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
You
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Instead of seein' me
I see you, I see your face
And inside me is a growing need for your embrace
In the light of day, though our faces meet
Someone there might see so we never speak
Till the dark of night while the moon is new
Though it's wrong I know
Oh, I love you so
Yes, I need you
I need you baby
You, my sweetest joy, you can afford the best of life
I'm just a heartbreakin' boy
You, you've given your love to me
I can't let you hurt yourself by being seen with me
We're worlds apart, so close yet very far
We must hide the love we're feelin' in our hearts
We meet in shadows, our friends must never know
That we are lovers, darlin', although it hurts me so
For your sake no one must see
The press of love you're givin' me
But you know I need you baby
You, you, you
You, you, you
You, you, you
You, you, you
One day I'll make the break, my love will start to shine
I can tell the world that you are mine, all mine
Till then we must go the way we have before
And never let it show without each other's souls
I'll never one way track
'Cause there's no turnin' back
Oh, I need you baby
You, you I see, oh, in my mirror in the mornin'
Instead of seein' me
I see you, I see your face
In Judie Tzuke's song "You," the singer is expressing their love for someone who they see reflected in their own mirror in the morning. They see this person instead of their own reflection and the need for their embrace is growing inside them. The two cannot be together openly as others might see them together and they must keep their love a secret. They meet in the shadows, whispering words of love in secret rendezvous'. The singer knows that it's wrong to keep their love a secret, but they can't help how they feel. The love they share is presented as being intense, but also burdened by the social expectations of the time period.
Throughout the song, the singer's need and desperation for the person they see in the mirror is evident. The lyrics reveal a bittersweet love story where they yearn to be with each other, but their love must remain a secret. However, the final verse offers a glimmer of hope as the singer suggests that one day they will make the break and tell the world that they are together.
Overall, the song speaks about the intensity and struggle of a love that cannot be openly expressed. It's about the lengths that people are willing to go to be with the one they love, even if it means hiding from society's judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you I see in my mirror in the mornin',
Instead of seein' me
I see you, I see your face
And inside me is a growing need for your embrace
The singer is so consumed by her love for someone that when she looks in the mirror, she sees that person's face instead of her own, and it fills her with a strong desire to be held by them.
In the light of day, though our faces meet
Someone there might see so we never speak
Till the dark of night while the moon is new
When we whisper words of love in our secret rendezvous
Despite encountering each other during the day, the two lovers keep their relationship hidden because of the risk of being seen by others. Only under the cover of darkness do they meet in secret to express their love.
Though it's wrong I know
Oh, I love you so
Yes, I need you
I need you baby
The singer is aware that their relationship is taboo, but their love for the other person is so strong that they cannot help but express it and admit how much they need them.
You, my sweetest joy, you can afford the best of life
I'm just a heartbreakin' boy
You, you've given your love to me
I can't let you hurt yourself by being seen with me
The singer believes that her lover deserves the best things in life, while they consider themselves unworthy of such luxuries. They worry that being seen with them will hurt their lover's reputation and bring them pain.
We're worlds apart, so close yet very far
We must hide the love we're feelin' in our hearts
We meet in shadows, our friends must never know
That we are lovers, darlin', although it hurts me so
Despite being deeply in love with each other, the two lovers are kept apart by societal barriers. They keep their love hidden and can only meet in secret, even from their closest friends, causing them great emotional pain.
For your sake no one must see
The press of love you're givin' me
But you know I need you baby
The singer is willing to sacrifice their own desires for their lover's sake and keep their love hidden. They acknowledge that their lover is giving them a lot of love, but it must go unnoticed to protect their reputations.
One day I'll make the break, my love will start to shine
I can tell the world that you are mine, all mine
Till then we must go the way we have before
And never let it show without each other's souls
The singer dreams of a time when they can openly express their love without judgement. Until then, they will continue to keep it hidden and protect each other's feelings, never letting their love show to the world.
I'll never one way track
'Cause there's no turnin' back
Oh, I need you baby
The singer is committed to their love for the other person and will never turn away from it, even though they know it may cause them pain in the future. They reiterate how much they need their lover in their life.
You, you I see, oh, in my mirror in the mornin'
Instead of seein' me
I see you, I see your face
The song ends where it began, with the singer looking in the mirror and seeing only their lover's face instead of their own. This repetition emphasizes the intense nature of their love and their inability to separate themselves from it.
Contributed by Ryan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@emmajones9391
This is a Fucking masterpiece. She introduced me to harmonies when I was 7 yrs old and have never ever been able to get this song out of my head. Hats of judie. I’m a singer just been bringing up my son and not had the chances, but because of you and this track harmonies are my forte. Thankyou. Xccccccxxxxxxxx
@andrewbranch4918
Still no words to encompass the beauty and romance of this tune.57 years and when I think about the times we grew through and what we have now. I wanna be a silly little niave sprog again full of love adventure romance and the promise of a life that unfolds. Not the life of regime. Peace and love ✌️😁❤️💙💜💎
@rokit430
Well written. Yes it's like where have all those years gone. But they are not lost..with singers like Judi..a forever time🌈
@travisbickle1374
Disgracefully underrated, under recognised - hugely talented singer / songwriter.
@mhthmusicvideos
Agreed
@popehadrianthe4th648
This is a jolly amazing song, can’t believe it never charted. Let’s keep it our little secret.
@ambadad
What a joy is was a couple of years ago to hear Judie sing this live on the Woman To Woman tour with the sublime voices of Julia Fordham and Beverley Craven providing the backing vocals.
@sarac.3259
Yes - wasn't it such a fabulous show? (We were in London.) Couldn't believe how good they sounded together and "swapping" songs. Magical.
@miker4926
Judie is a massively underrated artist. I remember this song as a teenager, it's a real hidden gem. Love her other songs too. Glad to see she's recently teamed up with Beverly Craven and Julia Fordham named 'Woman to Woman' to create a new album.
@eamonholland5478
And now also with Rumer, saw them all last night in London, they did this stunning!!!