so, i’ve been a fan of beth orton’s for a long time. she’s got this great, throaty voice that, along with insightful lyrics and non-cookie-cutter melodies, really pulls me in. i was lucky enough to see her in concert – wow, maybe 8 years ago now? – and she was fantastic. plus, she wore pink chuck taylors, and hello. pink chuck taylors are a sign of excellent taste. (i know, i know – it’s irrational that i like her even more because of this fact, but there it is)
i pretty much dig all of her music, but if i had to pick, i’d say stolen car is my favorite. it’s a bit dark and driven, but definitely a story worth listening to. and beth does that – a lot of her songs are more than just a bunch of rhyming words. she tells stories, and it makes her songs even better for it.
you walked into my house last night.
i couldn’t help but notice
a light that was long gone still burning strong.
you were sitting,
your fingers like fuses.
your eyes were cinnamon.
you said you stand for every known abuse
that was ever threatened to anyone but you.
and why should i know better by now
when i’m old enough not to?
while every line speaks the language of love
it never held the meaning I was thinking of.
and i cant decide over right or wrong.
i guess sometimes you need the place where you belong
some may sing the wrong words to the wrong melodies
it’s little things like this that matter to me.
others feel that you should stand
for every known abuse to hand
and all the things that they could never see.
you said you stood
for every known abuse that was ever promised to anyone like you.
don’t you wish you knew better by now
when you’re old enough not to?
when every line speaks the language of love,
it never held the meaning i was thinking of.
and i can’t decide over right or wrong.
you left the feeling that i just do not belong.
one drink too many
and a joke gone too far
i see a face drive like a stolen car.
gets harder to hide
when youre hitching a ride
harder to hide what you really saw.
oh, yeah, you stand
for every known abuse that i’ve ever seen my way through.
don’t i wish i knew better by now?
well i think i’m starting to.
when every line speaks the language of love
it never held the meaning i was thinking of.
and i’ve lost the line between right or wrong.
i just want to find the place where i belong.
why should you know better by now,
when you’re old enough not to?
i wish i knew better by now,
when i’m old enough not to.
(mp3) stolen car by beth orton
here’s the video:
buy central reservation, the album stolen car is off of, HERE.