautiful emotional vocalist
Jan Willem Wilkens
Beautiful song. There is a live version on a late 90s cd that makes more use of the choruses and a driving beat. Recommended.
Neil Marais
I bought this on release, still one of my favourites all her !!!
blonde7000
I heard this tonight for the first time on the radio. It sounded so very nice
Kevin Firth
another absolute gem from Jude ! such a class act
Lawrie Farrell
Yet another beautiful song from the wonderful Judie
Sinjinator
Damn, got this song stuck in my head and the tears came.... (Un deux trois, nous irons dans le bois Quatre cinq six, pour ceuillir des cerises)
John Kenneway
first track on Album Left Hand Talking, excellent album from a great singer songwriter.
Rick Brooks
The only thing wrong with this track, is that it's about 6 minutes too short!
Fernando Qray
great song,i love it!