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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Heart Of Soul
Beth Orton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'mon hide for a while
Look in your eyes I see
Looking back is a child
That we, we dance a fine line
We didn't take much time
You can't watercolor a fire cracker
And you you're laying face down
Selling it cheap on the commercial rd
Where is the love in your heart
C'mon put a little love in your heart
Where is the love in your heart
C'mon put a little love in your heart
Magpies and maelstroms
Always hard hitting hailstorms
No blame no forgiveness
We consent and we complete this
And we, we dance at the precipice
When we get close like this
You can't put out a fire with no crocodile
And me, i'm laying face down
So tell me what Neil Young said
You pick a flower then it's dead
Put a little love in your heart
C'mon put a little love in your heart
I don't care how much religion you've got
You gotta put a little love in your heart
And you, you look at me in disbelief
Like you could teach me God
When all of a sudden
I'm consumed by love
And you, are all lighting up
With your heart of gold
And everything we touch just turns to soul
Put a little love in your heart
You know you put a little love in my heart
I gotta put a little love in your heart
C'mon put a little love in my heart
C'mon put a little love in your heart
I wanna feel a little love in my heart
I'm gonna put a little love in your heart
A whole lotta love in your heart
Whole lotta love in your heart
There's a whole lotta love in your heart
Curl up inside me
C'mon hide for a while
The opening lines of Beth Orton’s song “Heart of Soul” invite the listener into a vulnerable and intimate space where the singer longs for connection and love. She sings about a dance with a lover, a dance that walks a fine line, it’s not rushed but it’s not slow either. It’s a dance that didn’t take much time but it’s intricately beautiful as watercolor on a firecracker. The next verse speaks of two people in a stormy relationship, with “magpies and maelstroms”, but they consent and complete each other, despite the lack of blame and forgiveness. They dance when they’re closest to falling apart, and they know that they can’t always put the fire out.
It’s clear in the chorus that the singer believes putting love in her heart matters most, no matter how much religion one has. And as the song progresses, it turns into a plea for the partner to put a little love in their heart. The song ends with hope and lightness, as the partner is suddenly consumed by love, with a heart of gold, and everything they touch just turns to soul. It’s a moving song about love and the power of it, its ability to transform even in the midst of difficulty.
Overall, “Heart of Soul” is a song about the many ways to experience intimacy and the transformative power of love, both in its absence and in its presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Curl up inside me
Come close to me and seek comfort and protection.
C'mon hide for a while
Take a break from the world and find solace in my embrace.
Look in your eyes I see
I notice and understand your emotions and feelings just by looking into your eyes.
Looking back is a child
Our past selves and experiences have shaped us into who we are today.
That we, we dance a fine line
Our relationship is delicate and we must tread carefully in order to maintain it.
We didn't take much time
Our connection was immediate and didn't take long to develop.
You can't watercolor a fire cracker
Some things are too intense and unpredictable to be easily captured or contained.
And you you're laying face down
You are vulnerable and defeated.
With your heart of soul
You have a passionate and sincere spirit.
Selling it cheap on the commercial rd
You are undervaluing and compromising your true self for the sake of commercial gain.
Where is the love in your heart
I question the sincerity and depth of your emotions.
C'mon put a little love in your heart
Encouragement to open up and express genuine affection.
Magpies and maelstroms
Unexpected and chaotic forces.
Always hard hitting hailstorms
Difficult and unpleasant experiences that impact us deeply.
No blame no forgiveness
Acceptance of the past without assigning fault or seeking pardon.
We consent and we complete this
We make a choice to move forward and conclude this chapter of our lives.
And we, we dance at the precipice
Our relationship teeters on the edge of something significant and potentially dangerous.
When we get close like this
As our connection deepens and intensifies.
You can't put out a fire with no crocodile
You need the right tools and approach to solve a difficult problem.
And me, i'm laying face down
In a position of vulnerability and surrender.
So tell me what Neil Young said
Asking for guidance or wisdom from a respected authority figure or artist.
You pick a flower then it's dead
Everything has an expiration date and must come to an end eventually.
I don't care how much religion you've got
Faith alone is not enough to create meaningful connections or relationships.
And you, you look at me in disbelief
Surprised and skeptical of my transformation or emotions.
Like you could teach me God
Believing you have all the answers or are more enlightened than me.
When all of a sudden
Unexpectedly and rapidly.
I'm consumed by love
Overwhelmed and intensely affected by my feelings for you.
And you, are all lighting up
You become radiant and filled with joy and positivity.
With your heart of gold
You have a pure and benevolent soul.
And everything we touch just turns to soul
Our connection has the power to positively influence and transform everything we encounter.
You know you put a little love in my heart
Expressing gratitude for the love and affection received from the other person.
I gotta put a little love in your heart
Acknowledging the importance of reciprocating and returning affection to maintain a healthy relationship.
C'mon put a little love in my heart
Asking for love and positive emotions to be bestowed upon oneself.
I wanna feel a little love in my heart
Yearning for love and connection.
A whole lotta love in your heart
The other person possesses a rich and abundant capacity for love and affection.
Whole lotta love in your heart
Reiterating the abundance of love and positive emotions within the other person.
There's a whole lotta love in your heart
Affirming the sincerity and depth of the other person's affection and emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ELIZABETH CAROLINE ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind