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.
This Old House
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This ole house once new his wife
This ole house was home and comfort
As they fought the storms of life
This ole house once rang with laughter
This ole house heard many shouts
Now he trembles in the darkness
When the lightning walks about.
(Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a gonna need this house no more)
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window panes
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
He's getting ready to meet his fate
This ole house is getting shaky
This ole house is getting old
This ole house lets in the rain
This ole house lets in the cold
Oh his knees are a getting chilly
But he feels no fear nor pain
Cause he seeks a new tomorrow
Through a golden window pain
(Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a gonna need this house no more)
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window panes
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
He's getting ready to meet his fate
This ole house is afraid of thunder
This ole house is afraid of storms
This ole house just groans and trembles
When the night wind flings it arms
This ole house is getting feeble
This ole house is a needing paint
Just like him it's tuckered out
He's a getting ready to meet his fate
(Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a gonna need this house no more)
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window panes
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
He's getting ready to meet his fate
(Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a gonna need this house no more)
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window panes
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
He's getting ready to meet his fate
(Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a gonna need this house no more)
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
The lyrics to Shakin' Stevens's song This Ole House can be interpreted as a metaphor for an aging and decaying house, serving as a representation of the artist's own mortality. The house was once a happy and cozy home for the artist, his family, and his wife. It was a place of warmth and security for them as they faced the challenges of life.
However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the house has aged and become dilapidated. It is no longer able to withstand the storms of life, and trembles in fear during lightning strikes. The artist realizes that he does not have time to fix the house, as he is getting ready to face his own fate.
The house, like the artist, is frail and afraid. It groans and trembles during storms, and needs a new coat of paint. However, while the house is facing its end, the artist faces it with no fear or pain. He recognizes that his time is up, and instead of clinging to life, he is ready to face whatever comes next with an open heart and mind.
Line by Line Meaning
This ole house once knew his children
This house used to be full of life with the presence of his children.
This ole house once new his wife
His wife was an integral part of this old house, which is now just a memory.
This ole house was home and comfort
This old house has seen and provided comfort to the family that once lived there.
As they fought the storms of life
The house has been witness to the family's struggles and hard times.
This ole house once rang with laughter
The house was once filled with sounds of joy and laughter.
This ole house heard many shouts
The house has been witness to many arguments and disagreements.
Now he trembles in the darkness
The house now shakes in the dark and feels weak and vulnerable.
When the lightning walks about.
The house is afraid of the thunder and lightning that come with the storm.
Ain't a gonna need this house no longer
The house is beyond repair and will soon be no more.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
There is no time left to fix the broken parts of the house.
Ain't got time to fix the floor
The house is too far gone for repairs, and there is no point in fixing the floor.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
The doors and windows are broken beyond repair, and there is no point in oiling them.
Nor to mend no window panes
The windows are shattered and can't be fixed in time.
He's getting ready to meet his fate
The owner of this old house is getting ready to leave this world.
This ole house is getting shaky
The house is decaying and collapsing in on itself.
This ole house is getting old
The house has lived its life and has now grown old.
This ole house lets in the rain
The house is damaged to the point where rain gets in and causes damage.
This ole house lets in the cold
The house is not well-insulated and lets in the cold air.
Oh his knees are a getting chilly
The owner of the house is getting cold due to the poor insulation and damage.
But he feels no fear nor pain
The owner is at peace and ready for what is to come.
Cause he seeks a new tomorrow
The owner is ready for a new beginning and looking forward to the future.
Through a golden window pain
The future that the owner is looking forward to is a bright and hopeful one.
This ole house is afraid of thunder
The house is not just a building, but it seems to have a life of its own and is afraid of the storm.
This ole house is afraid of storms
The house is not just a house, but it has feelings and emotions, and it is scared of the storm.
This ole house just groans and trembles
This old house makes sounds and shakes due to the damage it has received over the years.
When the night wind flings it arms
The wind is not just the wind, but it has different movements and exists like a human entity.
This ole house is getting feeble
The house is weak and feeble due to its old age and damage.
This ole house is a needing paint
The house is so old and decrepit that it needs to be repainted.
Just like him it's tuckered out
The house and its owner both are old and lacking the energy they once had.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stuart Hamblen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arturo Di Baglioni
This old house once knew my children
This old house once knew my wife
This old house was home and comfort
As we fought the storms of life
This old house once rang with laughter
This old house heard many shouts
Now it trembles in the darkness
When the lightning walks about
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints
This old house is gettin' shaky
This old house is gettin' old
This old house lets in the rain
This old house lets the cold
On my knees are gettin' chilly
But I feel no fear or pain
'Cause I see an angel peepin'
Through the broken window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints
This old house is gettin' shaky
This old house is gettin' old
This old house lets in the rain
This old house lets in the cold
On his knees he's gettin' chilly
But he feels no fear or pain
'Cause he sees an angel peepin'
Through a broken window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pain
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm getting ready to meet the saints
This old house is afraid of thunder
This old house is afraid of storms
This old house just blows and trembles
When the night cames after dawn
This old house is getting fragile
This old house is in need of paint
Just like me it's starting to die
I'm getting ready to meet the saints
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pain
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm getting ready to meet the saints
Judge Dredd
Gotta love an 80s
Top act
Performing 50s style music...
I'm 55 now
This came out when I was 15...I was a New York kid whose family moved to Ireland and UK in 1981
Even though I was more a classic rock and Heavy Metal fan
I thought Shaky was Absolutely brilliant..
His sound was so Authentic
His Voice was Awesome (Welsh..go figure)
Missing my teen years listening to this
Dieter Rudolph
I just remembered the song and it's still brilliant. Have it saved now to my play list. The good old day's. Where have all the years gone?
Dawn
Put's a smile on my face every time I hear this song . ๐
Summer Louise Squires
Comfort
Ernst Passmann Rockabilly
Shaky. Very best Singer of my heart. First single was marie marie. 1983 or 1984. great.
DANIEL MCCUTCHEON
Me
Ann-Catrine Danielsson
๐๐๐๐๐
stevehbrnd
Takes me back 40 years when I was only 21. I used to dance like that and hearing it all over again makes me want to dance the same, but dare I? I'd end up on my back an totally breathless :D
Graeme Smellie
Me too I'm 65 now totally knackered lol
Karen Aldred
That means yr only 61 thats not old...go for it
Mike Gremlin
me is 66 and bugger it I will give it a go..