Beth Orton (born Elizabeth Caroline Orton, 14 December 1970, in East Dereha… Read Full Bio ↴Beth Orton (born Elizabeth Caroline Orton, 14 December 1970, in East Dereham, Norfolk) is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She initially came to notice for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid-1990s. However, these were not Orton's first recordings as she had released a solo album, Superpinkymandy, in 1993. Since the album was only released in Japan, it went largely unnoticed by international audiences. Her second solo album, Trailer Park, garnered much critical acclaim in 1996. Orton developed a devoted audience with the release of the albums Central Reservation (1999) and the 2002 UK top 10 album, Daybreaker. In her 2006 release, Comfort of Strangers, she moved towards a more folk-based sound and away from the electronic sound of her past albums.

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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Absinthe
Beth Orton Lyrics

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My love's a star you only saw the traces of
What went before is not no more
It's the embers of
People always catching names too late
And we're all sorry there's no time to make the change

I could hear rebellion rising
I could feel the stars aligning

I could see the way uprising
But I never did seem to find my way back home

My love's a ball I threw to you
Once I was gone you caught it too
Love ignored erodes in time
Changes shape went and changed your mind
All I really needed was someone to take me home
Enough absence can crush a spirit to the bone

And I could feel rebellion rising
I could hear the stars aligning
I could see the way uprising

But I never did seem to find my way back home
No I never did seem to find my way back home

Overall Meaning

Beth Orton's song "Absinthe" describes a lost love, a love that was hardly appreciated when it existed. The song opens with the line "My love's a star you only saw the traces of," which implies that the lover could not see the depth of the love that Orton had for them. As the song progresses, Orton comments on the regret that often comes with not appreciating someone until it's too late. She sings "People always catching names too late / And we're all sorry there's no time to make the change."

Orton also touches on the theme of rebellion in "Absinthe." She sings "I could hear rebellion rising / I could feel the stars aligning / I could see the way uprising / But I never did seem to find my way back home." These lyrics imply that Orton's rebellion and desire to be free caused her to lose sight of what was important, her love. She also comments on the frailty of love and the damage that a lack of attention can do to it.

In conclusion, "Absinthe" is a song about love, loss, and regret. It explores the theme of missed opportunities and the damage that neglect can do to love. The song's powerful lyrics are complemented by Orton's ethereal voice, making it a hauntingly beautiful piece of music.

Line by Line Meaning

My love's a star you only saw the traces of
My love was extraordinary, bright and powerful, but all you ever saw were its leftovers, its traces.

What went before is not no more
The past is gone and cannot be changed or recovered.

It's the embers of
What remains are the barely glowing embers of a fire that once burned bright.

People always catching names too late
We often realize the importance of someone or something only after it's gone.

And we're all sorry there's no time to make the change
We regret not making the necessary changes when we had the chance, but now it's too late.

I could hear rebellion rising
I could sense that something powerful and transformative was about to happen.

I could feel the stars aligning
I had a feeling that the universe was conspiring to bring about something significant.

I could see the way uprising
I had a clear vision of the path to a revolution or a major change.

But I never did seem to find my way back home
Despite sensing an important change, I couldn't find my way back to the comfort and security of my home or my former self.

My love's a ball I threw to you
My love was a gift that I gave to you.

Once I was gone you caught it too
Only after I was gone did you realize the value of the love I gave you and caught it too late.

Love ignored erodes in time
Lack of attention and care can cause love to fade away over time.

Changes shape went and changed your mind
You changed your mind about me and our relationship and that change caused it to transform and inevitably end.

All I really needed was someone to take me home
All I needed was someone to provide me with comfort and security in a place that feels like home.

Enough absence can crush a spirit to the bone
Prolonged absence or lack of care can be emotionally devastating and lead to a profound sense of emptiness and despair.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELIZABETH CAROLINE ORTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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