Glory
Bastille Lyrics
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We were lying in the middle of the road
Counting the planes as they flew by
Inconceivable imagining them go
And drunk we set the world to rights
As we fell and hit our heads upon the curb
You make me laugh until I die
Can you think of any better way to choke?
Stories told to me
And stories told to you
Did you ever feel
Like they were ringing true?
And all their words for glory
Well they always sounded empty
When we're looking up for heaven
Looking up for heaven
Way down here upon the ground
When we're lying in the dirt
There's no looking up for heaven
Looking up for heaven
Not everything had gone to plan
But we made the best of what we had, you know?
Passing the drink from hand to hand
We admit we really know nothing at all
Stories told to me
And stories told to you
And was it feeling real?
And were they ringing true?
And all their words for glory
Well they always sounded empty
When we're looking up for heaven
Looking up for heaven
And way down here upon the ground
When we're lying in the dirt
There's no looking up for heaven
Looking up for heaven
I'll take my chances on the curb here with you
We watched the planes leave us behind
On the curb here with you
We watched the planes leave us behind and
And then you put your hand in mine
And pulled me back from things divine
Stop looking up for heaven
Waiting to be buried
And all their words for glory
Well they always sounded empty
When we're looking up for heaven
Looking up for heaven
Way down here upon the ground
When we're lying in the dirt
There's no looking up for heaven
Looking up (for heaven)
In Bastille's song "Glory," the singer reflects on a drunken night spent lying in the middle of the road with a friend. They count the planes as they fly by, imagining where they may be going, while they set the world to rights. The song explores the idea of searching for meaning and purpose in life, and questioning the emptiness of the pursuit of glory or the promises of heaven.
The singer and their friend share stories, wondering if they are true and authentic. They acknowledge that not everything goes according to plan, but they make the best of what they have. They admit that they really know nothing at all, but enjoy the moment and the company of each other. They take their chances on the curb with each other, watching the planes leave them behind. The song concludes with the singer being pulled back from the search for things divine and being reminded to stop looking up for heaven and waiting to be buried.
Overall, "Glory" conveys a sense of bittersweet nostalgia and a yearning for something more substantial than the pursuit of glory or the promise of heaven. The singer finds solace in the company of a friend and the simplicity of being present in the moment, even if they are lying drunk in the middle of the road.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep in a corner of the night
In the depths of the night, in a secluded spot
We were lying in the middle of the road
Lying in the center of the road, vulnerable to the world
Counting the planes as they flew by
Watching planes pass by, as if planning an escape
Inconceivable imagining them go
Attempting to mentally grasp the idea of leaving everything behind
And drunk we set the world to rights
Under the influence, feeling empowered to solve the world's problems
As we fell and hit our heads upon the curb
Falling and physically hurting ourselves in the process
You make me laugh until I die
Making each other genuinely happy, to the point of exhaustion
Can you think of any better way to choke?
Jokingly referencing the idea of something being so funny it takes your breath away
Stories told to me
Anecdotes shared with me
And stories told to you
Experiences related to you by others
Did you ever feel
Did you experience the same feeling as me
Like they were ringing true?
Did they seem genuine and authentic?
And all their words for glory
The things people do for fame and recognition
Well they always sounded empty
They lacked true substance
When we're looking up for heaven
Seeking something greater than ourselves
Looking up for heaven
Yearning for something beyond what we know
Way down here upon the ground
Feeling grounded, limited
When we're lying in the dirt
Feeling lost, defeated
There's no looking up for heaven
Finding it impossible to seek something beyond our current reality
I'll take my chances on the curb here with you
Taking a gamble, trusting in each other
We watched the planes leave us behind
Observing the world move on without us
And then you put your hand in mine
Finding comfort in each other
And pulled me back from things divine
Bringing each other back to reality
Stop looking up for heaven
Abandoning unrealistic expectations
Waiting to be buried
Not living in the moment, just waiting for the end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK CREW, DANIEL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jeremy-lu8ig
music stan
If you didnt know
Pompeii is a big release for the album and for the band . It’s how they market music for an album and a band
Its a really great song
just like Glory , it’s just some songs don’t get radio air play marketed all the same and just like YouTube
people only grab big songs that get marketed
But you are right
Glory is a great song . The whole Bad Blood album just like Wild World is as well . Great song writing and great difference instrumental music combined
We can just love Bastille and all their songs
@nikverhoef
I've seen other people comment things mentioned in this theory, too, I just don't remember what their names were.
0:08 plane flies off as they watch. Symbolizing other people’s careers taking off, while
they’re talking/thinking about what’s already happened.
0:21 She’s reaching for the bottle: she’s thinking about them and what they’ve done again?
