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
Hormones
Tracey Thorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're at the beginning of this tunnel, and I'm just comin' out,
And either way these days we're not as in control as we think.
You're stampin' up the stairs, I'm cryin' at the kitchen sink,
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
You worry 'bout growin' up, I worry 'bout lettin' go, oh ho ho.
Don't let me be the last one to know.
And either way some of these days we're gonna have to tough it out.
You turn the music up I I try to think before I shout,
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
And I have to own up: that dress looks better on you now,
Only half grown up, you should really twirl, take a bow.
You ask me what goin' on, why do we feel this way?
I can only shake my head,
"Hormones, babe," I say.
Yours are just kickin' in, mine are just checkin' out,
Aw, you're just kickin' in
The opening lines of Tracey Thorn's song Hormones presents the difference in maturity levels and emotional states between two individuals involved in a relationship. The singer notes that "Yours are just kickin' in," implying that their partner is at the beginning of their emotional and physical development while the singer's hormones are "just checkin' out" indicating that they're in a transitional phase where they're aging, and their hormones are decreasing. The second line suggests that no matter where they are on the hormonal spectrum, their emotions and lives are still out of control.
The chorus presents the contrasting concerns that the two individuals have about the relationship. The partner worries about growing up, while the singer worries about letting go, indicating their desire to hold on to control or the relationship itself. The line "'Cause I know what's comin' up," suggests that the singer has experience in relationships and knows that, eventually, they will have to let go, but the partner is not yet at that point. The phrase, "Don't let me be the last one to know," emphasizes the singer's desire to be informed and included in the changes that will come in the relationship.
The bridge presents a moment of levity and nostalgia, where the singer compliments their partner on their appearance and encourages them to "twirl and take a bow." The partner asks the singer what's going on, and the singer jokingly quips, "Hormones, babe," acknowledging that the fluctuating hormonal levels may affect their emotions and actions.
Overall, the lyrics of Hormones explore the complexities of a relationship where the partners are at different points in their emotional and physical development, and they must navigate the uncertainties of life and love. The song acknowledges that hormones can add to the complexity of a relationship, but ultimately, communication and understanding are essential for any partnership to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Yours are just kickin' in, mine are just checkin' out,
You're at the beginning of experiencing hormonal changes, while I'm reaching the end of it.
You're at the beginning of this tunnel, and I'm just comin' out,
You're still entering the transitional phase of adolescence, while I've already made it through.
And either way these days we're not as in control as we think.
Our emotions and feelings are not entirely under our control.
You're stampin' up the stairs, I'm cryin' at the kitchen sink,
You're energetic and active, while I'm overwhelmed and emotional.
You worry 'bout growin' up, I worry 'bout lettin' go, oh ho ho.
You're anxious about growing up, while I'm worried about letting go of my youth.
'Cause I know what's comin' up, Don't let me be the last one to know.
I have experienced what lies ahead, so keep me in the loop about anything new.
And either way some of these days we're gonna have to tough it out.
Regardless of our different emotional states, we'll have to face challenges together.
You turn the music up I I try to think before I shout,
You're seeking to drown out your emotions with music, while I'm trying to be rational.
And I have to own up: that dress looks better on you now,
I have to admit that you're growing into yourself and becoming more beautiful.
Only half grown up, you should really twirl, take a bow.
You're still growing, but you should celebrate your current stage in life.
You ask me what goin' on, why do we feel this way?
You're wondering about our emotional states and why they're so different.
I can only shake my head, 'Hormones, babe,' I say.
I can only attribute our differences in feelings to hormonal changes.
Aw, you're just kickin' in
You're just starting to experience hormonal changes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRACEY THORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raymond ray
Amazing Voice
Danny Vandevelde
Great song!
Bjorkoulis
Unique and special!
Giovanni Raimondo
I like it a lot!
Patricia Farias
Beautiful
Jai Plei
grande!!!
Leonardo de Aragão Christovão
Soul food!
Eugenio M
molto carina