Ben met Tracey when they were at Hull University and she was singing in pop girl-band Marine Girls. Ben contributed a photograph, for a forthcoming album cover, after which, the pair became partners (later getting married). They formed Everything But the Girl in 1982, the name inspired by a Turner's Furniture advertising slogan (a popular store near the university). For a period, Tracey was active in both bands and the album with Ben's photo materialised, Lazy Ways (Apr 1983), which was to be Marine Girls' last. EBTG soon achieved national success and singles from The Language of Life (1990), got VH-1 airtime - heralding USA notoriety.
Once internationally established, they successfully achieved one of the greatest stylistic changes in modern music; originally a 'folk-pop with jazz influences' band, their fortunes changed with Amplified Heart (Jul 1994) and Todd Terry's successful remix of its track "Missing" (Aug 1994). Since then, EBTG have become more widely known as an electronic act, with Walking Wounded (May 1996), being a well-received example of their metamorphosed sound.
As of 1999, EBTG as a duo are currently on hiatus, as the couple raise their children, out of the public eye. Watt is a very successful club DJ, Buzzin Fly label-manager and remixer, releasing several 'Lazy Dog' mix compilations (named after his London-based deep house night).
Thorn's 2006 collaboration with Tiefschwarz, on the underground hit song "Damage", seems to have re-awoken her artistic spirit and she released a second solo album, Out of the Woods (Mar 2007).
As of March 2023 evidence that the hiatus will end soon emerges in an interview with Alexis Petridis, in which the release date of the new album 'Fuse' is given as 21 April. This new music was first mentioned by Tracy Thorn on twitter in late 2022, and now it emerging, with 2 new singles already released
25th December
Everything But the Girl Lyrics
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And my old man plays the piano for Christmas
He plays the piano for Christmas
And we're all there, all the aunties and uncles
And the angel's on the top of the tree
Up there on the top of the tree
And I never, no, I never ever realized
Have I enough time, have I just some time
To revisit, to go back, to return
To open my mouth again
And say something different this time
And I see bags of newspapers and a car in the carport
And you're a grown up and still unsure
And I'm thirty and I don't know nothing no more
And I never, no, I never ever realized
And I never, no, I never ever realized
And I'm sittin', sittin' at the top of the stairs
And you're cryin' out on the towpath by the river
With all the swans and all the people walkin' by
And all of a sudden I'm stuck with an urge to unlock a door
With a key that's too big for my hands
And I drop it, and it falls at your feet
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
And I never, no, I never ever realized
You see, I never, no, I never ever realized
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
And I never, no, I never ever realized
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
You see, I never, no, I never ever realized
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
And I never, no, I never ever realized
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
You see, I never, no, I never ever realized
The song "25th December" by Everything But the Girl is a reflection on the nostalgia and bittersweetness of Christmas traditions and memories, as well as a rumination on the passage of time and the desire to revisit moments and relationships from the past. The song opens with an evocative image of a wintry forest, setting a wistful tone that continues throughout the lyrics. The singer then describes a scene of familial togetherness on Christmas Day, with her father playing piano and everyone gathered around, including beloved aunts and uncles. The angel atop the tree, a classic but poignant symbol of holiday cheer, is highlighted as well.
Despite the happy memories and warm feelings associated with this moment, the singer is also haunted by regret and a sense of lost time. She admits, "And I never, no I never ever realised" – suggesting that she took the moment for granted or failed to appreciate its significance at the time. As the song progresses, the singer shifts from reminiscing about joyful moments to grappling with more complex emotions. She describes a scene where someone else is crying by a river, and she feels a sudden urge to unlock a door with a key that's too big for her hands. This moment suggests a desire to reconnect with the past or reconcile with someone else, but the resolution remains vague.
Overall, "25th December" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that captures the bittersweet nature of Christmas and the many complex emotions that can arise during the holiday season. The nostalgic tone and vivid imagery make it a powerful example of songwriting that speaks to universal themes of family, love, and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
And I see forests and it's the 25th of December
I observe dense trees on the Christmas day
And my old man plays the piano for Christmas
My father plays festive tunes on the piano
He plays the piano for Christmas
Specifically, he plays music during Christmas celebration
And we're all there, all the aunties and uncles
All members of our extended family are present
And the angle's on the top of the tree
The top of the Christmas tree has an angel ornament
Up there on the top of the tree
The ornament is on the highest point of the Christmas tree
And I never, no I never ever realised
Until today, I wasn't aware of something important
Have I enough time, have I just some time,
Do I possess sufficient time, or only a little?
To revisit, to go back, to return, to open my mouth again
Can I go back in time to express my thoughts differently?
And say something different this time
I want to express my thoughts in an alternate manner
And I see bags of newspaper and a car in the carport
I notice some bags filled with paper and an automobile in the carport
And you're a grown-up and still unsure
You are an adult, but you lack confidence
And I'm thirty and I don't know nothing no more
I turned thirty, but I feel unsure about what I know
And I'm sitting, sitting on the top of the stairs
I am seated on the stairway
And you're crying out on the towpath by the river
You are crying loudly next to the river's towpath
With all the swans and all the people walking by
Passers-by and swans are around us
And all of a sudden I'm stuck with an urge to unlock a door
Suddenly, I feel a strong desire to open a door
With a key that's too big for my hands
The key is too large for my hands to handle
And I drop it, and it falls at your feet
I accidentally drop the key, and it lands near your feet
Come on, come on, it's there at your feet
You can retrieve it quickly since it's right next to you
And I never, no I never ever realised
I have just realised something that I wasn't aware of before
And I never, no I never ever realised
This epiphany has struck me twice in one day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ben Watt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind