The leaders of the Scottish neo-pop uprising Orange Juice formed in Glasgow… Read Full Bio ↴The leaders of the Scottish neo-pop uprising Orange Juice formed in Glasgow in late 1976. Originally dubbed the Nu-Sonics, the group comprised vocalist/guitarist Edwyn Collins, guitarist James Kirk, bassist David McClymont, and drummer Steven Daly; following the formation of the Postcard label by Collins protégé Alan Horne, the quartet renamed itself Orange Juice in 1979, adopting the new moniker as well as an aura of romantic innocence as a direct reaction to the increasingly macho aggression of punk.

As Postcard's flagship band, Orange Juice quickly distinguished the label as a leading proponent of independent pop music; their 1980 debut single "Falling and Laughing," recorded for less than 100 pounds, garnered massive critical acclaim, and subsequent releases like "Blueboy," "Simply Thrilled Honey," and "Poor Old Soul" further established the group as a major new talent. Soon, sessions began for a full-length album; however, in the midst of recording, Orange Juice left Postcard to sign to Polydor, which funded the LP's completion. After the 1982 release of the album, titled You Can't Hide Your Love Forever, ex-Josef K guitarist Malcolm Ross joined the group, hastening the exit of Kirk and Daly (who went on to form Memphis) and paving the way for Zimbabwe-born drummer Zeke Manyika.

The addition of Manyika gave Collins the new capability of exploring a more complex fusion of pop and blue-eyed soul; consequently, 1982's Rip It Up was a more ambitious affair than its predecessor, veering from the buoyant Motown tribute "I Can't Help Myself" to the energetic pop of the title track, Orange Juice's lone Top Ten single. However, subsequent releases failed to chart, and relations between the group and Polydor began to disintegrate; amid these tensions, both Ross and McClymont quit, with Ross later resurfacing in Aztec Camera. Reduced to the duo of Collins and Manyika, Orange Juice enlisted reggae producer Dennis Bovell to record the 1984 EP Texas Fever.

After a makeshift tour, Collins and Manyika returned to the studio to record a dark, ambitious full-length effort; released in 1984, neither The Orange Juice nor its singles "What Presence?!" and "Lean Period" charted, and Collins was dropped from his contract, although Polydor kept Manyika on as a solo act. Only in 1995 did the stunning single "A Girl Like You" finally win Collins the commercial respect that had so long eluded him and his former bandmates. Later on, throughout the late '90s and early 2000s, the rise of Scottish bands as disparate as Belle & Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand won Orange Juice a younger set of fans, helped in great part by the 2005 compilation The Glasgow School.

Biography by Jason Ankeny

In a Nutshell
Orange Juice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I looked deep within my pocket
For the note you sent to me
To put it in a nutshell
You're a heartless mercenary

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, goodness gracious
Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, you're so audacious
Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo

I looked behind the iron curtain
For a greater dignity
And now I'm more than certain
You're a heartless mercenary

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, goodness gracious
Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, you're so audacious
Push me and pull me
The blind lead the blind
I don't have no money
Can I pay you in kind?

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, goodness gracious

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, you're so audacious
Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo

Overall Meaning

The opening line of "In A Nutshell" sets the tone for the entire song. The singer is searching through their pocket for a note that was given to them, and upon finding it, they realize that the person who wrote it is a heartless mercenary. The use of the phrase "in a nutshell" implies that this person's character can be boiled down to a few succinct words. The lyrics convey a sense of disappointment and betrayal in realizing that someone you trusted is not who they appeared to be.

The second verse takes the metaphorical language further, as the singer looks behind the "iron curtain" for a greater dignity - implying that they thought this person would elevate them to a higher level of social status or self-esteem. However, their search only confirms the initial assessment - this person is a heartless mercenary. The use of the phrase "push me and pull me, the blind lead the blind" emphasizes the idea that the singer was following this person blindly, without truly seeing their intentions.

The repetition of the phrase "shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo" and "goodness gracious" suggests a sense of incredulity on the singer's part. They can't believe that they were fooled by this person, and are questioning their own judgement. Overall, the lyrics suggest a cautionary tale about being careful who you trust.

Line by Line Meaning

I looked deep within my pocket
I searched thoroughly in my possessions

For the note you sent to me
In search of a message from you

To put it in a nutshell
To sum it up

You're a heartless mercenary
You lack empathy and only do things for personal gain

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, goodness gracious
Expression of surprise or shock

Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoodoo, you're so audacious
You are bold and daring

I looked behind the iron curtain
I searched beyond the surface

For a greater dignity
In search of a noble quality

And now I'm more than certain
I am completely convinced

Push me and pull me
To be indecisive

The blind lead the blind
People with no vision are being guided by people in the same situation