image is from Tori Amos’ website
In 2021, I was introduced to a Tori Amos cover of “Strange Little Girl” by Steve for the Deaf. Written by The Stranglers in 1974 and re-recorded and released in the UK in 1982, it was their last single while signed to Liberty Records (part of EMI.)
Strange Little Girls is a concept album released by singer-songwriter Tori Amos in 2001. The album’s 12 tracks are covers of songs written and originally performed by men, reinterpreted by Amos from a female point of view. For the purposes of the prompt, I consider Tori’s spinning the songs to a female point of view to mean she’s taken the male-oriented fairy tales and looked at them in a new way. The video for the song enhances the fairy tale aspect of the lyrics.
Amos received two 2002 Grammy nominations: Female Rock Vocal Performance for “Strange Little Girl”, and Alternative Music Performance for the album.
Male, a 2015 album by Natalie Imbruglia had a similar concept.
Some of the other songs Tori covers includes:
New Age by The Velvet Underground
Bonnie & Clyde by Eminem
Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode
I’m Not in Love by 10cc
Heart of Gold by Neil Young
Happiness is a Warm Gun by The Beatles
Personnel (on this track only):
Tori Amos – lead vocals, Wurlitzer, Bösendorfer, Rhodes, ARP
Matt Chamberlain – drums, military drum, taos drums
Adrian Belew – guitars
Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass guitar
Strange Little Girl
One day you see a strange little girl look at you
One day you see a strange little girl feeling blue
She'd run to the town one day
Leaving home and her country fair
Just beware, when you're there
Strange little girl
[Verse 2]
She didn't know how to live in a town that was rough
I'm done thanking you, I'm done thanking you
It didn't take long before she knew she'd had enough
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived, but she's feeling old
'Cause she found all things cold
[Chorus]
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, you really should be, really should be going
[Post-Chorus]
I know you wish you would
I know you wish you would
I know, I know
I know you wish you would
[Verse 3]
One day you see a strange little girl look at you
I'm done thanking you, I'm done thanking you
One day you see a strange little girl feeling blue
I'm done thanking you, I'm done thanking you
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived, but she's feeling old
'Cause she found all things cold
[Chorus]
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, you really should be
Really should be, really should
[Chorus]
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, you really should be
I know you wish you would
Really should be, really should
[Chorus]
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, you really should be
I know you wish you would
Really should be, really should be
You really should be going
Songwriters: Dave Greenfield, Hans Wärmling, Hugh Cornwell, J.J. Burnel, Jet Black
Source material from wiki.
Jim is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week, the prompt is:
Songs based on nursery rhymes or fairy tales suggested by Di of pensitivity101
Tao Talk 
. What a cracking choice Lisa, this version is more fairytale like – cross between Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland. I like Tori’s take but I have to say the Stranglers just have the edge for me 💕
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Ange, I like the way she spun it at the end when she shrank the wolf down. I hadn’t heard The Stranglers one before so will listen some more to it. Thanks much on the choice <3
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Yes it’s s great video thanks for sharing 💕
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You’re welcome <3
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I hadn’t heard this before, but I think I prefer it to the original.
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Clive happy to make introductions :)
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This is a new one for me- I am only familiar with Tori Amos’ commercially successful songs, I guess. I am surprised I never investigated further as I am a huge lover of anything female and angry Thanks for the intro!.
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V, when I went to spotify last night to find the album, I was so pleasantly surprised to see that she includes live recordings of her concerts. She’s an artist I want to get to know better. Yes, probably because female and angry :) You are very welcome.
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This is the reason why I love Song Lyric Sunday, as without this challenge, I probably would have never listened to this song and I really enjoyed it, Lisa.
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I hear you, Jim. I’ve learned more about new music since starting the blog in 2018 than I ever imagined, as I started blogging for writing, not music. It’s been a pleasant education, and Song Lyric Sunday is a big part of it.
