She grew up in Hatfield, Hertfordshire and studied English at the University of Hull, where she graduated in 1984 with First Class Honours. She lives with her EBTG partner Ben Watt in North London. The couple have twin daughters born in 1998, and a son born in 2001.
Thorn began her musical career in the group Marine Girls. The band released two albums (Beach Party in 1981 and Lazy Ways in 1982) and several singles. The group disbanded when Thorn decided to concentrate on Everything But The Girl.
Thorn's first solo work was a solo mini-album in 1982 entitled A Distant Shore. A re-recorded version of the track Plain Sailing was released as a single, and was included on the 'Pillows & Prayers' Cherry Red records compilation album.
Thorn and Ben Watt met at University when they were both signed separately, as solo artists, to Cherry Red Records. Their first album together was Eden, released in 1984. As a band, Everything But The Girl released a body of work that spanned two decades. Their biggest chart success came in 1995, when DJ Todd Terry remixed a song from their Amplified Heart album. Missing became a huge hit all over the world, especially in the U.S., where it reached number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100.
The duo has been on extended hiatus since 2002 while Watt has concentrated on his DJ work, and Thorn has been raising their children and writing and recording a solo album.
She collaborated with Massive Attack on several projects, including the soundtrack for the motion picture Batman Forever where she contributed with The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game. Their first project together was the song Protection from the album by Massive Attack of the same name. She also sings on the track Better Things.
Thorn has also contributed guest vocals and backing vocals for The Style Council, The Go-Betweens, Working Week, and Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.
Her first collaboration, after a lengthy singing hiatus, was on the song Damage by the band Tiefschwarz.
In March 2007, Tracey Thorn released her second solo album Out of the Woods on Virgin Records (Worldwide) and on Astralwerks (USA). It includes contributions from Cagedbaby, Ewan Pearson, Charles Webster, Sasse and Martin Wheeler.
In 2010, she released Love and Its Opposite on her husband's own label, Strange Feeling. Swedish singer Jens Lekman appears on Come On Home to Me.
Official website: www.traceythorn.com
Femme Fatale
Tracey Thorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's going to break your heart in two, it's true
It's not hard to realize
Just look into her false colored eyes
She builds you up to just put you down, what a clown
'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
See the way she walks
Hear the way she talks
You're put down in her book
You're number thirty seven, have a look
She's going to smile to make you frown, what a clown
Little boy, she's from the street
Before you start, you're already beat
She's going to play you for a fool, yes it's true
'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
The things she does to please
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
See the way she walks
Hear the way she talks
'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
The things she does to please
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
Ooh ooh oh
(She's a femme fatale)
Ooh ooh oh
In Tracey Thorn's song "Femme Fatale," she sings about a dangerous and seductive woman who will break your heart. The lyrics warn of her false-colored eyes, her ability to build you up only to tear you down, and her manipulative tactics. The song describes the woman as a "femme fatale," a term used to describe a woman who uses her charms to manipulate men and often leads them to their doom.
The lyrics convey a sense of warning to any man who might encounter this type of woman. Despite her alluring qualities, the listener is reminded that she is not to be trusted. The lines "Little boy, she's from the street, before you start, you're already beat" warn that no matter how confident a man may feel, he is no match for her.
Thorn's delivery of the lyrics is almost mocking in tone, as if she is laughing at any man who falls for the femme fatale's tricks. The repetition of the chorus drives home the point about the woman's true nature and the need to be careful around her.
Overall, "Femme Fatale" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling for someone who is not what they seem. It is a reminder that not all that glitters is gold.
Line by Line Meaning
Here she comes, you better watch your step
Be careful, an alluring woman is approaching
She's going to break your heart in two, it's true
She will hurt you deeply
It's not hard to realize
It's easy to see
Just look into her false colored eyes
Her eyes are deceitful
She builds you up to just put you down, what a clown
She will praise you and then criticize you, making her a fool
'Cause everybody knows
This is common knowledge
(She's a femme fatale)
She is a dangerously attractive woman
The things she does to please
She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants
She's just a little tease
She enjoys toying with people
See the way she walks
Notice the way she moves
Hear the way she talks
Pay attention to the way she speaks
You're put down in her book
You are dismissed by her
You're number thirty seven, have a look
You are one of many to her
She's going to smile to make you frown, what a clown
She will use her smile to deceive you
Little boy, she's from the street
She comes from a lower-class background
Before you start, you're already beat
You are outmatched before you even begin
She's going to play you for a fool, yes it's true
She will manipulate you
Ooh ooh oh
(She's a femme fatale)
She is a dangerously attractive woman
Ooh ooh oh
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
stormtrooper253
I've been looking for this cover for almost a year now since I first heard this on the radio. Very happy to have found this.
Solarshoji
This song is so great and Tracey is such a great singer. I never guessed it was pre-Everything but the Girl. Love it!
Lesley Macdonald
loved this album and played it and played it...………still love it and it sounds fantastic today!
MrAntonstgt
still one of my all time favourite voice and album!
Soyuz19
couldn't agree more, brilliant album and thanks for putting these tracks on
Mikael Öberg
I have it on vinyl, lucky me. Love you Tracey
MrMahlerman
Always a great voice.
MoveOn SoulClub
I don't know if it's still available but The Marine Girls album (Tracy's group before going solo) is also great. Also Ben Watt's North Marine Drive.
Wendy Sullivan
I finally got a copy of NMD after 35 years...Been a long wait. Still looking for A Distant Shore.
First heard both Tracey and Ben on the Pillows and Prayers compilation album by Cherry Red Records.
HGM SW
This is my all time song, and album.