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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Walk Don't Walk
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's glass in the road where he threw his last bottle
Newspapers strewn across his territory
Don't go too close or you'll be in his story.
He's some mother's son, but I can't help him
He's some mother's son, I'll just keep on walking
This city's dark with its shady doorways
A scream in the night cuts through the warm air
The flash of a knife acts like a beacon
You play ignorant but you're well aware.
He's some mother's son, but I can't help him
He's some mother's son, I'll just keep on walking
Walk don't walk
When did their hopes stop burning?
When did their years stop turning?
Where were the laws unbroken?
They must be unspoken
Walk don't walk
The old townhouse has trapped a stranger
Too young to know what drew him inside
In the time that it takes him to feel the danger
The rest of his childhood will have died.
He's some mother's son, but I can't help him
He's some mother's son, I'll just keep on walking
Walk don't walk.
The lyrics to Judie Tzuke's song "Walk Don't Walk" paint a poignant picture of a city that is plagued by danger and despair. The first verse speaks of the streets in November, which are dirty and littered with glass. The lines "Don't go too close or you'll be in his story" suggest that there is someone lurking in the shadows who is dangerous. The singer acknowledges that this person is "some mother's son," but feels powerless to help him. In fact, the only option is to keep walking: "Walk don't walk."
The second verse paints an even more dire picture of the city. The shady doorways and the scream in the night suggest that there is violence around every corner. The flash of a knife becomes a beacon that everyone can see, but no one acknowledges. The singer once again acknowledges that the perpetrator is "some mother's son," but can do nothing to help him.
The chorus, "Walk don't walk," becomes a refrain that reinforces the idea that all people can do is keep moving forward, always aware of the dangers that lurk around them. The final lines of the song, "The old townhouse has trapped a stranger / In the time that it takes him to feel the danger / The rest of his childhood will have died," speak to the idea that some people are trapped in cycles of violence and despair from a young age, and that there may be little hope of escape.
Overall, "Walk Don't Walk" is a powerful song that speaks to the realities of life in a dangerous city, and the difficulties of trying to help those who are in desperate need.
Line by Line Meaning
It's November and the streets are dirty
The streets are littered and the environment is unpleasant.
There's glass in the road where he threw his last bottle
Broken glass is scattered on the ground where someone threw a bottle.
Newspapers strewn across his territory
Newspapers are scattered on the ground in the area he claims as his own.
Don't go too close or you'll be in his story.
Don't get too involved with him, or you might become part of his troubles.
He's some mother's son, but I can't help him
He is someone's child, but there's nothing I can do to assist him.
He's some mother's son, I'll just keep on walking
Although he is someone's child, I cannot save him and will continue walking.
Walk don't walk
Proceed cautiously and be aware of your surroundings.
This city's dark with its shady doorways
The city is dangerous with its hidden nooks and crannies.
A scream in the night cuts through the warm air
A sudden scream breaks the silence of the night air.
The flash of a knife acts like a beacon
The glint of a knife is a warning signal of danger.
You play ignorant but you're well aware.
You pretend not to know, but deep down, you understand the risks involved.
When did their hopes stop burning?
When did they lose their dreams and aspirations?
When did their years stop turning?
When did they stop progressing with time?
Where were the laws unbroken?
Where were there no violations of law and order?
They must be unspoken
Those places with no lawbreaking must be kept a secret.
The old townhouse has trapped a stranger
An unfamiliar person is confined within an ancient home.
Too young to know what drew him inside
Young and naive, he was unaware of what attracted him to the place.
In the time that it takes him to feel the danger
Before he can realize the peril that surrounds him,
The rest of his childhood will have died.
His youth will disappear quickly, as a result of the consequences of his actions.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.