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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Daybreaker
Beth Orton Lyrics

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We
Lay on our backs in the grass
Silently watching the rain clouds
Move by far too fast
You said it was a night where
Anything could happen
But nothing was gonna last

We're doing fine now
Yeah we do
We don't feel sad or bad or blue
And you know
We're never defeated
Or broken inside
All that is fine
All that is fine

We
We burn our boats each new year
Silently watching the flames
And an old life disappear
We're burning a new sunrise into
Yesterday's skies
An ashen fingerprint
Melts into the sea

We're doing fine now
Yeah we do
We don't feel sad or bad or blue
And you know
We're never defeated
Or broken inside
All that is fine
Yeah, all that is fine

We're doing fine now
Of course we do
We don't feel sad or bad or blue
And now you know
We're never defeated
Or broken inside
All that is fine
All that is fine

Anything to feel

Anything inside
Anything

Overall Meaning

to feel alive
We're doing fine now

In the first verse of "Day Breaker," Beth Orton describes herself and someone else laying in the grass, watching rain clouds pass by. The person tells Orton that it's a night where anything could happen, but admits that nothing will last. The lyrics seem to convey a sense of unease or a feeling of transience. However, Orton's response in the chorus is that they're doing fine now, they don't feel sad or bad or blue, and they're not defeated or broken inside. This contrast between the impermanence of the evening and the sense of stability in the present moment creates an interesting tension in the song.

In the second verse, Orton sings about burning boats each new year, symbolizing letting go of the past and embracing change. They watch the flames and an old life disappear, creating an ashen fingerprint that melts into the sea. The lyrics suggest a willingness to move forward and create something new, even if it means leaving behind what's familiar. Again, the chorus emphasizes the idea that they're doing fine, not defeated or broken inside.

Overall, "Day Breaker" seems to be a song about embracing change and finding a sense of stability in the midst of life's uncertainty. The lyrics suggest a recognition that nothing lasts forever, but also a determination to appreciate the moment and keep moving forward.

Line by Line Meaning

We lay on our backs in the grass
We were lying down on the grass

Silently watching the rain clouds
We were quietly observing the rain clouds

Move by far too fast
The clouds were moving too quickly

You said it was a night where anything could happen
You thought that anything was possible that night

But nothing was gonna last
However, nothing was going to endure

We're doing fine now
We are currently doing well

Yeah we do
Yes, we do

We don't feel sad or bad or blue
We are not experiencing any negative emotions

And you know
And you are aware

We're never defeated
We have never been defeated

Or broken inside
We have never been internally shattered