Durban Skies
Bastille Lyrics


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All that I've got to be thankful for
All that I've got to be thankful for
In the heat, try to love these streets

In this town, it all went down
Our chromosomes in sepia tones
In my mind, in my mind
Where you lead your lives
Before from our small island
Brought right back to these shores
To these shores, to these shores

It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies

Oh oh oh.
All that I've got to be thankful for

On the day you made your vows
The heaven's opened, rain poured down
It poured down
Down, down

Grey and brown, the seventies
It suits you wore, and the ones you loved
Were so young, were so young,
Lord, you were so young

It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies

Oh oh oh.
All that I've got to be thankful for
Oh, all that I've got to be thankful for
All that I've got to be thankful for

It's alive, It's alive
When I see it through your eyes
It's alive, It's alive
Now I understand your lives
When you take me there
You show me the city
I see it through your eyes
When you take me there
We drive through the city
Beneath the Durban Skies

When you take me there, ooh
When you take me there
It's alive, It's alive





When you take me there
It's alive, It's alive

Overall Meaning

The song "Durban Skies" by Bastille is a nostalgic look back at the singer's memories of Durban, a coastal city in South Africa. The lyrics take us on a journey through the city streets seen through the singer's eyes as he drives with a companion. The opening lines, "All that I've got to be thankful for," hint at his appreciation of the experience and the relationship he shares with the person driving him. The chorus, "When you take me there, you show me the city, I see it through your eyes," suggests he is seeing the city in a new light, through someone else's memories and experiences, and gaining a deeper appreciation for it.


The second verse, "On the day you made your vows, the heaven's opened, rain poured down, it poured down," adds a layer of emotion to the song, suggesting that the memories being revisited are not just about the city but also about a significant personal event, perhaps a wedding. The line "were so young, Lord, you were so young" adds a bittersweet quality to the memory, emphasizing the passage of time since that moment.


Throughout the song, the chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's newfound appreciation for Durban and the importance of sharing experiences with another person. The song ends with the line "when you take me there, it's alive," underscoring the power of memory and shared experience to breathe life back into places that may have faded from memory.


Line by Line Meaning

All that I've got to be thankful for
The singer expresses their gratitude for their life experiences so far.


In the heat, try to love these streets
Despite the difficulties of living in hot, challenging circumstances, the singer chooses to appreciate the city.


In this town, it all went down
Important events have happened in this town that have greatly impacted the singer.


Our chromosomes in sepia tones
The memories of this town are colored with a vintage feel and convey a sense of nostalgia.


In my mind, in my mind
The memories of the town persistently occupy the artist's thoughts.


Where you lead your lives
The singer is curious about how the locals live their lives in this town.


Before from our small island
The singer and/or their peers previously resided on a small island before coming to this town.


Brought right back to these shores
The singer has returned to this town, which feels familiar and almost like home.


It's alive, It's alive
The energy of the town adds an extra dimension to the surroundings.


When I see it through your eyes
Experiencing this town through someone else's perspective provides the artist with a new level of understanding and appreciation for the town.


Now I understand your lives
Through observing and interacting with the locals, the singer better comprehends how the town and its inhabitants operate.


You show me the city
The people who live in this town provide a guided tour to the artist of the area, highlighting important features.


I see it through your eyes
The singer now sees the town differently, adapting their perception based on the perspectives they have been exposed to.


We drive through the city
The singer is taken on a tour of the town via car.


Beneath the Durban Skies
Throughout the tour, the singer takes in the beauty of the skies over the town, which add an extra layer to the city's ambiance.


On the day you made your vows
A specific day is being referenced in which someone made a commitment to someone else.


The heaven's opened, rain poured down
The weather on this momentous day was dramatic, with the sky opening up and rain pouring down from the heavens.


Grey and brown, the seventies
A muted color palette reminiscent of the aesthetics of the 1970s is utilized to describe the scene.


It suits you wore, and the ones you loved
The clothes worn by those present and the people they care about are recalled by the singer.


Were so young, were so young, Lord, you were so young
The participants in the event were young and naive, with divine intervention being invoked to emphasize this point.


When you take me there, ooh
The artist is eager to be taken back to the town for further exploration.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Sam


on Fake it

Has anyone translated the news captions in the music video?

Jeannie Smith


on Pompeii

I like it.

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