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
Taxi Cab
Tracey Thorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Traveling around
Sure of myself
Sure of it now
You stand this close to me
Like the future was supposed to be
In the aisles of the grocery
I remember
Remember well
But if I'd forgotten
Could you tell?
In the shadow of your first attack
I was questioning and looking back
You said, "Baby, we don't speak of that"
Like a real aristocrat
Compound to compound
Lazy and safe
Wanting to leave it
Wanting to wait
When the taxi door was open wide
I pretended that I was horrified
By the uniform clothes outside
Of the court yard gate
You're not a victim
But neither am I
Nostalgic for garbage
Desperate for time
I could blame it on your mother's hair
Or the colors that your father wears
But I know that I was never fair
You were always fine
Unsentimental
Traveling around
Sure of myself
Sure of it now
You stand this close to me
Like the future was suppose to be
In the eyes of the grocery
In the blocks uptown
I remember
Remember it well
And if I'd forgotten
Could you tell?
In the shadow of your first attack
I was questioning and looking back
You were standing on another track
Like a real aristocrat
"Taxi Cab" by Tracey Thorn is a deep, emotional song that delves into the complexities of relationships and how they change over time. The song starts with the line, "Unsentimental traveling around, sure of myself, sure of it now." Here, Thorn is trying to create an impression that though she is not sentimental, she is still confident in what she is doing, and she knows where things are headed. However, these lines also indicate that the song's protagonist is determined not to get too emotional about what's happening around her, trying to avoid becoming too invested in it.
Later, in the song, we hear the line "In the shadow of your first attack, I was questioning and looking back, you were standing on another track like a real aristocrat." Here, the 'first attack' is symbolic of a critical moment in the relationship, where everything changed. Despite putting up a fight, Thorn's character was unable to prevent this change, and now she feels like she is merely standing in the shadow of the relationship. The reference to the other track signifies the fact that the singer realizes that there is more than one path in life, and they are not always the same. That is why she compares her lover to an aristocrat, who is quite content with living up to their status quo, even if it means hurting others.
Overall, "Taxi Cab" by Tracey Thorn is an ode to the changing nature of relationships, and the complexities involved when two people from different backgrounds come together. These are feelings that many of us can relate to, and the song's poignant lyrics allow us to explore them further.
Line by Line Meaning
Unsentimental
The singer is practical and not inclined towards emotions.
Traveling around
The singer has been moving from place to place, perhaps as a form of escape.
Sure of myself
The singer is confident in their own abilities and decisions.
Sure of it now
The artist has gained more certainty about a particular matter.
You stand this close to me
Somebody is in close proximity to the artist.
Like the future was supposed to be
The closeness of the person may be reminiscent of a past hope or expectation.
In the aisles of the grocery
The singer and this person have crossed paths in a mundane setting.
In the blocks uptown
They may also have interacted in a more urban or upscale location.
I remember
The artist recalls a memory.
Remember well
The memory is particularly vivid and impactful.
But if I'd forgotten
The singer is unsure if they have remembered the details accurately.
Could you tell?
The artist wonders if the other person could correct them if they were wrong.
In the shadow of your first attack
There was a past disagreement or hurtful event caused by the other person.
I was questioning and looking back
The singer is reflecting on the situation and their reaction to it.
You said, "Baby, we don't speak of that"
The other person avoids discussing the issue, perhaps to protect themselves or the relationship.
Like a real aristocrat
The other person behaves in a superior way or with class, despite the flaws in the relationship.
Compound to compound
The two were together in some kind of limited or controlled environment.
Lazy and safe
They were comfortable in their situation, but not particularly active or adventurous.
Wanting to leave it
Despite their comfort, the singer feels a desire to move on from this situation.
Wanting to wait
However, they may also have reservations or not yet be ready to make a change.
When the taxi door was open wide
The artist has the opportunity to leave or alter their situation.
I pretended that I was horrified
The artist is hesitant or afraid to take action and may be hiding their true feelings.
By the uniform clothes outside
The world beyond their current environment appears unfamiliar or daunting.
Of the court yard gate
The barrier to the outside world is significant, perhaps symbolically representing the artist's fears.
You're not a victim
The other person also has agency and responsibility in the relationship.
But neither am I
The singer should not be overlooked or underestimated.
Nostalgic for garbage
The singer is fond of things that may not be valuable or even healthy.
Desperate for time
The artist is aware of the limited nature of life and may feel pressure to make changes soon.
I could blame it on your mother's hair
The artist has considered various reasons why the relationship went awry, including ones that may not be fully relevant or fair.
Or the colors that your father wears
The singer may be grasping at straws or overlooking more significant issues in an attempt to find an explanation for their difficulties.
But I know that I was never fair
Regardless of the causes of the conflict, the singer acknowledges their own role and acknowledges that they were biased or judgmental.
You were always fine
Despite the issues between them, the artist affirms that the other person is strong and worthy of respect.
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.