In a world where the word star and the gift of talent are often devalued, McEvoy is neither an overnight success nor a four week wonder. A musician and songwriter of note, the real deal, possessing all of the qualities that go to make up the complete artist. Her career began at the age of four when she took piano lessons, taking up violin at the age of eight. Upon finishing school she attended Trinity College in Dublin where she studied music by day and worked in pit orchestras and music clubs by night.
McEvoy graduated from Trinity and was accepted into the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland where she worked four years before finally taking the plunge to concentrate on her passion for songwriting. After a long hard slog, the girl who spent the year of 1988 busking in Union Square, New York had come a long way, a route that took her through the disciplines of classical music, Irish traditional music and contemporary music to a point where she finally found success in 1992.
It happened when one of her songs "Only a Woman's Heart" inspired the title for, and appeared on, the "A Woman's Heart" anthology album. It has since gone on to become the best selling album in Irish history, staying in the Irish Top 10 for over a year. Since then McEvoy has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically-acclaimed canon of work spans six albums, several singles and appearances on numerous compilation albums and is today recognised as Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriter having enjoyed personal chart success and numerous cover versions of her songs. (Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Phil Coulter, amongst others). Her song “All I Have” features in the lastest series of the HBO cult series “Six Feet Under”
Her co-writing song credits have seen her published with fellow writers and performers such as Rodney Crowell, Lloyd Cole, Johnny Rivers, Brad Parker, Henry Priestman and Dave Rotheray.
More info: www.eleanormcevoy.net
Sophie
Eleanor McEvoy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She says she's eaten enough
Sophie's trying to make herself thinner
Says she's eating too much
And her brother says, "You're joking,"
And her mother's heart is broken
Sophie has a hard time coping
And, besides, Sophie's hoping
[Chorus:]
She can be like all the other girls
Be just like all the other girls
Living in an ordinary world
Just to fit in, in the ordinary world
Just to fit in like an ordinary girl.
Sophie's losing weight by the minute
How did things get this bad?
Sophie's family, they don't understand it
Gave her all that they had
And her sister won't stop crying
'Cause her father says she's dying
Sophie says she's really trying
Problem is, Sophie's lying.
[Chorus]
She can be like all the other girls
Be just like all the other girls
Living in an ordinary world
Just to fit in, to the ordinary world
Just to fit in like an ordinary girl
How did she get this way?
How did she get this way?
Through trying to hide it.
What does it take to say,
What does it take to say
She's dying, Sophie's dying too
[Chorus]
... Be like all the other girls
Be just like all the other girls
Living in an ordinary world
Just to fit in, to the ordinary world
Just to fit in and be like all the other girls
Be just like all the other girls
Living in an ordinary world
Just to fit in, to the ordinary world
Just to fit in like an ordinary girl.
The song "Sophie" by Eleanor McEvoy is a poignant ballad that deals with the serious issue of eating disorders. The singer Sophie is struggling with anorexia and is desperately trying to lose weight. She believes that by being thin, she can be like all the other girls and fit in with society's expectations of beauty standards. She is in denial about the severity of her problem and lies to herself and her family about trying to get better.
The lyrics are heart-wrenching and showcase the distress that Sophie's condition is causing to herself and her loved ones. Her brother and mother are unable to understand why she is not eating, and her sister is inconsolable at the thought of losing her. Sophie is a victim of societal pressure to conform to narrow standards of beauty, and her disorder is a result of her trying to hide her true feelings and problems. The chorus is a plea from Sophie's perspective, begging to be just like all the other girls, living an ordinary life so that she can fit in and be accepted.
Overall, "Sophie" is a powerful commentary on the dangerous and damaging effects of unrealistic beauty standards in society. It portrays the sad reality of the pervasive pressure to look and act a certain way, leading to devastating consequences for some individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Sophie cannot finish her dinner
Sophie has lost her appetite due to an eating disorder
She says she's eaten enough
Sophie has a distorted perception of how much food is necessary for her body
Sophie's trying to make herself thinner
Sophie wishes to change her appearance due to societal pressures and norms
Says she's eating too much
Sophie believes that her intake is excessive, though that his not the case
And her brother says, "You're joking,"
Sophie's brother is skeptical of her claims and does not take her condition seriously
And her mother's heart is broken
Sophie's mother is extremely worried and saddened by her daughter's struggle
Sophie has a hard time coping
Sophie has difficulty managing her emotions and the very real consequences of her disorder
And, besides, Sophie's hoping
Sophie is holding out hope that things will get better without accepting help from others
She can be like all the other girls
Sophie wants to fit in with those around her by conforming to societal expectations
Be just like all the other girls
Sophie thinks that she will be happier and more accepted if she changes herself to blend in with the crowd
Living in an ordinary world
Sophie wants to experience life in a way that is considered normal
Just to fit in, in the ordinary world
Sophie is willing to sacrifice her own well-being and authentic self in order to be accepted by others
Sophie's losing weight by the minute
Sophie's condition is worsening and she is experiencing a rapid decline in health
How did things get this bad?
Sophie's loved ones are struggling to understand how her situation has become so dire
Sophie's family, they don't understand it
Sophie's relatives have difficulty grasping the complexities and seriousness of her struggle
Gave her all that they had
Sophie's family has done everything in their power to support her
And her sister won't stop crying
Sophie's sibling is emotionally overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation
'Cause her father says she's dying
Sophie's condition has become life-threatening and her father is distraught
Sophie says she's really trying
Sophie is making an effort to regain her health but is struggling to do so
Problem is, Sophie's lying.
Sophie is hiding the extent of her disorder and is not being truthful with those around her
How did she get this way?
Sophie's condition is perplexing and raises questions of how it developed in the first place
Through trying to hide it.
Sophie's attempts to conceal her disorder have only made it more severe
What does it take to say,
Sophie may need to open up and be honest about her struggles in order to receive the help she needs
She's dying, Sophie's dying too
Sophie's condition is life-threatening and immediate intervention is necessary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELEANOR MC EVOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mabelina Durán
2022 and coming across this piece; 12 years struggling but finally seeing the light.
Thanks for speaking through this song. It's like my whole story.❤
Minaκο
I’m a recovered anorexic. This song brings back so many emotions. WhenI tend to forget I come back to relive it.. just a little bit.
Thank you for this song. It depicts so many lives
Megan Morrison
I wanted you to know that almost 8 years ago you saved my life with this song
motorcop505
How can there ever be a better compliment to another human being than this? Eleanor is a superstar.
Josephine Harney
you saved my life with this song
Jane Doe X
I CAN'T STOP CRYING.
29 YEARS.
I want to die so badly but I'm afraid to....
Aygül Erce official
Beautiful 👏👏Greetings from London ❤️
Falcon Rogers
I´m looking forward to see her Sat. 24th Nov.2018 in the Lifehouse in Stemwede-Wehdem, Germany. Not just great music, but also a possibility to understand a Woman´s Heart!!
mienie123
Still the best 😘
Leidy Zijlstra
GREAT!!! I struggle everyday with ana, nd this song is confrontational. But nice song, i feel youre feeling, great!