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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Dolphins
Beth Orton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way it's always been
I know all the ways of war
Can I change it back again
I've been searching
For the dolphins in the sea
Sometimes I wonder
I'm not the one to tell
This world how to get along
I only know that peace will come
When all our hate is gone
I've been searching
For the dolphins in the sea
Sometimes I wonder
Do you ever think of me
Sometimes I think about
Saturday's child
And all about the time
You and me were running wild
I've been searching
For the dolphins in the sea
Sometimes I wonder
Do you ever think of me
This old world may never change
Beth Orton's song "Dolphins" poignantly speaks to the desire for peace and love in a world that seems to be consistently plagued by hate and war. The first verse paints a somber picture of a world that may never change, and the singer acknowledges that they cannot necessarily fix everything. However, the lyrics carry a hopeful undertone throughout the song as the singer speaks of searching for something pure and innocent--the dolphins in the sea--as a symbol of a more peaceful time.
The chorus brings the theme home, as the singer admits to thinking of someone they care about (perhaps a former lover, close friend, or even the audience themselves) and wishing they, too, could experience the same peace the dolphins represent. The final verse harkens back to a shared childhood memory, heightening the sense of nostalgia and hope for a more innocent time. Though the song may seem simple on its surface, it masterfully encapsulates the yearning for peace that many people feel in today's increasingly tumultuous world.
Line by Line Meaning
This old world may never change
The world may remain the same way it has always been.
The way it's always been
The world has always been full of war and conflict.
I know all the ways of war
The singer knows about war and its tactics.
Can I change it back again
The singer wonders if the world can be changed back to how it was before.
I've been searching
The singer has been looking for something.
For the dolphins in the sea
The singer has been searching for dolphins in the sea.
Sometimes I wonder
The singer sometimes thinks about something.
Do you ever think of me
The singer wonders if someone else thinks about them.
I'm not the one to tell
The singer is not the one who can tell the world how to get along.
This world how to get along
The world needs to know how to live together in peace.
I only know that peace will come
The singer knows that peace will come when all hate is gone.
When all our hate is gone
The world will have peace when there is no more hate.
Sometimes I think about
The singer sometimes thinks about something.
Saturday's child
The singer thinks about their childhood.
And all about the time
The singer reminisces about their past.
You and me were running wild
The singer remembers a time when they were carefree and wild with someone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX HARVEY, ALISTAIR MACDONALD CLEMINSON, HUGH MCKENNA, CHRIS GLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind