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).
The Driver
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A plague on both your houses
This thing
It's a family affair
It's drawing out my weakness
Big boys don't cry
They don't ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn't ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
'Cause everything will change tonight
I want to be back on the ground
Where my feet touch my shadow
I want to dig my heels in the dirt
Feel it break between all of my toes
Anything to stop floating 'round
Bring me down
Back down below, oh, oh, oh, oh
Take breath
And push the anger down
Try to remember calmness
Big boys don't cry
They don't ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn't ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
'Cause everything will change tonight
Hey now
What's the gravity upon your face
So I'm the one who's bleeding
Real men
Always thinkin' with our fists
My turn to be the victim
Big boys don't cry
They don't ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn't ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
'Cause everything will change tonight
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn't ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
'Cause everything will change tonight
In "The Driver," Bastille explores the complex emotions that arise in response to family drama. The song starts with a shout, as the singer expresses frustration with the situation at hand. He describes the conflict as a "plague on both your houses," suggesting that both sides of the argument are to blame. Despite this, he acknowledges that the situation is a "family affair," implying that the emotional stakes are higher because of the familial relationship involved. The stress and tension is "drawing out my weakness," making the singer feel vulnerable and uncomfortable.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with his emotions, trying to maintain a sense of composure despite feeling overwhelmed. He repeats the phrase "Big boys don't cry / They don't ask why," suggesting that society expects men to be stoic and unemotional. This expectation makes it difficult for the singer to express how he's really feeling, even though he's clearly struggling.
The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer envisions a new dawn in which "everything will change tonight." He wants to be back "on the ground," where he can feel grounded and stable. He craves "calmness" and seeks to "push the anger down" in order to find it. Ultimately, though, the song ends on a somewhat pessimistic note. The singer questions the gravity of the situation and implies that he's tired of always being the one who gets hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Shout out from the bottom of my lungs
Expressing myself loudly and desperately from deep within
A plague on both your houses
A curse upon both sides of a conflict, they are equally guilty
This thing
The situation at hand
It’s a family affair
The conflict involves relatives or people who are close like family
It’s drawing out my weakness
The situation is exposing my vulnerabilities and making me feel weak
Big boys don’t cry
Men are not supposed to show emotion or cry
They don’t ask why
They don't question things, they just act
There was a time when a moment like this
There was a point in time when I never thought I'd be in this situation
Wouldn’t ever cross my mind
I couldn't have imagined this happening to me
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
I will be on your mind and a part of your day, even if we are in conflict
‘Cause everything will change tonight
The situation will reach a turning point tonight
I want to be back on the ground
I desire stability and to feel grounded
Where my feet touch my shadow
Where I am firmly planted and in control of my own image
I want to dig my heels in the dirt
To be resolute and stand my ground
Feel it break between all of my toes
To be fully in touch with the reality and physicality of the situation
Anything to stop floating ‘round
Anything to get out of this feeling of uncertainty and instability
Bring me down
Bring me back to earth, back to reality
Take breath
Take a moment to calm down
And push the anger down
Suppress feelings of anger and remain calm
Try to remember calmness
Make an effort to stay calm
Hey now
Listen or pay attention
What’s the gravity upon your face
What is weighing heavily on your mind or causing you stress
So I’m the one who’s bleeding
I am the one who is being hurt or affected by the situation
Real men
Stereotypical view of what is expected of men to be tough and not show weakness
Always thinkin’ with our fists
Men have a tendency to resolve things violently
My turn to be the victim
I've been hurt or betrayed and I am now the one who is vulnerable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK STERLING CREW, DANIEL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crazygirl9081
Shout out from the bottom of my lungs
A plague on both your houses
This thing
It’s a family affair
It’s drawing out my weakness
Big boys don’t cry
They don’t ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn’t ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
‘Cause everything will change tonight
I want to be back on the ground
Where my feet touch my shadow
I want to dig my heels in the dirt
Feel it break between all of my my toes
Anything to stop floating ‘round
Bring me down
Back down below, oh, oh, oh, oh
Take bread
And push the anger down
Try to remember calmness
Big boys don’t cry
They don’t ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn’t ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
‘Cause everything will change tonight
Hey now
What’s the gravity upon your face
So I’m the one who’s bleeding
Real men
Always thinkin’ with our fists
My turn to be the victim
Big boys don’t cry
They don’t ask why
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn’t ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
‘Cause everything will change tonight
There was a time when a moment like this
Wouldn’t ever cross my mind
The sun will rise with my name on your lips
‘Cause everything will change tonight
@redgravess
I think this song is about Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.. It's about his thoughts when he sees Juliet dead and is about to take his life.
For starters, "a plague on both of your houses" was shouted from the bottom of mercutio's lungs before he died.
"This thing, it's a family affair" references the capulet and montague feud
"It's drawing out my weakness" - his weakness is that he would die for Juliet and not be caught up in the feud.
"Big boys don't cry" - Romeo cries when he sees Juliet's 'corpse'
"There was a time when a moment like this wouldn't ever cross my mind" - his thoughts on suicide, Juliet, etc. are crossing his mind, but when before he met her, they wouldn't.
"The sun will rise with my name on your lips" references Juliet waking after Romeo kisses her and poisons himself
"'Cause everything will change tonight" - the deaths of Romeo and Juliet end the feud between. Montague and Capulet
The next two verses are probably Romeos thoughts on his anger, stress, etc. from all the deaths that he and Juliet have ultimately caused.
"Real men, always thinkin with our fists" - a reference to the fights Romeo has gotten into with the Capulets
"My turn to be the victim" - Romeo poisons himself
@saff9607
Whatever Bastille decides to do, I will always love it.
@callmelegolas8274
I agree
@aitnyhcat
--except if they decided to split up, you won't. (and I never want it to be happen)
@georgiafields116
I love this song, Bastille never fail💙
@xXGruggyXx
***** They? Bastille is just one guy lol XD
@saff9607
+ToxicAntilope Um...no it's not
@yarakoedam7849
That guitar when big boys don't cry comes is literally my LIFE. Love this so much.
@annaschffr
bastille could sing the wheels on the bus and it would still sound heavenly. seriously.
@pipgoesmiow3719
annaschffr omg 😂😂😂it’s true though
@anapplepinetarticathe23rd90
Gooooo roooouund and rooounnnd lol 😆