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
Parallel Lives
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When nothing goes the way you planned it?
Fate takes you down a different road
When you look in the mirror
It's another face that looks out at you
You forget everything you've been told
I frighten myself when I see what's inside of me
Did I ask the right questions?
Did I get the right answers?
Am I living the right life inside?
Like living out part of a dream
When you never really know for certain
What is real and what is not
And no matter how much you believe
That the day you went is the day you started
You can never be sure of what you've got
I frighten myself when I see what's inside of me
The parallel lives leave me mystified
Did I ask the right questions?
Did I get the right answers?
Am I living the right life inside?
I'll dance to the rhythm of confusion
I'll dance to set my mind at ease
I'll dance till my feet can't take the weight of me
I'll dance till I get some relief
I frighten myself when I see what's inside of me
The parallel lives leave me mystified
Did I ask the right questions?
Did I get the right answers?
Am I living the right life inside?
Did I ask the right questions?
Did I get the right answers?
Am I living the right life inside?
I'll dance to the rhythm of confusion
I'll dance to set my mind at ease
I'll dance till my feet can't take the weight of me
I'll dance till I get some relief
I frighten myself,
Nothing goes the way you planned it
I frighten myself,
With the parallel lives.
The song "Parallel Lives" by Judie Tzuke is an introspective piece about the feelings of confusion and uncertainty that can come from living different versions of ourselves. The lyrics describe a sense of otherness and disconnection from oneself that arises when life takes unexpected turns, and we are forced to confront alternative paths that our lives could have taken.
The artist expresses her fear of what she may discover when she takes a closer look at her inner self, and the parallel lives she could have lived. She questions whether she has made the right choices and lived the life that was meant for her. The message of the song is that we can never be certain of what we have and what we could have had in life, but we must learn to dance to the rhythm of confusion and find relief in embracing the uncertain nature of our existence.
Overall, "Parallel Lives" is a thought-provoking, emotive piece that invites listeners to reflect on their own sense of self and purpose in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever had one of those days
Have you ever experienced a day when things go wrong and don't go according to plan?
When nothing goes the way you planned it?
When all that you were hoping for or expecting does not materialize?
Fate takes you down a different road
The circumstances in your life alter and steer you towards an unanticipated and uncharted course.
When you look in the mirror
When you introspect and examine your thoughts or feelings about yourself.
It's another face that looks out at you
You see a different or alternate version of yourself, unlike the one that you were familiar with.
You forget everything you've been told
You disregard or overlook all the guidance, advice, or teachings that you had received or learnt until then.
I frighten myself when I see what's inside of me
I get scared or concerned when I realize or acknowledge my unexplored inner self or emotions.
The parallel lives leave me mystified
The multiple, distinct, or divergent paths that my life could have taken confuse or puzzle me.
Did I ask the right questions?
Was I specific and clear in my doubts and inquiries?
Did I get the right answers?
Did I obtain the correct, accurate, or satisfactory responses to my doubts or questions?
Am I living the right life inside?
Am I really content, fulfilled, or authentic with the choices, decisions, or identity that I have adopted or assumed?
Like living out part of a dream
It's akin to experiencing a fraction or only the surreal, unrealistic, or idealistic elements of a fantasy or aspiration.
When you never really know for certain
When the uncertainty or ambiguity of a situation or event is persistent and inescapable.
What is real and what is not
What aspects of the experience or existence are genuine, valid, or based on truth and what are illusory, fabricated, or deceptive.
And no matter how much you believe
Regardless of how convinced or certain you are about something.
That the day you went is the day you started
That the day you underwent a life-altering change was the origin or beginning of a new phase of your life.
You can never be sure of what you've got
You cannot be entirely certain or confident about the value, significance, or permanence of what you have received or achieved.
I'll dance to the rhythm of confusion
I will embrace the chaos, uncertainty, or unpredictability of life and find solace or pleasure in it by dancing.
I'll dance to set my mind at ease
I will use dancing as a way to calm and relax my mind or to forget my troubles, worries, or anxieties.
I'll dance till my feet can't take the weight of me
I will dance until I am physically exhausted and my feet can no longer bear my body weight.
I'll dance till I get some relief
I will dance to find some respite, release, or relief from my emotional or mental discomfort or pain.
Nothing goes the way you planned it
Things happen unexpectedly or differently from how you expected or intended them to occur.
With the parallel lives.
Due to the different or potential paths that your life could have followed, leaving you in awe or wonder.
Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wayne Panter
Jude, fabulous as ever, beautiful song too ❤️
Benoit Vanhees
What a superb song, it really deserves far more thumbs up. Well, I've already doubled the score ! I think this Definitive Collection is something worth while being on the look out for !
Christian Villanueva Arbulu
+Benoit Vanhees Thanks Benoit, thank you for entering the world and Music for the Soul.
p A
A brill song from our songstress Judie T (now 24 years old!). It wasn't firstly from this compilation (Moon On A Mirrorball) believe it not Christian, which came out in 2010 Christian Villanueva Arbulu!
paul mayle
@Christian Villanueva Arbulu it was originally on the under the angels album released in 1996
Christian Villanueva Arbulu
Well, it may not be that date, but it is the CD that I have, from 2010.
Chris Stothard
Great song. Nice to see some of my screenshots 😉
Benoit Vanhees
Hint, hint... :)