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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Carmella
Beth Orton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a man making money
Off a blonde haired blue eyed girl
He's got a child at home
Who he loves to leave alone
For his blonde haired blue eyed girl
Well, Carmell
When the sky comes crashing in on you?
Slow down
Who you gonna turn to
When there's nothing left for you to prove?
And I can't
Control myself
And I won't
Be no one else
No I can't
Control myself
And I wouldn't want to
Be anywhere else
It's true
What they say about you
Is true
What they say about you
Is true
You know it too
There's nothing very funny
About a man spending money
On a blonde haired blue eyed girl
He's got a child at home
Who he loves to leave alone
For his blonde haired blue eyed girl
Carmel,
Where you gonna run to
If the sky comes crashing in on you?
Slow down
Who're you gonna turn to
When there's nothing left for you to prove?
And I can't
Control myself
And I won't
Be no one else
And I can't control myself
And I wouldn't want to
Be anywhere else
It's true
What they say about you
Is true
What they say about you
Is true
You know it too
No I can't
Control myself
And I won't
Be anyone else
No I can't
Control myself
And I wouldn't want to
Be anyone else
It's true
What they say about you
Is true
What they say about you
Is true
You know it too
You know it too
You know it too
The lyrics of Beth Orton’s “Carmella” delve into the theme of male exploitation of women. The first two stanzas expose the irony of how a man loves his own child but ignores them to spend money on his “blonde haired blue eyed girl.” This line is most likely a reference to how the media sexualizes and objectifies women with certain physical features, and men feed into it. In the chorus, Orton asks Carmella where she could possibly escape when the “sky comes crashing in” and where she could turn to when there is nothing left to prove. The implication here is that Carmella is in a tough situation where the only card she has to play is her physical appearance.
The end and beginning of the song have the same six lines, which are harmonious, providing a cyclical effect. It's like the song continues to cycle, symbolizing the repetition of the oppressive exploitation of women. The final lines of the song, “No I can't control myself/And I wouldn't want to be anyone else/It's true what they say about you/Is true what they say about you/You know it too,” suggest that Carmella has accepted her situation and might be tired of fighting back. Orton cleverly uses double negatives in the repeated line “No I can’t control myself, and I wouldn’t want to be anyone else” to both acknowledge and dispute the male stereotype of a woman being uncontrollable and fickle. Overall, “Carmella” is a commentary on how society views and treats women, as well as the effects it can have on the emotional well-being of women, leaving them feeling powerless and helpless.
Line by Line Meaning
There's nothing very funny
It's not amusing
About a man making money
When a man profits
Off a blonde haired blue eyed girl
From a particular type of woman
He's got a child at home
He has a kid
Who he loves to leave alone
Who he enjoys leaving by themselves
For his blonde haired blue eyed girl
For the woman he profits from
Well, Carmell
Hey Carmella
Where you gonna run to
Where do you intend to go
When the sky comes crashing in on you?
When everything goes wrong?
Slow down
Take it easy
Who you gonna turn to
Who will you go to
When there's nothing left for you to prove?
When you achieved all there is to achieve?
And I can't
I have no power
Control myself
To restrain my actions
And I won't
I choose not to
Be no one else
To not change
No I can't
I have no power
Control myself
To restrain my actions
And I wouldn't want to
And I have no desire to
Be anywhere else
Be elsewhere
It's true
It's a fact
What they say about you
The rumors about you
Is true
Is accurate
What they say about you
The rumors about you
Is true
Is accurate
You know it too
You're aware of it
There's nothing very funny
It's not amusing
About a man spending money
When a man spends
On a blonde haired blue eyed girl
On a particular type of woman
He's got a child at home
He has a kid
Who he loves to leave alone
Who he enjoys leaving by themselves
For his blonde haired blue eyed girl
For the woman he spends on
Carmel,
Carmella,
Where you gonna run to
Where do you intend to go
If the sky comes crashing in on you?
When everything goes wrong?
Slow down
Take it easy
Who're you gonna turn to
Who will you go to
When there's nothing left for you to prove?
When you achieved all there is to achieve?
And I can't
I have no power
Control myself
To restrain my actions
And I won't
I choose not to
Be no one else
To not change
And I can't control myself
I have no power to restrain my actions
And I wouldn't want to
And I have no desire to
Be anyone else
Be someone different
It's true
It's a fact
What they say about you
The rumors about you
Is true
Is accurate
What they say about you
The rumors about you
Is true
Is accurate
You know it too
You're aware of it
You know it too
You're aware of it
You know it too
You're aware of it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BETH ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind