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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Want You More
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I won't get through to you
First a note, then a call
Only yesterday I was yours
Now every day I want you more
Close my eyes, oh there you are
Stop before we go too far
Shouldn't dream that you're here
Because it only makes me want you more
How could I forget you?
All the reasons we've seen through
Didn't see, never thought
No sense looking back
Because it only makes me want you more
Our emotions in store
All the time we're apart, ignore
It only makes me want you more
Please don't think I never heard
I remember every word
Every move I recall
Shouldn't dream that you're here at all
It only makes me want you more
Every day, hey, every room
Sadness makes the vainest fools
Whose to say, "What's in store?"
Just remember I just adore you
Every day I want you more, oh
In Judie Tzuke's song, "Want You More," the lyrics describe the internal struggle of someone who has lost a relationship but can't let go of the memories and emotions associated with it. The singer tries to contact their former partner to no avail, and is left to ruminate on the past. The lines, "Close my eyes, oh there you are / Stop before we go too far" suggest that the memory of the relationship is still haunting the singer and they are trying to resist the pull back to it. However, as the chorus repeats, "Every day I want you more," it's clear that the singer can't shake the longing for their lost love.
The repeated line, "Shouldn't dream that you're here / Because it only makes me want you more," encapsulates the struggle between moving on and longing for what's lost. The singer knows that dwelling on the past won't help them move forward, but they can't help but remember all the good things about the relationship. As the song builds to its climax with the lines, "Whose to say, 'What's in store?' / Just remember I just adore you / Every day I want you more, oh," the singer resigns themselves to the fact that they still have feelings for their ex, even if they can't act on them.
Overall, "Want You More" is a poignant look at the struggle to move on from a lost love. The lyrics capture the raw emotions of longing and regret, and the music adds an additional layer of melancholy that reinforces the emotional intensity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Tried to phone, oh what's the use?
I attempted to call you, but I know deep down inside that it won't be successful.
I know I won't get through to you
I understand the fact that I won't be able to connect with you.
First a note, then a call
Initially, I wrote you a note, then I tried to contact you on the phone.
Only yesterday I was yours
It was only yesterday that you were mine, and now the situation has changed.
Now every day I want you more
Now, I desire you more with each passing day.
Close my eyes, oh there you are
Whenever I shut my eyes, I see your face before me.
Stop before we go too far
We should put an end to things before they spiral out of control.
Every move I recall
I recollect every action you performed.
Shouldn't dream that you're here
It's not a good idea to fantasize about the possibility of you being here.
Because it only makes me want you more
Whenever I indulge in these thoughts, I want you even more.
How could I forget you?
It's impossible for me to forget about you.
All the reasons we've seen through
We've analyzed each and every explanation for our separation.
Didn't see, never thought
In the past, I failed to realize or consider the implications of our separation.
No sense looking back
There's no point in dwelling in the past.
Because it only makes me want you more
Continuously reflecting on the past only intensifies my desire for you.
Our emotions in store
The emotions we share with each other are being held in reserve.
All the time we're apart, ignore
We should ignore the fact that we're away from each other.
It only makes me want you more
The distance between us serves only to increase my desire for you.
Please don't think I never heard
Please don't believe I never heard what you had to say.
I remember every word
I recollect everything you said.
Shouldn't dream that you're here at all
It's not wise to envision you being here with me.
It only makes me want you more
When I picture us together, I desire you even more.
Every day, hey, every room
Each and every day, in every room, I want you more.
Sadness makes the vainest fools
Sadness can reduce even the most self-obsessed people to foolishness.
Whose to say, "What's in store?"
Who knows what the future holds?
Just remember I just adore you
Just keep in mind that I cherish you very much.
Every day I want you more, oh
I yearn for you more and more each day.
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.