Bastille debuted in June 2011 with their 7" single, "Flaws"/"Icarus" (released on Young & Lost Club). This was then followed by their EP 'Laura Palmer' later in 2011. After adding a few more tracks online, the band received a lot of attention from indie rock fans on the web, helping secure some support slots. During the summer of 2011, they performed at a number of major UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, and Blissfields.
On 27 April 2012, "Overjoyed" came out, being the debut Virgin Records single from Bastille. This was confirmed by EMI on 1 May 2012. After the video release of "Overjoyed" on YouTube, 'Q Magazine' introduced the song as its track of the day for 7 March 2012. Fans seemingly devoured the tune.
"Bad Blood" was released on Virgin Records on 20 August 2012. Following the video release of "Bad Blood" on YouTube, Bastille were named "The New Band of the Day" by writers for 'The Guardian' on 25 July 2012. In not too long, Bastille performed at the major UK Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2012. They played an October 2012 headline tour that brought them into the spotlight alongside Emeli Sandé, with Swiss Lips supporting them.
Bastille's single "Flaws"/"Icarus" was featured in the soundtrack of the popular British Channel 4 television show 'Made in Chelsea'. As well, "Weight of Living, Pt. II" was part of the soundtrack for FIFA 13. "Of The Night", Bastille's dual cover of both Snap!'s "Rhythm is a Dancer" and Corona's "The Rhythm of the Night", was used to advertise Dancing on Ice in the run up to its 2013 series.
Bastille played their first show outside of Europe on 3 December 2012 at Hong Kong's Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival.
Bastille's song "Oblivion" featured in the soundtrack of the television show The Vampire Diaries in the Season 4 Episode 9 titled "O Come, All Ye Faithful".
They supported Two Door Cinema Club on their UK tour throughout January/February 2013 and toured through Europe in April to promote their debut album.
The band have also released four mixtape-style EPs : "Other People's Heartache Pt 1" in 2012 (featuring covers, among others, of "Blue Jeans" by Lana del Rey, "The Rhythm of The Night" by Corona) , "Other People's Heartache Pt 2" (featuring covers, including, "Sweet Nothing" by Calvin Harris, "No Scrubs" by TLC and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac), "VS: Other People's Heartache Pt 3" (featuring collaborations with other artists, including "Remains" with Skunk Anansie and Rag'n'Bone Man, and "bad_news" with MNEK). "Other People's Heartache (Pt. 4)" was released in 2018 (featuring more covers, one of "Wild World" by Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and an original song Grip in collaboration with Seeb, and the latest addition to this series (Pt. 5) was released in 2022 (including the song Run Into Trouble and a cover of "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen).
Four Walls
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One floor to sleep upon and only
These four walls to keep you
These four walls contain you
Supposed to save you from yourself and
These four walls in Holcomb
To keep you from the sun
Now we're faced with two wrongs
I don't know, oh, I don't know
Now we're faced with two wrongs
Now we're faced with two wrongs
I don't know, oh, I don't know
We could be born to anything and now, and now
What you have done is terrible
And now you, and now you
Now you carry it with you
You carry it with you
You carry it with you
These four walls will keep you
Until you face the rope
You've only these four walls before they,
In cold blood, hang you up
And now we're faced with two wrongs
Now we're faced with two wrongs
I don't know, oh, I don't know
And now we're faced with two wrongs
Now we're faced with two wrongs
I don't know, oh, I don't know
We could be born to anything and now, and now
What you have done is terrible
And now you, and now you
Now you carry it with you
You carry it with you
You carry it with you
(Now you carry it with you
Carry it with you
Carry it with you)
There's no view from here, no view from here, no view from here
All you see's the sky
Clouds passing by, clouds passing by
We could be born to anything and now, and now
What you have done is terrible
And now, and now
Now you carry it with you
You carry it with you
You carry it with you
Now you carry it with you
You carry it with you
You carry it with you
Now you carry it with you
You carry it with you
You carry it with you
The lyrics of Bastille's Four Walls depict a sense of isolation and imprisonment. The first verse refers to the four walls that keep the singer confined, with only one floor to sleep upon. Those walls are supposed to save him from himself, and even though they contain him, they can't protect him from the sun. The refrain emphasizes the feeling of being caught between two wrongs, as if there is no way out. The second verse describes these four walls becoming a prison, keeping the singer confined until he faces the rope.
The song's bridge highlights the idea that we could be born to anything, but what we have done is terrible, and now we carry it with us. There is no escaping the consequences of our actions, and we are left forever imprisoned within ourselves.
The last verse describes the lack of a view from within the four walls, and all that can be seen is the passing of clouds in the sky. The final repetition of "now you carry it with you" emphasizes the idea that we are never free of the consequences of our actions, and we must carry them with us forever.
Overall, Four Walls is a poignant reflection on the idea of imprisonment, both physical and emotional, and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
These four walls to keep you
A representation of a confined space where you are kept inside.
One floor to sleep upon and only
A place to rest, devoid of anything else beyond the bare essentials.
These four walls contain you
A physical barrier that blocks your mobility and freedom.
Supposed to save you from yourself and
A measure taken to protect you from your own destructive behaviors or impulses.
These four walls in Holcomb
A reference to the location of the infamous Clutter family murder that happened in 1959 in Holcomb, Kansas, where the killers were captured and imprisoned.
To keep you from the sun
A literal statement about the lack of access to sunlight, which could technically have negative impacts on one's health and well-being.
And now we're faced with two wrongs
A realization that there are two equally bad options or choices to be made, where neither is preferable.
I don't know, oh, I don't know
An admission of uncertainty or confusion about what the right course of action is.
We could be born to anything and now, and now
A statement about the randomness of the circumstances of one's birth and how quickly things can change in life.
What you have done is terrible
A reference to a past act of wrongdoing or a horrific event that has taken place.
Now you carry it with you
The burden of the past transgression that one has to live with.
These four walls will keep you
The same metaphorical and physical walls that continue to imprison or contain you.
Until you face the rope
A reference to capital punishment, or a possible death sentence as a result of a crime.
You've only these four walls before they,
The limited time one has to spend within the confines of prison before their eventual fate.
In cold blood, hang you up
A reference to a violent and ruthless killing and the subsequent punishment that befalls someone.
There's no view from here, no view from here, no view from here
The realization that there is no escape or change in perspective, and that the situation will remain stagnant.
All you see's the sky
A literal statement about the limited view from within the four walls of a cell or prison.
Clouds passing by, clouds passing by
A reference to the passage of time and the fact that life goes on outside of one's enclosed space.
Now you carry it with you
The repetition of the previous phrase, emphasizing the weight and impact of past actions or events.
You carry it with you
The continued emotional and psychological burden of the past.
You carry it with you
The weight of the past is something that stays with you, both physically and mentally.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK CREW, DANIEL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam
on Fake it
Has anyone translated the news captions in the music video?
Jeannie Smith
on Pompeii
I like it.