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what a clever choice Li. The lyrics fit this category perfectly. I really liked Tori Amos’s version of this song 🥰
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Christine, so happy to please you with this choice. I was hooked on the concept, and last night I listened to the whole album for the first time. She really tweaks some of those songs!
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I knew the original of “Strange Little Girl” by The Stanglers from the radio back in Germany where it got some occasional play. This cover by Tori Amos, on the other hand, was all new to me. Pretty neat!
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Christian, the whole album is interesting and would have to give it some more listens before picking out any other favorites, but this track is a clear winner for me off of it. I was also amazed at how many albums Tori Amos has out on spotify and I think I remember seeing she has a million followers. Need to check out more of her stuff. Glad you liked her cover :)
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Lisa, I’m familiar by the version by The Stranglers but not this one by Tori Amos. I like it; she’s got a great voice. Thanks for the intro.
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Glad you like the cover and agree on her voice. She’s got a lot of range with it that I’ve heard on other songs of hers. Here’s one that she does with Robert Plant on the Led Zeppelin Encomium album. I’ve grown to love this song:
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Lisa, do you remember when Dylan’s voice changed and people were saying WTF? Except for the final “Ooh” on this song, I never would have guessed or believed this was Robert Plant singing. I like the song but not crazy about Plant’s voice; I’m so used to him singing like, well … Robert Plant! Perhaps , like you, it will grow on me. Do you have this album and does his voice sound like this throughout?
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Yes, I remember Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” voice. I also remember when his voice became scratching sandpaper at some point. Have you heard Plant with Alison Krauss? He has a very versatile voice and can croon as well as scream. On this album, Encomium, he only sings on the last song with Tori. The rest are (superb) covers. Yes, I have it and have worn the grooves off of it (even tho it’s a CD.)
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p.s. What do you think about this one? I adore his voice in this one:
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I know this song and love it; there’s no mistaking this voice. Same can be said when he did ‘Sea of Love’ from the Honeydrippers album. I love the blend he has with Krauss; they have a superb chemistry and even when he’s ‘croning’ you know it’s Robert Plant. It would be very interesting to research why he sounds so different on the song with Tori Amos. It’s like he has a clothespin on his nose! 😂
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Another good one!
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Wonderful read. I do like her work and good on her for taking this tack.
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You should hear what she does with Happiness is a Warm Gun. She makes it her own.
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I really liked her ‘covers’ album where this Stranglers track is from. Some tracks were close to the original and some very much in her own style.
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Glyn, I just listened to the whole album last night for the first time. It’s good and I need to give it some more listens. She makes Happiness is a Warm Gun her own. Glad you like it.
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New to me. I have never heard anything from this singer. Lovely choice.
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Marina, happy to introduce you to this singer. Thank you :)
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Thanks for sharing this great video and song, Li. Love it! 😍
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My pleasure, Cindy. Glad you enjoyed it :)
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I really love this song. Makes me wanna move. I should add it to my walking playlist. Thanks for sharing Li
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J, I hope you do add it to your playlist. It’s a good’n. My pleasure on sharing.
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I’ve never heard this before and without your explanation I wouldn’t have made the connection
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Glad to introduce you, Christine.
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I really enjoyed this song and the video, never listened to it before ❤️
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Happy to hear it.
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I’m not familiar with this Tori Amos album. That song is perfect for her. (K)
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After reading about her, I agree.
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A fabulous album. We nearly wore the CD out. I love all her covers on this collection.
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Very cool, Steve. I was listening to Tori all afternoon.
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Nice. She has so much to offer.
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I do love Tori Amos this is an amazing song such a good choice thank you 💜💘🎉🤩
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Willow, happy you are a fan <3
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I am , big time 💜
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I’ve always liked Tori Amos, though I never heard this one – not hers and not the original, either. You do have a knack for introducing us to very interesting stuff!
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Thanks much and glad you find this one interesting. I love the video!
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Yes! Some artists put so much wonderful effort into their videos (some are downright scratch-your-head weird but others are fantabulous).
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