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
Each and Every One
Everything But the Girl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe you should just think twice
I don't wait around on your advice
You tell me I can go this far, but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
And everything's been rearranged
I thought all that was over and done
But I still get the same from Each and Everyone
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
"Each and Every One" by Everything But the Girl is a poignant song that challenges the authenticity of love and affection over time. The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer has been in a relationship where their partner treated them indifferently and took their love for granted. They are now fed up of the false promises and sweet-nothings that they have been hearing repeatedly. When their partner offers them kindness, the singer is suspicious of the motive behind the gestures, questioning whether they are genuine feelings of love or a tactic to manipulate their emotions.
The first verse talks about the singer not wanting to be advised by their partner when it comes to expressing their love. They have lost faith in their partner's words and are tired of hearing them say things that they don't mean. The singer realizes that their partner offers them emotional shelter but at a cost that they cannot afford, and they eventually leave. The chorus of the song speaks about how the singer has heard the promises of change before but nothing ever really changed, and they continue to face the same situation with everyone. The singer doesn't believe that their partner has changed and that their kind gestures are just another tactic to exert control over them.
The second verse talks about how being kind is just another way of making the singer feel helpless, and crying has become a habit that they have developed because of the emotional strain they have been living in. The singer is told that the past is behind them, but they cannot ignore the fact that their partner is offering them the same old thing in a different way. The song deals with the emotions of a person who has been living in an emotionally abusive relationship and is now trying to free themselves from the chains of their past.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever feel the time to drop me a loving line
If you think of reaching out to me one day to express your love
Maybe you should just think twice
It would be wise for you to reconsider that decision
I don't wait around on your advice
I am not interested in following your guidance or direction
You tell me I can go this far, but no more
You limit me and tell me what I am allowed to do
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer me happiness or hope and then take it away
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
You provide protection but at a cost that is too high
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
Your love is fleeting and temporary
So don't brag how you have changed
Do not boast about how you have become different
And everything's been rearranged
And how everything has changed
I thought all that was over and done
I believed that it had all been resolved and finished
But I still get the same from Each and Everyone
But I still receive the same treatment from every person
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
Your kindness is simply a tactic to manipulate me
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
And it is not surprising that I cry, given our past history
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
You assure me that I have moved beyond the past and any deceit
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
But then present the same thing to me in a different way
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tracey Anne Thorn, Ben Watt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@henriqueramos3197
"Each and Every One"
Released: 1984
[Verse 1]
If you ever feel the time
To drop me a loving line
Maybe you should just think twice
I don't wait around on your advice
[Chorus]
You tell me I can go this far but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
[Verse 2]
So don't brag how you have changed
And everything's been rearranged
I thought all that was over and done
But I still get the same from each and every one
[Chorus]
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
[Trumpet Solo]
[Chorus]
You tell me I can go this far but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
Produced By Robin Millar
Written By Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn
From the album EDEN (1984)
Included on the greatest hits compilation THE BEST OF EBTG (1996)
@kirstinhiggins8548
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If you ever feel the time to drop me a loving line
Maybe you should just think twice
I don't wait around on your advice
You tell me I can go this far, but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
So don't brag how you have changed
And everything's been rearranged
I thought all that was over and done
But I still get the same from Each and Everyone
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
@celiachai
If you ever feel the time to drop me a loving line
Maybe you should just think twice
I don't wait around on your advice
You tell me I can go this far, but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
So don't brag how you have changed
And everything's been rearranged
I thought all that was over and done
But I still get the same from Each and Everyone
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
You tell me I can go this far, but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
@henriqueramos3197
"Each and Every One"
Released: 1984
[Verse 1]
If you ever feel the time
To drop me a loving line
Maybe you should just think twice
I don't wait around on your advice
[Chorus]
You tell me I can go this far but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
[Verse 2]
So don't brag how you have changed
And everything's been rearranged
I thought all that was over and done
But I still get the same from each and every one
[Chorus]
Being kind is just a way to keep me under your thumb
And I can cry because that's something we've always done
You tell me I'm free of the past now and all those lies
Then offer me the same thing in a different guise
[Trumpet Solo]
[Chorus]
You tell me I can go this far but no more
Try to show me heaven and then slam the door
You offer shelter at a price much too dear
And your kind of love's the kind that soon disappears
Produced By Robin Millar
Written By Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn
From the album EDEN (1984)
Included on the greatest hits compilation THE BEST OF EBTG (1996)
@EverythingButTheGirlOfficial
More music from Everything But The Girl: https://EBTG.lnk.to/Stream
@scokely
Still my favorite EBTG song ... Tracey's voice is haunting.
@darganx
The UK Bossa Nova renaissance in 1984 was a glorious time, Sergio Mendes Astrid Gilberto Ton Jobim Sivuca all getting airplay on the pirate stations, with Sade Matt Bianco and EBTG getting in the pop charts with this little gem.. this one stuck with me all this time, takes me right back to the summer of 84..
@jmbettiol6682
yes greats years
@jjpesci
Great comment. I'd add Basia to that list (Promises, 1988)
@TheDenzel2012
Plus.... The style council, working week, Carmel... Great tunes
@agfagaevart
1984 was a great year for music in general; "Breakin' Down (sugar samba) Julia & Co. "PYT" Michael Jackson. "Automatic" Pointer Sisters. And these were just the Yanks!
The British releases were as good - Some even better; "Pray Like Aretha Franklin" Scritti Politti. "Down on the street" Shakatak. "Dial 999" Loose Ends.
@nigelwillmott6177
And some Style Council.
@nycsp
Tracey's voice... so soothing, so velvety, what a gift 😍😍
@ruthieboots4325
Tracey and Karen Carpenter, velvet voices