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
We Are Not Helpless
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What lies between us
It can be set aside and ended
Everyday we learn more how to hate
Shut the door
And then we'll tell ourselves we can't relate
Yet even they are different
And ever so they shall remain
All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers
Open up my friend and learn to hear
For even lying
When it has nothing you should fear
If you cannot let yourself be
Known by anyone
Then you are hiding and not whole
All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers
We your children we would ask you all
Please do not hide your eyes
And listen when we will call
We will whisper shout or make a scene
We are the answer
For we can live the peace we dream
All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Yes America's children
Are askin' everybody some questions about how it is
Yes America's children
Are makin' it hard to look them in the eyes whoa it is
America's children
Are makin' it hard to live lies you know whoa it is
And America's children are diggin' that everywhere children
Are diggin' we live on the earth
We live on the earth we live on the earth right now
Yes, and it's right on children of the earth and it's right on
Children of the earth and it's right on
Children of the earth and it's right on right on, yeah
This is what has made our nation free
For life is change
And only blind men cannot see
The new order is upon us now it is the children
They have the wisdom to be free
All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers
In Judie Tzuke's song We Are Not Helpless, the lyrics speak to the idea that we are all connected despite our differences. Tzuke sings "All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers," emphasizing that even those we may see as strangers or different from ourselves are still a part of the same human family. The lyrics also touch on the idea that hatred is learned and that we can choose to end it by opening ourselves up to different perspectives and listening to others.
The song urges listeners to not hide themselves or their opinions from others, encouraging them to be true to themselves and not be afraid to speak out. The line "For even lying, when it has nothing you should fear" suggests that sometimes we may feel the need to conceal our thoughts or feelings, but ultimately it is better to be honest and open.
Tzuke switches the focus to America's children in the final verse, highlighting the fact that the younger generation holds the key to creating a more peaceful world. The repeated refrain of "Children of the earth" speaks to the idea that we are all connected by our shared existence on this planet.
Overall, the song is a call for unity and understanding, emphasizing that we are all in this together and must work towards a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
We are not helpless we are men
We are capable beings, not powerless or weak
What lies between us
Any conflicts or differences that exist
It can be set aside and ended
These differences can be resolved and put to rest
Everyday we learn more how to hate
We are constantly exposed to negativity and hostility
Shut the door
Close ourselves off from others
And then we'll tell ourselves we can't relate
We convince ourselves that we have nothing in common with others
Only to the ones who are the same
We only feel comfortable with those who are like us
Yet even they are different
Even those who are similar to us have their own unique qualities
And ever so they shall remain
These differences will always exist and should be accepted
All are strangers, all are friends, all are brothers
We are all human beings, regardless of our differences
Open up my friend and learn to hear
We should be receptive and listen to others
For even lying
Even if someone is not truthful
When it has nothing you should fear
If there is nothing to be afraid of
If you cannot let yourself be
If you cannot be yourself
Known by anyone
If no one knows the real you
Then you are hiding and not whole
You are not truly yourself
We your children we would ask you all
The younger generation wants to pose a question to everyone
Please do not hide your eyes
Don't look away or ignore the world's problems
And listen when we will call
Listen to what the younger generation has to say
We will whisper shout or make a scene
We will express ourselves in any way we can
We are the answer
The younger generation has the solution to creating a more peaceful world
For we can live the peace we dream
We have the ability to turn our vision of peace into reality
Yes America's children
The younger generation in America
Are askin' everybody some questions about how it is
They want answers about the state of society
Are makin' it hard to look them in the eyes whoa it is
Their tough questions force adults to confront uncomfortable truths
Are makin' it hard to live lies you know whoa it is
It's difficult to ignore the harsh reality when young people are calling for change
And America's children are diggin' that everywhere children
The younger generation across the world
Are diggin' we live on the earth
They realize that we all share the same planet
We live on the earth we live on the earth right now
We are all currently inhabiting this planet
Yes, and it's right on children of the earth and it's right on
The youth are doing everything right, and should be supported
This is what has made our nation free
This inclusivity and acceptance is what has granted us freedom
For life is change
Change is embodied in the nature of life
And only blind men cannot see
It is only ignorance that causes blindness to this fact
The new order is upon us now it is the children
A new era is upon us, led by the younger generation
They have the wisdom to be free
The younger generation possesses knowledge and understanding to make positive change
Oh yeah, oh yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and agreement
Contributed by Zoe D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.