Tender Trap are an English indiepop band based in London, England, formed i… Read Full Bio ↴Tender Trap are an English indiepop band based in London, England, formed in 2001 by three of the five members of Marine Research - Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey, and John Downfall.

Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey were previously in the indiepop bands Talulah Gosh and Heavenly, and some have seen Tender Trap as representing a return to the pop aesthetic of those earlier bands. On their first, electronically slanted album Film Molecules, the songs demonstrate an eclectic mix of musical styles, with a clear nod to the similarly eclectic approach taken by The Magnetic Fields on their 69 Love Songs album. The band took their name from a line in the song "One Step Forward" by Even as We Speak.

The band's initial intention was to be a recording outfit only, due to their hatred of transporting drums from place to place. They compromised by playing live but using a CD player for backing beats. Additional live performers have included Claudia Gonson (of The Magnetic Fields) on drums, and Lupe Núñez-Fernández of Pipas and Amor de Días, who was a guest vocalist on the Language Lessons EP and the second album 6 Billion People.

After a quiet 2007–2008, Tender Trap reformed at the beginning of 2009 as a five piece, with additional members Elizabeth Morris (also in Allo Darlin') on guitar and vocals and Katrina Dixon (formerly of Police Cat, Sally Skull and The Garden City Project) on drums and vocals. They performed on the main stage at Indietracks festival in Derbyshire in July 2009 and the indoor stage in July 2010. Elizabeth Morris left to concentrate on Allo Darlin' in August 2010 and Emily Bennett (Betty And The Werewolves) joined the following month on guitar and vocals.

In 2010, Tender Trap released Dansette Dansette, an album that finds Fletcher working with "up-and-coming British indie luminaries, rediscovering her musical beginnings, and continuing to incorporate and impart feminist consciousness through sharp, yet tender, pop songs"

As of 2014, the band is on indefinite hiatus, and Fletcher and Pursey now perform as The Catenary Wires.

Step One
Tender Trap Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Step one
Find my mind again
Step two
Don’t be live until
Step three
You’ve left the AMG
Step four
Then out a melody

Sing all night and sleep in the afternoon

Step one
Wear matching skirt
Step two
Act so cool it hurts
Step three
Write a great chorus
Step four
And never mind the verse

Sing all night and sleep in the afternoon
It kind of was all other than I want
You are the good girl I want
These verses, these verses are just quiet

Step one
Get a blinking turn
Step two
As to her manager
Step three
Choose a striking name
Step four
And here comes fate

Sing all night and sleep in the afternoon
It kind of was all other than I want
You are the good girl I want
These verses, these verses are just quiet

Step one
I like my party too
Step two
I like to play with her
Step three
I like the president
Step four
And I like her

Sing all night and sleep in the afternoon
It kind of was all other than I want
You are the good girl I want
These verses, these verses are just quiet

All other than I want

Bad dates call upon ya
These verses, these verses are just quiet

Overall Meaning

The Tender Trap’s song Step One is known for its catchy and upbeat melody as well as its somewhat cryptic lyrics. The song is about the steps an artist must take in order to become a successful musician. It begins with the first step: finding your mind again, which alludes to the importance of being centered and focused on the creative process. Step two advises against performing live until you're ready, indicating that the emphasis should be on crafting quality music before sharing it with others. Step three encourages the artist to leave behind whatever record company or music industry suits them and pave their own way, choosing their destiny on their own terms.

Step four suggests putting together a melody, which may symbolize the culmination of all the previous steps. The song then enters the chorus-- "sing all night and sleep in the afternoon"-- which paints the picture of a musician's life: creating and playing music all night, and relaxing during the day. The second verse goes on to push the listener to wear a matching skirt to feel empowered, act cool under pressure, write a great chorus, and ignore the verse.

The third verse touches on the business aspect of the music industry. It recommends getting a blinking turn-- likely a reference to a new piece of audio equipment like a synthesizer-- speaking to the need to stay ahead of the game. The fourth line alludes to the importance of a good stage name, which can make or break an artist. The final verse is a wrap-up of the previous verse's themes, with a nod to the exciting world of politics, and concludes with an affirmation that "you are the good girl I want."

Line by Line Meaning

Step one
The first step is to regain control of my own mind

Step two
Don't pretend or fake anything until I accomplish step three

Step three
Leave behind anything limiting or troublesome to accomplish step four

Step four
Create something beautiful or meaningful once all other steps are complete

Sing all night and sleep in the afternoon
Enjoy the life of a musician, with late nights and lazy mornings

It kind of was all other than I want
My life doesn't quite match my desires

You are the good girl I want
You are exactly what I've been looking for

These verses, these verses are just quiet
The lyrics of this song are not the focus or the source of meaning

Get a blinking turn
Obtain an opportunity to shine or be noticed

As to her manager
Appeal to those in power or those who can help advance my career

Choose a striking name
Create an identity or persona that stands out and catches people's attention