Everything But the Girl (EBTG), is a Hull, Yorkshire, UK, sophisti-pop / Do… Read Full Bio ↴Everything But the Girl (EBTG), is a Hull, Yorkshire, UK, sophisti-pop / Downtempo duo of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn. They débuted with a single for a Cole Porter cover, Night And Day (Mar 1982, Cherry Red).

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

Shadow on a Harvest Moon
Everything But the Girl Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let me tell you about this torch I carry
It's not much of a career
And it won't make my fortune I fear
But it stays alight and won't be buried
It's brighter year-by-year
And someday it will surely disappear

When it does I'll know I've laid to rest

The ghost of your unhappiness
That flits around from room to room
A widow on a honeymoon
A shadow on a harvest moon

So put away this torch you carry
For it's doing you no good
And surely you know by now that you should
And come the day you die or marry
Will you be understood
When you say that you wanted but never could

Turn your back and lay to rest
The ghost of your unhappiness
That flits around from room to room
A widow on a honey moon
A shadow on a harvest moon

I write these words to make them true,

"I've drowned my torch and so should you."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Everything But the Girl's song Shadow on a Harvest Moon speak to the torch that the singer carries, with the torch representing their unresolved emotions towards someone. The torch is not something that will bring them success, but it remains a constant presence, brighter every year. However, the singer knows that someday it will disappear, signifying the end of their attachment to this individual. They hope that when this happens, they will have finally laid to rest the "ghost of [their] unhappiness" that haunts them and moves from room to room like "a widow on a honeymoon."

The singer then urges the subject of the song to "put away this torch [they] carry," as it serves them no good. They question whether the person will be understood when they die or marry and have to admit that they wanted something but were never able to achieve it. The singer's final words are a declaration that they have moved on, and they encourage the other person to do so as well, saying, "I've drowned my torch, and so should you."

This song explores themes of attachment, letting go, and moving on from past relationships or unrequited love. The torch metaphor is a powerful symbol of a person's unresolved emotions, with their eventual decision to let it go symbolizing growth and emotional maturity. Shadow on a Harvest Moon is a poignant reminder that life is too short to hold onto emotional baggage and that true happiness comes from letting go and allowing oneself to move forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Let me tell you about this torch I carry
I want to talk about the burden I'm carrying

It's not much of a career
It's not bringing me success or money

And it won't make my fortune I fear
I'm afraid it won't lead me to wealth

But it stays alight and won't be buried
It's still burning, not extinguished or forgotten

It's brighter year-by-year
It's getting more visible and intense

And someday it will surely disappear
Eventually, it will fade away

When it does I'll know I've laid to rest
When it's gone, I'll finally put to rest

The ghost of your unhappiness
The memory of your sadness and dissatisfaction

That flits around from room to room
That haunts and stays within your place

A widow on a honeymoon
The loneliness and sorrow that comes after bliss

A shadow on a harvest moon
A dark figure that overshadows a time of bounty and prosperity