Jill Tracy states that some of her biggest childhood influences were film score composers such as Bernard Herrmann, and classic suspense tales, including Alfred Hitchcock and Fritz Lang films, Ray Bradbury stories, and Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.
She is listed in San Francisco Magazine’s Top 100 Creative Forces in the Bay Area.
1999's Diabolical Streak is the first studio album featuring her back up ensemble The Malcontent Orchestra. “Evil Night Together” from Diabolical Streak was awarded the SIBL international Grand Prize for songwriting. The album was listed among the "Top 10 Neo-Cabaret albums of all time" in Shift magazine. “The Fine Art of Poisoning,” from Diabolical Streak became an animated short film in 2003, a collaboration with Bay Area animator Bill Domonkos. The film has won over 30 film festival awards and continues to screen internationally.
Jill Tracy and The Malcontent Orchestra’s original score to F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent vampire classic Nosferatu debuted live at San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema in 1999 and toured Northern California theatres during Halloween season for five consecutive years. This led to the 2002 CD release Into the Land of Phantoms.
Her latest (and fourth) album, The Bittersweet Constrain (2008), explores a heavier, cinematic sonic edge with the addition of instruments such as the sarod, harmonium, and seldom-seen Chapman Stick. The recording also features percussionist Randy Odell, horn player Ralph Carney (Tom Waits/B52's), cellist Erica Mulkey (Rasputina/Unwoman), and violinist Tony Cross (Tarentel).
Produced by Alex Nahas (John Vanderslice/Zoe Keating/LaughingStock), The Bittersweet Constrain has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "devastatingly beautiful."
Domonkos served as art director/graphic designer for The Bittersweet Constrain. The CD packaging features Jill Tracy portraiture by Bay Area surrealist photographer Michael Garlington, known for his dreamy macabre imagery shot on vintage film stock.
Sell My Soul
Jill Tracy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black horses with their silver wings
The halos in the sky are calling me again
You reign under a broken crown
Archangel of the underground
The quicksand in your eyes is taking me down
Could you be the one I sell my soul to
Could you be the one you’ve got me falling apart again
Or is it falling into place?
Glass snakes on the windowpane
Tremble in the pouring rain
Come wrap your cloven foot upon my high-heeled throne
Captivate the sweet machine
Surrender to the offering
Ashes and alibis, we all go down
Could you be the one I sell my soul to
Could you be the one who falls from grace
Could you be the one you’ve got me falling apart again
Or is it falling into place?
Or is it falling into place?
Under the rocks and stones I’ll find you
Beneath the bottom of below
Under the rocks and stones I’m waiting
Could you be the one
Could you be the one
Could you be the one I sell my soul to
Could you be the one who falls from grace
Could you be the one you’ve got me falling apart again
Or is it falling
Or is it falling
Could you be the one?
In “Sell My Soul”, Jill Tracy sings about being lured into a dark and dangerous world, enamored with its alluring external beauty, but acutely aware of the underlying perils beneath the surface. The use of vivid imagery, such as “black horses with their silver wings” and “halos in the sky”, create a mystical and otherworldly atmosphere, enhanced by the haunting melody of the piano. The song appears to be addressed to someone who has the power to either save or destroy Tracy, presenting the possibility of selling her soul to this person, who could be the saviour or the fallen one.
Tracy describes herself as being captivated by the temptations of this underworld, using phrases such as “come wrap your cloven foot upon my high-heeled throne” to symbolize the seduction and surrender to the offering of the unknown realm. However, there is also a sense of doubt and uncertainty, as Tracy wonders whether this falling apart is actually falling into place, suggesting that she is unsure of the consequences of her actions. As the lyrics progress, Tracy becomes more desperate and fixated on the subject, searching in the depths of darkness for the elusive figure that could save or destroy her.
Overall, “Sell My Soul” depicts the struggle of an individual torn between temptation and fear, resulting in a beautifully haunting and mysterious piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Trick me with your pretty things
You deceive me with your alluring possessions
Black horses with their silver wings
Horses of darkness with radiant wings
The halos in the sky are calling me again
I am being beckoned by the celestial circles above
You reign under a broken crown
You exercise your power under a shattered symbol of authority
Archangel of the underground
You are a divine being ruling over the subterranean realm
The quicksand in your eyes is taking me down
I am sinking into perilous circumstances reflected in your gaze
Could you be the one I sell my soul to
Do you possess the allure that makes me willing to trade my soul?
Could you be the one who falls from grace
Are you the individual who loses their divine favor and status?
Could you be the one you’ve got me falling apart again
Are you responsible for causing me to crumble and collapse once more?
Or is it falling into place?
Is this a necessary part of a greater plan or purpose?
Glass snakes on the windowpane
Serpents of glass slithering on the glass surface
Tremble in the pouring rain
Shaking in the midst of a deluge
Come wrap your cloven foot upon my high-heeled throne
Come place your hooved appendage on my ornate seat of power
Captivate the sweet machine
Entrance or fascinate the exquisite mechanism
Surrender to the offering
Submit to the sacrifice
Ashes and alibis, we all go down
We all succumb to failure and deceit
Under the rocks and stones I’ll find you
I will discover you in the depths of the earth
Beneath the bottom of below
Further down than the depths of the abyss
Under the rocks and stones I’m waiting
I am anticipating your arrival in the subterranean realm
Could you be the one?
Can you fulfill the role that I desire?
Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iluvchicas
Just started listening to Jill"s music, and I am an instant fan. Great and unique music from a pretty lady.
@Ghostcamp47
Beautiful song!!! This reminds me of The Great Malarkey, I love it! 🖤💚🖤
@slayerbabe474
I love this album and this song!
@chaosopher23
Groovy swingy dark & jazzy, and by gods what a voice!, of the type to make angels tremble! I just listened to over 2 hours of your music, and realize I should have been writing in "Grey" rather than goofing off on Fascbook while listening. *le sigh*
@chriscampbell5355
Love this song
@RoxyBane
I love how the piano is played kinda off-tunish, it gives off such an eerie, oddly comfy vibe.
@jeffdoe1210
That piano is haunting.
@paradoxicalputa
Beautiful song
@tawny9750
It's the first time i hear this song, I am ashamed of living this long and not hearing this song ;-;
@beldigoscurse13
was looking for music different from my regular tastes and was lead here. I am not disappointed.