She met bandmate Geoff Barrow in a government business start-up scheme. Barrow and Gibbons joined jazz guitarist Adrian Utley, and the sessioners John Baggott, Jim Barr and Clive Deamer to record two successful and critically praised Portishead studio albums, as well as a live album, with a third album being released in 2008. Admired by artists as diverse as Dr. Dre and Robert Plant, the latter used Gibbons's musical associates in his own projects.
Gibbons has also collaborated on a separate project with former Talk Talk member Paul Webb, aka Rustin' Man. Lee Harris, another former member of Talk Talk, played drums on this. In October 2002, the album Out of Season, was released in the UK, and in October 2003 it was released in the US.
She is releasing her new solo album 'Lives Outgrown' on May 17th, 2024.
Romance
Beth Gibbons Lyrics
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You know what they say about romance
Ever changing love that you can't
Keep on side a parking keel
It's plain to see
All the things we suffer
From the hands of humanity
But that ain't me
That ain't me
But that ain't me
That ain't me
And I know there's a God inside it
Should I love your key
Adorn you
And get inside
But that ain't me
That ain't me
But that ain't me
That ain't me
And I know I may come to doubt it
But if I ever wish
I wish we could all believe
That in this daylight world
Is a world
Where love can be
And I won't ever forget it
'Cause that ain't me
That ain't me
'Cause that ain't me
Well, that ain't me
The song's title, "Romance," opens up the possibility of it being love-related, but the lyrics sound like they’re exploring the idea of the ever-changing nature of love and how it's different from person to person. The repeated line “You know what they say about romance” infers a common understanding or expectation of love that’s external to the song. Beth Gibbons may be questioning this common understanding of love and instead choosing to focus on her personal experience of it.
The verses suggest the self-destructive tendencies humans have, and how we often prioritize ourselves over the respect and care of our relationships. "All the things we suffer / From the hands of humanity" could be referring to how our actions hurt people we care about or how our personal flaws get in the way of the love we could have, hence the line "Better the thought than the feeling."
The chorus, "But that ain't me, that ain't me," is repeated multiple times with slight variations. Here, Gibbons could be distancing herself from the aforementioned destructive tendencies, acknowledging and taking responsibility for the damage they can cause. Furthermore, the lines “And I know there’s a god inside it / Should I love your key / Adorn you / And get inside” could possibly be about a pull to provide or receive romantic love, but ultimately acknowledging that there is no “right” way to experience it.
Line by Line Meaning
You know what they say about romance
You are aware of the stereotypical definition of romance that society perpetuates
Ever changing love that you can't Keep on side a parking keel
Romantic love is unstable and unpredictable; it cannot be constrained or controlled
Better the thought than the feeling
The idea of love is more desirable than the actual experience of it
It's plain to see All the things we suffer From the hands of humanity
Humanity is responsible for inflicting pain and suffering, which is evident to everyone
But that ain't me
Despite these societal norms and challenges, the artist does not conform to them
And I know there's a god inside it Should I love your key Adorn you And get inside
The singer recognizes the divine nature within love, and contemplates embracing it fully
And I know I may come to doubt it But if I ever wish I wish we could all believe
Although the singer may have doubts, they express a desire for everyone to have faith in the power of love
That in this daylight world Is a world Where love can be And I won't ever forget it
The artist recognizes that, despite the harsh realities of the world, love is still possible and that realization is unforgettable
'Cause that ain't me
The artist reaffirms that they do not conform to the societal norms of romance
Well that ain't me
The artist once again asserts that they are not defined by others' expectations of love
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER JOHN WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind