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).
Skulls
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Away from the winds and the sounds of the city
I came here to get some peace
Way down deep where the shadows are heavy
I can't help but think of you
In these four walls my thoughts seem to wander
To some distant century
When all of our friends are dead and just a memory
And we're side by side it's always been just you and me
For all to see
When our lives are over and all that remains
Are our skulls and bones let's take it to the grave
And hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms
I'll be buried here with you
And I'll hold in these hands all that remains
I don't want to rest in peace
I'd rather be the ghost that annoys you
I hope you can make me laugh
Six feet down when we're bored of each other
A match is our only light
It's day of the dead and I'm Indiana Jones here
These coins sit upon our eyes
Pool our funds and pay the boat together
When all of our friends are dead and just a memory
And we're side by side it's always been just you and me
For all to see
When our lives are over and all that remains
Are our skulls and bones let's take it to the grave
And hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms
I'll be buried here with you
And I'll hold in these hands all that remains
And now it's all before you
Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms
When our lives are over and all that remains
Are our skulls and bones let's take it to the grave
And hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms
I'll be buried here with you
And I'll hold in these hands all that remains
Bastille's "Skulls" follows a narrator seeking sanctuary from the city where he can find peace in the company of his significant other. Within this sanctuary, he finds himself lost in thought about his relationship, ultimately pondering what will remain when they both pass away. The singer contemplates the idea of becoming ghosts and persistently annoying each other beyond the grave. The lyrics seem to suggest that despite death being an inevitable endpoint, the love between the two will persist even after they're gone.
Moreover, the lyrics reveal this theme of the inevitability of mortality and the futility of escaping it. They acknowledge that when our lives are over, all that's left is our bones and skulls. They imply a sense of loneliness, contemplating a time when everyone the singer knows is dead and forgotten when all the light and joy from the world is gone. However, the singer and his significant other want to hold each other in their arms one last time, even if it means being buried together.
In conclusion, Bastille's "Skulls" is about the inevitability of death and the desire to spend eternity with one's significant other. The song evokes a sense of isolation and solitude, illustrating the futility of life in the face of death.
Line by Line Meaning
I came here for sanctuary
I arrived at this place looking for refuge
Away from the winds and the sounds of the city
Trying to escape the busy city life to find peace
I came here to get some peace
I sought for tranquility and calm
Way down deep where the shadows are heavy
Looking for deep isolation while being shadowed
I can't help but think of you
Your memories still haunt me
In these four walls my thoughts seem to wander
Trapped in a place with nothing but thoughts consuming us
To some distant century
Even thoughts seem to navigate towards ancient times
When everyone we know is six feet under
A time when everyone we know is dead and buried
When all of our friends are dead and just a memory
A time when all memories of our friends have passed
And we're side by side it's always been just you and me
Together till the end, only you and me remain
For all to see
Our unity is universal and perceptible
When our lives are over and all that remains
When death has taken away all that we had
Are our skulls and bones let's take it to the grave
Let's bury our remains together
And hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms
Holding each other tight even when dead
I'll be buried here with you
Let's be buried at this place together
And I'll hold in these hands all that remains
Carrying each other's remains in our hands
I don't want to rest in peace
I'd rather be a ghost that troubles you
I'd rather be the ghost that annoys you
Prefer to be a mischievous ghost
I hope you can make me laugh
Flutter my soul even while being dead
Six feet down when we're bored of each other
Even during boredom, let's stick together after death
A match is our only light
In darkness, the only light is a matchstick
It's day of the dead and I'm Indiana Jones here
Portraying oneself as Indiana Jones on the Day of the Dead
These coins sit upon our eyes
Coins placed on the dead's eyelids as per the ancient ritual
Pool our funds and pay the boat together
Together we'll pay Charon to cross the river Styx
And now it's all before you
It's all up to you now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK CREW, DAN 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.