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
Late In The Afternoon
Tracey Thorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lights be coming on soon
Late in the afternoon, a little older
Be turning the clocks back soon
But you can't turn the clocks back, can you?
I'm not a novelty
You know every inch of me
Forget what you love about me
Look out your high window, November
A carpet of leaves below
You never saw through me, remember
And it wouldn't take that much
For something to kick away this crutch
I'm not a mystery
You know everything about me
I stand here every night
In fluorescent bathroom light
Every blemish, every scar
You know how they got there
And where they are
So don't get bored anytime soon
'Cause it's late
It's late in the afternoon
In this song, the singer reflects on the passing of time and how it has affected their relationship with someone they know very well. The song is set in the late afternoon of October and the lyrics suggest that darkness is approaching since the "lights be coming on soon." The singer mentions that they are getting older and the clocks will need to be turned back soon. However, the singer realizes that time cannot be reversed, as they sing "But you can't turn the clocks back, can you?"
The singer then goes on to show vulnerability and expresses a fear of being forgotten. They say, "Please, don't begin to doubt me, forget what you love about me." This could be interpreted as the singer pleading with someone not to forget who they are even as time passes and changes them. The second verse then highlights that the relationship between the singer and the other person has changed. Fall is beginning and the leaves are falling, signifying that things are coming to an end. A sense of nostalgia is also present when the singer remarks that the other person "never saw through me, remember."
Throughout the song, the singer repeats that they are not a mystery, but rather someone who is well-known to the other person. The last two lines of the song, "So don't get bored anytime soon, 'cause it's late, it's late in the afternoon" could be interpreted as the singer warning the other person not to take them for granted because time is running out.
Line by Line Meaning
Late in the afternoon, October
The day is almost done in October.
Lights be coming on soon
It's getting dark soon.
Late in the afternoon, a little older
As the day wears on, one becomes more experienced in life.
Be turning the clocks back soon
Daylight Saving Time is ending soon.
But you can't turn the clocks back, can you?
We can't go back in time and change what has happened.
I'm not a novelty
I'm not new or exciting.
You know every inch of me
You know everything about me.
Please, don't begin to doubt me
Please don't lose faith in me.
Forget what you love about me
Stop holding onto things that you used to like about me.
Look out your high window, November
It's November and you're looking out of your tall window.
A carpet of leaves below
There is a thick layer of dead leaves on the ground.
You never saw through me, remember
You never fully understood me, don't forget that.
And it wouldn't take that much
A little bit of effort is all it would take.
For something to kick away this crutch
For something to remove this support I'm depending on.
I'm not a mystery
I'm not hard to understand.
You know everything about me
I have no secrets from you.
I stand here every night
I'm always available.
In fluorescent bathroom light
In the glare of the bathroom light.
Every blemish, every scar
All my flaws are visible.
You know how they got there
You know the story behind each imperfection.
And where they are
And where they're located.
So don't get bored anytime soon
So don't lose interest in me anytime soon.
'Cause it's late
The day is almost done.
It's late in the afternoon
The sun is setting and the day is almost over.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRACEY THORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SKYE NICOLAS
It's insane this is a live session. Sounds like a record. Her singing is FLAWLESS. Just sublime.
SuperSeriouSam
Sounds so laid back i fell over .
Milin Limvipuwat
I just realize that I have listened to this song more than a thousand times. She's my favorite female singer, contemporary and timeles .
salao7808
there's just one voice I keep going back to, whenever I have a craving for sheer beauty, and that's Tracey's
SuperSeriouSam
Have just bought her double cd with the original recording of this track. No guitar only piano . This live recording with acoustic guitar is by far the best sound. It,'s like she made this live recording in your own front room. Bless Ben and Tracey.
steven Branstetter
I just love the fly on the wall look ins. Does anyone know the chords structure? Ben and Tracy should do a mini home concert.
zeilfe
love this in home concert. very simple, intimate, straight to the point, like theyre in my bedroom. i feel like a fly on the wall!
mika kimi
its March 2020 , Covid19 lockdown in Philippines, and I found this...a wonderful song....soft to listen...easy to the ear. 👍👍
Marcos Gates
Muito bom!!!
barry m
that was amazing, thanks for posting!