0:25 Dan throws his phone out of the window, so he can’t communicate with anybody else
but her. Meaning he died and she’s the only one who ‘talks’ to him, because she
still thinks about him and what they’ve done.
0:31lightning, perhaps symbolizing his death (or a storm he could have died in in
Bad Blood).
0:34 they enter through a door above which it says ‘exit’, as if they (or only Dan)
have already ‘exited’ life and are now coming back to reflect on it.
0:37 While she dances and is seen by the people in the bar, Dan stays in a dark
corner on his own. This could symbolize his death: people see her but not him.
Also, she wears a wig, hiding her real hair and thus a part of herself. This
could be a symbol for her hiding that she’s still thinking about Dan.
0:36 also, on the sign it says ‘Lite’, as in ‘light’, as in ‘heaven. That one’s a
stretch.
0:52 He nicks a car. If he already knew he’d die, he wouldn’t care about getting into
trouble for stealing.
1:00 There’s a red car on the roof, perhaps symbolizing a car crash in which he
could have died (only Dan seems to notice it). Also, it reminds me of the red
car in Donnie Darko, a movie Dan has said he’s seen (and loved), perhaps
intentional, probably not.1:05 It shows the speed limit, because he’s died in a car crash? Also, there are
mountains in the background, reminding me of Good Grief, which is about, well,
grief. Maybe this symbolizes that he is going to die?
1:12: she says he ran into a lake with his clothes on. A reference to the Bad Blood
video? Afterwards you can see that she didn’t jump with him, another Bad Blood
reference?
1:27 She’s wearing yellow and blue clothing while she’s alone. This could represent fear, sadness,
loneliness…
1:31 the first person they see outside of the car, who’s acting weird (dancing). I feel
like this (together with the other people and the burning sign later in the
video) could represent (political) shifts and changes that they ignore because
they’re too busy having fun. Besides, she seems to notice it, but Dan doesn’t
(because he’s dead?)
1:40 there’s the WWCOMS. Sign. It’s shown burning. Symbolizing people losing their
faith in politicians and the media? Also, another red car.
1:48 the goths could be a reference to Flaws and the dog a reference to Laura Palmer.
The girl’s wearing a hat saying ‘so goth I’m dead’ Dan seems to be the only one
to notice them/react to them. He seems to be asking directions, as if they’re
already dead and he soon will be, too.
2:00 reference to Oblivion? (probabely not, it just reminded me of it)
2:08 same wig, same dancing. Dan’s watching her from the dark, as if to say that
thought he’s dead, he’s still ‘with her’.2:24 The old guy with the gun might represent death and they’re running from him. She’s
pulling him with her, as if he’s already dead, but she doesn’t want to accept
it or is in a way taking him back from death by thinking about him.2:29 another person outside (with a sign)
2:38 She wants to dance, he doesn’t (because he’s dead, or just because he’s too
awkward?)2:54 ‘you slept through all the good bits’ because he’s dead, can sort of ‘watch over her’
when she sleeps (kinda creepy)?2:59 He doesn’t seem to notice the sign but she does. Nonetheless they keep driving,
symbolizing them ignoring what’s going on around them (politically). Also,
another red car.3:11 now they’re dancing together and she’s wearing the pink wig, as if to say that no
matter what happens, she keeps thinking about him3:12 she’s sad because of his death, thinking about him (looking at the camera) is the
only thing that can cheer her up3:45 reminds me of Good Grief
3:52 more lightning, symbolizing his death?3:57
just find it funny that first he says the wig’s (yellow) blonde and she says it’s
pink now with the sky the same thing happens.4:05 the mountain might symbolize a struggle: they’re able to overcome it, but almost
immediately another problem surfaces (his death?)4;23 another red, wrecked car
4:24 more lightning4:27 and yet another person acting weird
4:40 she’s sad about his death?
Also, on Instagram there’s a picture of Dan alone on the car (because he’s dead?)
I think I might have spent too much time on this
@lolyeet3443
Idk why but Bastille just got that vibe that makes me either wanna cry or get happy at the same time.
@cumbercheeks
NIZ NIXZAR yeah I've been getting this vibe for years. Love Dan and the band.
@cecedavidson9531
you put it into words
@cynzix
That's nostalgia, that feeling of happiness because it happened but at the same time sadness because it is no more...
@samuelbeelen2877
You call that melancholy
@rasim.1811
maybe you wanna cry because no one of us will ever be Dan Best Friend, and happy we all have them and their music in this Wild,Wild World
@brittclaus4597
This is the kind of relationship/friendship I aspire to have 😍
@ritaalmeida7879
Britt Claus same
@weronikarudka4079
Me too...
@Wewearmore
Britt Claus as do I, one day you'll have (-: