Orton moved to East London at the age of fourteen. During her early career she was more interested in acting. She first gained notice in 1995 for her vocals on the Chemical Brothers' track "Alive Alone" and is well known for her collaboration (stemming from a relationship) with William Orbit in which she lent her voice for the Strange Cargo albums. The collaboration with Orbit called SuperPinkyMandy, though of excellent sound, was only released in very limited numbers in Japan.
Orton's first solo album, Trailer Park, was released in 1996. It earned her nominations for two Brit awards (best British newcomer, best British female), and the Mercury Music Prize in 1997, was well received by critics, and sold modestly, selling 300,000 copies and reaching sixty-eight in the U.K. The album was produced by Andrew Weatherall, whom she selected based on his production of one of her favourite records at the time, Primal Scream's "Screamadelica".
Central Reservation, her second album (proper), released in 1999, helped Orton build on the success of her debut. Although retaining the electronic edge of the former, this record showed a notably more acoustic side with several tracks consisting purely of Beth's vocal accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar, with subject matters becoming more introspective. The album also featured notable contributions from folk musician Terry Callier, Dr Robert, and Ben Harper. Several tracks were produced by Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. The album earned Orton a second Mercury Music Prize nomination and won her Best Female at the 2000 Brit Awards.
In July 2002, she released the album Daybreaker, which again blended the early electronica style, with up tempo pop songs and acoustic ballads. It featured guest appearances from musicians such as The Chemical Brothers, Emmylou Harris, whom she met at Lilith Fair, Ryan Adams, and Four Tet. It was a great commercial success, reaching the top eight of the U.K. album chart, but received mixed reviews from the press.
Her fourth studio album, Comfort of Strangers, was released in February 2006. The release saw her move away from the electronica element that she is usually associated with, to a more stripped down traditional alt-folk album. This followed an extended absence since her previous release, partially a result of several failed production attempts, and the parting of ways between her and Heavenly. The album was produced by Jim O'Rourke.
In 2012 Beth's 5th album Sugaring Season was released, on the ANTI- label, and was followed by a tour of Europe.
In 2016 Kidsticks, Beth's 6th album, was released.
Beth has also collaborated with American pop artist Beck on his Midnite Vultures album, providing vocals on the track "Beautiful Way". She is also known for her own singles, "Stolen Car," a hit in college circles and "She Cries Your Name", once featured in the TV show Roswell in the "Cry Your Name" episode. She also wrote songs for the Erin Brockovich soundtrack.
Beth Orton's brother, Rupert Orton, is the guitarist/manager for British rock'n'roll band The Jim Jones Revue.
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A Place Aside
Beth Orton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I feel as yours gets placed on top
We drive along these empty streets
Same old ones they've always been
I can still hear your heartbeat in the dark
We're still setting up the same old sparks
Pull me close and we lay still
And we're talking as I write this song
Unfolding as we go along
And I suppose we really do
I suppose it must be true
There will always be a place aside
For you...
I do still sometimes stare into your gaze
The way we'd stay for days and days
‘Scuze me but this seat is taken
They've been a while but I'm still waiting
And if I light these matches just to watch ‘em burn
And I forget to keep myself warm
And I forgot how to sing my song
Then I suppose I really do
I suppose it must be true
But there will always be a place aside
For you
The lyrics to Beth Orton's song "A Place Aside" are a beautiful reflection on the enduring nature of love and connection even in the face of time and distance. The song begins with a nostalgic scene of the two lovers reuniting after some time apart. They drive along "these empty streets, same old ones they've always been" and the singer puts their hand across to feel their partner's hand on top. In the darkness, they can hear each other's heartbeats and "set up the same old sparks" as they always have. The lyrics communicate a deep sense of comfort and familiarity in the midst of an ever-changing world, as they "wrap [their] toes around your heel."
As the song progresses, the singer reflects further on the enduring nature of their connection. They acknowledge that they are "talking as I write this song, unfolding as we go along" – suggesting that their love story is ongoing and constantly evolving. And even if they face challenges and forget how to sing their song, there will always be a place aside for the other person.
The final lines of the song are particularly poignant: "‘Scuze me but this seat is taken / They've been a while but I'm still waiting." Here, the singer acknowledges that time has passed and they have been waiting for their partner to return. But even so, there is still a place for them at the table – a reminder that love and connection can endure even through the longest absences.
Overall, "A Place Aside" is a beautiful and moving tribute to the power of love and the deep sense of belonging that it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
I do still sometimes put my hand across
I still reach out for you
And I feel as yours gets placed on top
And I feel your hand on mine
We drive along these empty streets
We're driving through familiar, empty streets
Same old ones they've always been
That have always been the same
I can still hear your heartbeat in the dark
I can still feel close to you in my mind
We're still setting up the same old sparks
It feels like we're still together
Pull me close and we lay still
We lay still, wrapped in each other's arms
Wrap my toes around your heel
Holding you close and feeling completely safe
And we're talking as I write this song
We're reminiscing about old times as I write this song
Unfolding as we go along
Our memories are unfolding as we talk
And I suppose we really do
I guess it's true
I suppose it must be true
I know it's true
There will always be a place aside
There will always be a place in my heart
For you...
For you, no matter where life takes us
I do still sometimes stare into your gaze
I still think about our moments together
The way we'd stay for days and days
The times when we wouldn't leave each other's company for days
‘Scuze me but this seat is taken
I'm still waiting for you to come back
They've been a while but I'm still waiting
It's been so long but I'm still holding on
And if I light these matches just to watch ‘em burn
If I do things just for the sake of doing them
And I forget to keep myself warm
When I forget to take care of myself
And I forgot how to sing my song
When I forget who I am
Then I suppose I really do
Then it's true
I suppose it must be true
It's definitely true
But there will always be a place aside
But I'll always have a place in my heart
For you
For you, even if we're apart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ELIZABETH CAROLINE ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind