In 1978, Tom Cochrane joined up with Rob Baker on drums, Jeff Jones on bass, Peter Boynton on keyboards and Ken Greer to form Red Rider. They were signed to Capitol Records and released their first album Don't Fight It in 1980. With the singles "White Hot" and "Don't Fight It", the album quickly reached gold status. Their second album As Far as Siam was released in 1981 and featured the hit "Lunatic Fringe" which was in the 1982 movie "Vision Quest.". "Lunatic Fringe" and two other tracks, "Cowboys in Hong Kong" and "What Have You Got To Do" were featured in an episode of Miami Vice in addition to which helped push the album to platinum. Boynton was replaced by keyboardist Steve Sexton on Red Rider's third album Neruda, released in 1983. The track "Napoleon Sheds His Skin" would become one of the more popular songs from the album.
For their 1984 album Breaking Curfew, John Webster replaced Sexton on keyboards. The album did not sell as well as Neruda and a dispute with Capitol Records over the future direction of the band resulted in Red Rider being dropped from the record label later in 1984.
The band subsequently signed with RCA. In what became a strong signal regarding the future of the band, they officially became known as Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, and released their self-titled fifth album in 1986.
In 1987, Capitol released a compilation CD titled Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider, covering the band's first four albums.
In the fall of 1988, the band released their sixth album Victory Day which contained the track "Big League", about a boy's dream of playing in the National Hockey League. The song was featured in a segment on CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada.
Red Rider's final album, The Symphony Sessions, was released in 1989 and saw the band performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, as Procol Harum had done seventeen years before. Cochrane's solo career was taking off and the band broke up shortly after the album was released.
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
Shake Monster
Red Rider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was checking the parameters to see if it was air tight
All points clear, looked like everything was alright
Twelve o'clock high when I saw the big green light
Stop this thing 'cause I've got to get off
Take a better look, she walked out, she was all lit up
She gave the command, I shook
How's your planet tonight, big boy?
Are your jets engaged, are your missiles deployed?
I'm the shake monster, I ain't made of silicon
I've come down here to restore detente
Stop this thing 'cause I've got to get off
Take another look, she walked out, she was all lit up
She gave the command, I shook
Shake, shake, shake, shake it
Stop this thing 'cause I've got to get off
Take another look, she walked out, she was all lit up
She gave the command, I shook
Shake, shake, shake, I can't hear you
Shake sir, shake, shake, shake, shake it
Now I've got the moves
I, I'm a shake monster, too
Shake it
I was on patrol, it was late at night
I was checking the parameters to see that it was air tight
All points clear, looks like everything was all right
Twelve o'clock high when I saw the big green light
Shake, s-s-shake, shake, s-s-shake
She had eyes in the back of her head
Her thighs were high
(How high?)
Real high
I broke out in a cold sweat
I was shaking from my toes to my head
Shake, shake, shake, shake, help
The lyrics for Red Rider's song "Shake Monster" tell the story of a man who is on patrol and suddenly encounters a female "shake monster." The singer is unsure of what to do, but the shake monster takes control and commands him to shake, which he does with enthusiasm. The lyrics are full of innuendo, with the shake monster being a metaphor for a sexually liberated woman who seeks to spread her message of love and openness to the singer. The refrain of "shake, shake, shake" is a call to action, and the singer finds himself swept away by the shake monster's energy and confidence.
The song is full of energy and a sense of fun, with the lyrics inviting the listener to let go and embrace their inner shake monster. The singer initially feels unsure and uncertain, but by the end of the song, he has embraced the idea of shaking as a form of liberation and release. The song's message is one of openness and acceptance, and it encourages the listener to let go of their inhibitions and embrace their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
I was on patrol, it was late at night
Narrator setting the scene, telling the time of the incident.
I was checking the parameters to see if it was air tight
Narrator was inspecting the area to ensure maximum security.
All points clear, looked like everything was alright
Narrator was confident that the security was tight and everything seemed okay.
Twelve o'clock high when I saw the big green light
Narrator spots an object in the sky and it seems to resemble a big green light.
Stop this thing 'cause I've got to get off
Narrator wants to make a stop immediately and exit the scene.
Take a better look, she walked out, she was all lit up
Narrator is asking for a closer look and realized that the object is lighting up.
She gave the command, I shook
Narrator was startled and frightened.
Shake, shake, shake, shake it
Narrator is instructing to shake things up vigorously.
How's your planet tonight, big boy?
A mysterious figure asking a question to the artist.
Are your jets engaged, are your missiles deployed?
Mysterious figure is inquiring if the artist is prepared for an attack.
I'm the shake monster, I ain't made of silicon
The figure introduces themselves as the 'shake monster' and are made of real flesh.
I've come down here to restore detente
The figure claims to have come to re-establish peace.
She had eyes in the back of her head
Describing the mysterious figure having the ability to see everything.
Her thighs were high
(How high?)
Real high
Describing the figure as being attractive with long legs.
I broke out in a cold sweat
I was shaking from my toes to my head
Shake, shake, shake, shake, help
Narrator panicking and asking for help, feeling like they are in danger.
Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.