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.
Marie Marie
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing guitar on the back porch
I sit in my car
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Marie Marie
It's so lonely in this parkland
To the bright lights downtown
Marie Marie
I said hey pretty girl
Don't you understand
I just want to be your loving man
Marie Marie
The sun is down in the corn field
The evening is dark
And you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Marie Marie
It's so lonely in this parkland
Please come a with me
To the bright lights downtown
Marie Marie
Marie Marie
I got two weeks in back pay
There's gas in my car
And your folks say I must go
Marie Marie
I said hey pretty girl
Don't you understand
I just want to be your loving man
Marie Marie
Playing guitar on the back porch
I leave in my car
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Marie Marie
I got two weeks in back pay
There's gas in my car
And your folks say I must go
Marie Marie
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
Why do you sing so sad
Marie Marie
The song "Marie Marie" by Shakin' Stevens tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman named Marie Marie who sits and plays guitar on her back porch. The man is left wondering why she sings so sad, and he keeps trying to impress her by taking her to the bright lights downtown. He tells Marie Marie that he just wants to be her loving man and that he has 2 weeks in back pay and gas in his car to take her away. However, despite his efforts, Marie Marie's parents want the man to leave and she continues to sing sad songs. Thus, the song ends by the man once again departing in his car, pondering on the reason for Marie Marie's sadness.
The lyrics suggest that Marie Marie has a burdensome past or personal story that she expresses through her music. Perhaps the man is trying to rescue her from her melancholic lifestyle, but the girl is unwilling to leave. The lyrics also portray Marie Marie's parents as authoritative and overly protective, restricting their daughter's choices.
Overall, "Marie Marie" by Shakin' Stevens is a beautifully written love song with a touch of sadness and longing. It depicts the man's passionate desire to be with Marie Marie, while also highlighting the mystery of her sorrowful music. Ultimately, the song's storyline is left unresolved, leaving the audience to wonder about the backstory and fate of the two lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Marie Marie
The title refers to a woman named Marie who is the subject of the song.
Playing guitar on the back porch
Marie is playing music on a porch, likely in a rural area.
I sit in my car
The singer is sitting in his car, possibly listening to Marie play and sing.
Why do you sing so sad Marie Marie
The singer is concerned about Marie's sad music and wants to know why she feels that way.
It's so lonely in this parkland
The park is a desolate and lonely place.
Please come with me to the bright lights downtown
The singer wants to take Marie to a more lively and exciting place in the city.
I said hey pretty girl don't you understand, I just want to be your loving man
The singer is expressing his romantic interest in Marie and asking her to be with him.
The sun is down in the corn field, the evening is dark, and you sing so sad Marie Marie
The singer is once again reflecting on Marie's melancholy music but this time in a rural setting.
I got two weeks in back pay, there's gas in my car, and your folks say I must go Marie Marie
The singer has a little bit of money and his car is fueled up, but Marie's family wants him to leave.
Why do you sing so sad Marie Marie
The singer is still trying to understand why Marie sings such sad music.
Why do you sing so sad Marie Marie
This line is repeated several times, emphasizing the central theme of the song.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RobertMoloney
Personnel[edit]
Shakin' Stevens - Vocals
Albert Lee - Guitar
Mickey Gee - Rhythm Guitar
Stuart Colman - Bass
Eddie Jones - Electric Guitar
Roger McKew - Rhythm Guitar
B.J. Cole - Steel Guitar
Howard Tibble - Drums
Geraint Watkins - Piano
Sid Phillips - Baritone Saxophone
Tony Hall - Tenor Saxophone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Ole_House_(album)
@ediionescu8424
No one will follow in his footsteps, one of the most charismatic rockers after Elvis Presley!
@urselvoigt
Ein hammer super Song von ihm, das ich auch noch mit 67Jahren gerne höre, denn es erinnert mich immer wieder an meine Jugend!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@mb00295
My favourite song by Shakin’ Stevens. My name’s Marie and the song is absolutely amazing! 😍
Thank you, Shakin’. Absolutely beautiful and brilliant song!
❤️🙌🏻
@soul0fmorbidness.871
it's not his song,i ain't know why people don't even know the original song.
@jobeewave7677
People played this song in my Mom's Restaurant 30 times a day, drove my Mom nuts ! ha ha Thanks for the memories Shaky !!
@k.brati1738
My Man dedicated this Song To me ....Robin Robin I Love You So Much
@user-jw9di9tf6g
Fröhlich❤peter❤
@peterfranks6243
It's crazy, the seventies and early eighties was obsessed with the 50s, BUT the eighties was obsessed with the 60s, NOW we ALL are obsessed with the 80s
@basilthrush3537
Micky Gee really makes this song with his brilliant rockabilly licks. Never got the recognition he deserved
@TheCowboyDK
So great and happy music from my youth. Lot better than the music today. 😊