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Pompeii
Bastille Lyrics


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Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh

I was left to my own devices



Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Grey clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settles around us

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Grey clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh

Oh, where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
Oh-oh, where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?

And the walls kept tumbling down (oh, where do we begin?)
In the city that we love (the rubble or our sins?)
Grey clouds roll over the hills (oh, where do we begin?)
Bringing darkness from above (the rubble or our sins?)

But if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
Oh, how am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

If you close your eyes
Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Pompeii" by Bastille describes a post-apocalyptic world where the singer is reflecting on the events that led to the destruction of their city. The first verse describes how the singer was left alone with nothing to show for the passing days. The chorus talks about how the walls of their city kept falling down due to a continuous disaster, which is metaphorically represented by the "grey clouds" that roll over the hills, bringing darkness from above. However, in the chorus, the singer poses a question, asking whether it's possible to close their eyes and imagine that nothing has changed, that they've been there before. The second verse talks about how the singer and their people were caught up in their vices, and as the dust settled around them, they were lost. The chorus then repeats, underscoring the sense of despair and hopelessness felt by the singer. The final verse once again poses the question of where they should begin, whether they should focus on the rubble or their sins.


Overall, the song speaks to the feeling of being overwhelmed by a disaster, and the futility of trying to move forward in its aftermath. The repeated refrain, "How am I gonna be an optimist about this?" highlights the singer's sense of hopelessness and desperation, even as they acknowledge that the situation is beyond their control.


Line by Line Meaning

Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh
Repetitive vocalization of the chorus melody


I was left to my own devices
I was alone and had to rely on myself


Many days fell away with nothing to show
Time passed by without any visible accomplishment


And the walls kept tumbling down
The barriers and structures around me kept collapsing


In the city that we love
The place we called home


Grey clouds roll over the hills
A dark cloud cover looms over the horizon


Bringing darkness from above
Shrouding everything in darkness and uncertainty


But if you close your eyes
If you look within yourself


Does it almost feel like
Is there a sense of familiarity or comfort?


Nothing changed at all?
Have things remained the same?


And if you close your eyes
If you search your soul


Does it almost feel like
Does it seem like


You've been here before?
You've experienced this before?


How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How can I be positive in this situation?


We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
We were consumed by our own bad habits and addictions


In your pose as the dust settles around us
You stand still like a statue while everything falls apart around us


Oh, where do we begin?
What's the starting point to pick up the pieces?


The rubble or our sins?
Should we focus on the physical remains or our wrongdoing?


If you close your eyes
If you introspect


Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?
Is there a sense of stagnation?


Eh-oh, eh-oh
Repetitive vocalization of the chorus melody




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Daniel Campbell Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Jeannie Smith

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