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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Yesterday's Gone
Beth Orton Lyrics

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Look at the priest and the blood and the fire?
Weighted down with metal, I wonder why?
Haven't we moved further in time
Haven't we advanced along the line

Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone
Let it fade away

Blind chances of destiny

Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone
Let it fade away
Blind chances of destiny

Isn't it the scheme of love to take
Wouldn't my life remain the same
Wonder if my God could take the blame
Time's the only voodoo dreams can change

Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone
Let it fade away
Blind chances of destiny

Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone
Let it fade away
Blind chances of destiny

Let your mind go free
Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone
Let it fade away
Blind chances of destiny

Yesterday is gone
Yesterday is gone

Let it fade away
Blind chances of destiny

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Beth Orton and William Orbit's song Yesterday's Gone touch on the topics of change, progress, love, and fate. The first verse, "Look at the priest and the blood and the fire, Weighted down with metal, I wonder why, Haven't we moved further in time, Haven't we advanced along the line" suggests that despite advancements and progress, there are still elements of the past that hold us back. The priest, blood, and fire could be interpreted as symbols of religion, violence, and destruction, which have been prevalent throughout history and continue to impact society today, despite advances in technology and humanity.

The chorus, "Yesterday is gone, Let it fade away, Blind chances of destiny" emphasizes the need to let go of the past and focus on the future. It suggests that fate is unpredictable and uncertain, and we should not dwell on what has already happened, but instead embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. The following verse, "Isn't it the scheme of love to take, Wouldn't my life remain the same, Wonder if my God could take the blame, Time's the only voodoo dreams can change" touches on the idea that love often involves sacrifice, and while change may be difficult, it is necessary for growth. The lyrics also suggest that time has a mystical quality, as it can change dreams and shape our destiny.

Overall, the lyrics to Yesterday's Gone encourage listeners to embrace change and not dwell on the past. They suggest that while history and tradition may hold significance, they should not restrict us from moving forward and embracing the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at the priest and the blood and the fire?
Have you ever observed the priest, the blood, and the fire?

Weighted down with metal, I wonder why?
Why does the priest wear so much metal on his body?

Haven't we moved further in time
It seems like we should have made more progress by now

Haven't we advanced along the line
Shouldn't we have evolved further along our path?

Yesterday is gone
The past is over and done with

Yesterday is gone
The past is long gone

Let it fade away
Don't hold on to the past

Blind chances of destiny
We don't know what fate has in store for us

Isn't it the scheme of love to take
Love often takes things away from us

Wouldn't my life remain the same
If love hadn't taken away what it did, my life would be unchanged

Wonder if my God could take the blame
I question whether or not my God could be held responsible

Time's the only voodoo dreams can change
The only thing that can alter our dreams is time

Let your mind go free
Allow your thoughts to be unrestricted

Yesterday is gone
Don't dwell on the past

Yesterday is gone
The past is irrelevant

Let it fade away
Release the past

Blind chances of destiny
We never know what the future holds

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: ELIZABETH CAROLINE ORTON, WILLIAM ORBIT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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