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

Intuition Told Me
Orange Juice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He took her hand
They took the floor
She was his all time favourite dancer
Smile lopsididly
Decididly
Awkward
He asked her
Take my hand

Take me and
I'll take my cue
Ain't you guessed by now
I'm sold on you

The late bus is leaving
From the lonely station

So grab your silk stockings
And your dance invitation

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Orange Juice's song "Intuition Told Me" narrate an awkward encounter between a man and his favorite dancer. The scene opens up with the man taking the dancer's hand, asking her to take the floor with him. The man is clearly enamored with the woman, describing her as his "all-time favorite dancer." He looks at her with a lopsided smile, an awkward expression that hints at his nervousness and excitement.

As the two begin to dance, the man asks the dancer if she will take a chance with him. He promises to take his cue and follow her lead. The lyrics suggest that the man has been waiting for this moment for a while, as he tells the dancer that he is "sold on her." The words carry a sense of determination and conviction, hinting that the man will do whatever it takes to win the dancer's heart.

The song's title, "Intuition Told Me," suggests that the man is going with his gut feeling, rather than relying on logic or reason. He is following his heart, trusting his instincts, and hoping that the dancer will feel the same way. The lyrics capture the mood of a romantic encounter, filled with nerves, desire, and anticipation.

Line by Line Meaning

He took her hand
He initiated the physical connection by holding her hand

They took the floor
They stepped onto the dance floor to begin dancing

She was his all time favourite dancer
Out of all the dancers he's seen, she was his favorite

Smile lopsididly
Her smile was crooked or uneven

Decididly
In an unmistakable, clear manner

Awkward
There was a socially uncomfortable atmosphere

He asked her
He posed a question to her

Take my hand
Please take hold of my hand

Take me and
I'm all yours, take me with you

I'll take my cue
I'll wait for your signal to show me what you want to do or where to go

Ain't you guessed by now
Haven't you figured out yet