Annabel

Album: Tales Of Us (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This work of baroque instrumentation and hushed vocals finds Alison Goldfrapp sighing about a girl trapped in the body of a boy: "why couldn't they let you be both?"

    The song was inspired by Canadian short story writer and novelist Kathleen Winter's 2010 novel, Annabel, about a hermaphrodite who's raised as a boy but dreams of being a girl.
  • The song's black-and-white video was directed by Alison Goldfrapp's romantic partner, filmmaker Lisa Gunning. It follows the adventures of a little boy in the countryside who is accepted for his true self by his mother, played by the singer.

Comments: 2

  • Michael from Toronto, Ontario, CanadaHey Liselotte from N/a - Hermaphrodite is NOT DISRESPECTFUL....Perhaps it's not for the unstudious, like yourself. Grow up. The child of Hermes and Aphrodite, aka: Hermahroditus. Get an education.
  • Liselotte from N/aPlease, this is Not about trans! It is about a baby that is born intersex (Not hermaphrodite, that's the old word and Very much disrespectful!!) They had surgery and made the baby to a boy. And when he grow up, he realize that he want to be a girl. And her name is Anabel!! Read the book if you don't belive me!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.