Shakin' Stevens (born Michael Barratt, 4 March 1948, in Ely, Cardiff, South… Read Full Bio ↴Shakin' Stevens (born Michael Barratt, 4 March 1948, in Ely, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales) is a Welsh rock and roll singer and performer who has the distinction of being the top selling male U.K. singles artist of the 1980s. Inspired by classic rnb and rock music from the 50s and 60s, he's also known by his nickname "Shaky", a title used by fans of his popular singles such as the evergreen tune "Merry Christmas Everyone".

He began his career fronting the group Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, managed by Paul Barrett. Also known as the The Sunsets, the 50s-esque rock n roll outfit originaled from Penarth, South Glamorgan. An early break for the band arrived when they were given a support slot for The Rolling Stones in December 1969. Yet, despite landing a recording contract with the seminal label Parlophone Records the following year, the band found success hard to come by. At least in their native Great Britain, they couldn't quite break through commercially, though they had hit singles in other countries. After seven years of constant touring and recording, Shaky left the band in 1977. He gained a lead role in Jack Good's "Elvis!" musical, which brought him praise from many critics.

Regular TV appearances on the revamped TV show Oh Boy led eventually to his first chart success, a reworked version of a Buck Owens song "Hot Dog", which Owens would go on to re-record using Stevens arrangement which had been created by pedal steel guitar player B.J. Cole.

In 1979, Shaky signed what was to be his most successful management deal with Freya Miller, and in 1981, he had his first UK number 1 with "This Ole House" and would have 10 more songs reach the top 5, including three number 1 hits with "Green Door", "Oh Julie" and "Merry Christmas Everyone", while "You Drive Me Crazy" and "A Love Worth Waiting For" reached number 2 in 1981 and 1984 respectively. His 1984 hit "Teardrops" featured Hank B. Marvin on guitar and Stevens has often featured famous musicians such as Albert Lee, Roger Taylor, Bonnie Tyler and more recently Tony Joe White on his recordings. In the mid 80s, Stevens reunited with former producer Dave Edmunds to record an album Lipstick, Powder and Paint and the Christmas smash "Merry Christmas Everyone".

The hits continued throughout the 1980s, making Stevens the biggest selling artist of the decade, and into the early 1990s. Chart successes also included his album Shaky reaching number 1.

It was in the 1990s, however, that Stevens took a lengthy break from recording and was stung by a court ruling requiring a substantial payout to former bandmates The Sunsets. In 1999, Shaky returned to performing and undertook tours that year and the year following. In 2004, things started to look up for Stevens he had a further platinum CD/DVD album in Denmark and a gold album in South Africa.

In 2005, he returned once again to the charts in the United Kingdom, with his greatest hits album The Collection, which reached the UK top 5. That year, he also appeared in the video to Tony Christie's and Peter Kay's #1 hit single "Is This the Way to Amarillo", alongside many other UK stars, including Ronnie Corbett, Jim Bowen, Michael Parkinson and Geoffrey Hayes. He was the winner on the reality television show, Hit Me Baby One More Time. This was quickly followed by a re-release of his cover and his own biggest hit sung in the show, ("Trouble" covering Pink's version) / "This Ole House"), which reached #20 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2005, his 33rd Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom.

In May 2007, Stevens released a brand new album in Denmark entitled Now Listen.

Don't Lie To Me
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics

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Let's talk it over baby before we start
I heard about the way you wanna do your part
Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me
Cause it makes me mad and I get shook up as a man can be

There's two kind of people that I just can't stand
That's a lying woman and a cheating man
Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me

'Cause it makes me mad and I get evil as a man can be

I can love you baby till the cows come home
But I'm sick and tired of the way you treat me wrong
Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me
'Cause it makes me mad and I get shook up as a man can be

There's two kind of people that I just can't stand
That's a lying woman and a cheating man
Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me
'Cause it makes me mad and I get shook up as a man can be

If you love me baby and it ain't no lie, well
I'll be waiting till the river runs dry
Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me
'Cause it makes me mad and I get evil as a man can be

Well let's talk it over baby, 'fore we start
I heard about the way you wanna do you're part

Don't lie to me, don't you lie to me
'Cause it makes me mad and I get shook up as a man can be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Don't Lie To Me" by Shakin' Stevens show a man's frustration towards his partner for being dishonest with him. He urges her to talk it out before things get worse. He is aware of her intentions and wants her to come clean. The man also confesses his dislike for two kinds of people- a lying woman and a cheating man, emphasizing his stance on honesty. He loves his partner, but can't tolerate being treated the wrong way. His anger is intense enough to make him evil, as angry as he can be, shaken up, and mad.

The song conveys the message of the importance of honesty, trust, and loyalty in relationships. The man wants his partner to be truthful and open with him, so they can work through their problems together. He is willing to love her unconditionally, but as long as she is honest with him.

The lyrics also highlight the emotional impact of dishonesty on an individual in a relationship. It can cause intense emotions like anger, frustration, and hurt. The man wants his partner to be aware of his feelings and not take his trust for granted.

Don't Lie To MeShakin' Stevens Lyrics

Don't Lie To Me
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics