The Wrong People · 1986 · Stiff Records

Shake Like Judy Says

Written by Jim Irvin, Tim Whelan, Hamilton Lee

Published by Copyright Control

Shake like Judy says to a potent melody
Shake off and forget on her anniversary
And so things don't return to hurt you anymore
Shake like Judy does and you don't shake anymore

Do as Judy does and you won't go short of fun
Things won't look so bad when you're friends with everyone
Does it hurt as if your heart is clean in two
Well do like Judy says, and you'll feel as good as new

Everything, everything will appear to gang up on you
It's hard to keep your balance when the past is on parole
Anything, anything will take your mind of those useless troubles
So organise a bunch of mindless tonics for your soul
Do do do like Judy does

When all that lies ahead's another dismal day
Speak out, speak out loud until your lungs give way
Show them all the way, to your wedding day
And I run like Judy does from that distant memory
Find out it's yourself, that's the perfect company
Do like Judy does when sorrow's cutting deep
You either do these things or cry yourself to sleep

Cry yourself to sleep, cry yourself to sleep
Shake a little, shake like Judy does
Like she does, Like she does so well
Like she does, I cry myself to sleep
Put my head in my hands and I weep to that distant memory
She's out on the balcony, Staring out to sea
And she never thinks about me
I shake, shake like Judy does, shake shake shake
Shake like Judy does, shake shake shake
And then I cry myself to sleep

Source: The Wrong People — 2010 Cherry Red reissue CD booklet (CDMRED441). Booklet reproduces the original Stiff 1986 LP lyric sheet.

Commentary

The lyric for this cropped up while walking down West End Lane on route to West Hampstead tube station and a rehearsal. It was raining. That's pretty much how I remember Furniture: rehearsals and rain. We loved the way this turned out, hence it's opening slot on the album. The session trumpet player, Martin Drover, cut the solo one-handed; he had a cup of tea in the other.

Jim Irvin — Band commentary, 2010 Cherry Red reissue booklet (compiled by Jim, Tim and Hami)