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
May You Never
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without a hand to hold
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
You're just like a great strong brother of mine
You know that I love you true
And you never talk dirty behind my back
And I know that there's those that do.
Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind
Love is a lesson to learn in our time
Now please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.
And may you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
Well you're just like a good close sister to me
You know that I love you true
And you hold no blade to stab me in the back
And I know that there's some that do.
Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind
Love is a lesson to learn in our time
And please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.
May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
You're just like a great strong brother of mine
And you know that I love you true
And you never talk dirty behind my back
And I know that there's those that do.
Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind
Love is a lesson to learn in our time
And please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.
May you never lose your temper
If you get in a bar room fight
May you never lose your woman overnight
May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
May you never lose your temper
If you get in a bar room fight
May you never lose your woman over night
May you never lose your woman over night
May you never lose your woman over night
The song "May You Never" is a beautiful tribute to friendship and a reflection on the importance of trust in any relationship. The lyrics express a deep sense of gratitude and affection for the person addressed in the song, who is likened to a "great strong brother" or a "good close sister." The singer expresses trust in this person, acknowledging that they never speak ill of others behind their back or hold a grudge.
In the chorus, the singer expresses a wish that the person may never have to face difficult or lonely times, that they may always have someone to hold and love them. The repetition of the lines "may you never lay your head down without a hand to hold" and "may you never make your bed out in the cold" amplifies this wish for comfort and connection. The song ends with a series of wishes for the person's happiness and well-being, including the hope that they never lose their temper, their woman, or their sense of trust in others.
The central theme of the song is the importance of trust and support in human relationships. The singer's deep feelings of affection and gratitude for the person addressed in the song serve as a reminder of the power of trust and loyalty to sustain and enrich our lives. May You Never is a song that speaks of companionship, friendship, and the joys and pains that come with experiencing love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
And may you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold
I hope you always have someone to turn to and support you, even in your darkest moments.
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
Let's hope you never have to sleep in uncomfortable and inhospitable places.
You're just like a great strong brother of mine
You know that I love you true
And you never talk dirty behind my back
And I know that there's those that do.
You are a loyal and trustworthy friend who I hold dear, and I know you would never speak ill of me behind my back - unlike some others.
Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind
Love is a lesson to learn in our time
Now please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.
Please always remember that love is an essential lesson to take away from life, and never forget that fact for me.
Well you're just like a good close sister to me
You know that I love you true
And you hold no blade to stab me in the back
And I know that there's some that do.
You are like a sister to me - a loving and faithful person who would never harm me or talk poorly about me to others, unlike some others who would.
May you never lose your temper
If you get in a bar room fight
May you never lose your woman overnight
May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
I hope you always keep your calm, even in heated situations, and never lose something that means a great deal to you, like a partner or loved one, suddenly or unexpectedly. Above all, I hope you never feel alone and unsupported.
May you never lose your woman over night
May you never lose your woman over night
May you never experience the pain and heartbreak of losing someone close to you suddenly and without warning.
Contributed by Oliver G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.