Growing up in Malibu, California, she began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature. Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her album Enchant.
She appeared in singer Courtney Love's backing band on her 2004 America's Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group. In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol to join New York-based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import. Currently she is on tour to promote her newest album Fight Like A Girl. She played the role of Painted Doll in Darren Lynn Bousman's 2012 film The Devil's Carnival.
Everybody's Girl
Emilie Autumn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a glaring light
She stands
Trying hard to meet demands
Everybody's girl
Defenseless more and more each time
Desecration is their crime
Everybody's pet
Becoming someone else outside
Hoping to protect and hide
What they smile at, then deride
Everybody's fool
Awaiting still some unknown sign
When she'll use her chance
Yo shine
How should she
Her life define?
"No one's woman yet"
The song "Everybody's Girl" by Emilie Autumn is a poignant commentary on the struggles of a woman who is constantly being objectified and exploited by others for their own gratification. The lyrics paint a picture of a young woman who is standing before a large audience, baring herself for all to see, and desperately trying to live up to the expectations of others. She is "everybody's girl," a helpless victim of society's twisted ideals of femininity.
As the song progresses, the theme of vulnerability becomes even more pronounced. The woman in the song is described as becoming "more and more defenseless each time" and suffering from the "desecration" of her being. She is forced to put on a false façade to protect herself from the harsh judgment of others, but ultimately she is still viewed as a "fool" by those who seek to exploit her.
The final lines of the song, "Awaiting still some unknown sign / When she'll use her chance to shine / How should she her life define? / 'No one's woman yet'," encapsulate the struggle of the singer to find her own identity in a world that wants to define her on its own terms. Despite the constant pressure to conform and the abuse she endures, she remains determined to find her true self and be her own woman.
Line by Line Meaning
Before a thousand grasping hands
She is in a crowd of many, who all want a piece of her for their own desires.
In a glaring light
She is in a spotlight where every flaw and vulnerability is exposed.
She stands
She is put on display as an object to be examined.
Trying hard to meet demands
She feels immense pressure to fit into the mold that is expected of her.
Everybody's girl
She belongs to everyone else, and is not allowed to have her own identity.
Defenseless more and more each time
The more she is exploited and taken advantage of, the less power she has to defend herself.
Desecration is their crime
Those who use her and violate her are committing a cruel and immoral act.
Vandalizing every rhyme
They are assaulting and destroying the beauty and creativity within her.
Everybody's pet
She is treated like an animal who can be owned and controlled.
Becoming someone else outside
She must put on a false mask to protect herself and avoid being hurt.
Hoping to protect and hide
She wants to keep her true self hidden from those who would use it against her.
What they smile at, then deride
They act friendly and supportive to her face, but talk behind her back and mock her.
Everybody's fool
They see her as an easy target for their tricks and manipulation, laughing at her naivety.
Awaiting still some unknown sign
She is hoping for a sign or opportunity to escape her current situation and find freedom.
When she'll use her chance to shine
She wants to prove her worth and talent to the world when she finally has the chance to do so.
How should she her life define?
She is struggling to find her own identity and purpose in life.
"No one's woman" yet
She does not belong to anyone but herself, and is determined to resist being owned or controlled by others.
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.