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).
Weight of Living
Bastille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
All that you desired, when you were a child
Was to be old, was to be old
Now that you are here, suddenly you fear
Do you like the person you've become, or
Under the weight of living
You're under the weight of living
Under the weight of living
You are under the weight of living
The weight of living, the weight of living
It all crept up on you, in the night it got you
And plagued your mind, it plagues your mind
Every day that passes, faster than the last did
And you'll be old soon, you'll be old
Do you like the person you've become, or
Under the weight of living
You're under the weight of living
Under the weight of living
You are under the weight of living
The weight of living, the weight of living
(Tell yourself this is how it's going to be)
(Tell yourself this is how it's going to be)
Oh, tell yourself this is how it's going to be
Oh, tell yourself this is how it's going to be, or
Under the weight of living
You're under the weight of living
Under the weight of living
You are under the weight of living
The weight of living, the weight of living
The weight of living, the weight of living
The lyrics of Bastille's song "Weight of Living Pt. II" are about the pressures and anxieties of growing up and navigating adulthood. The song starts off with the repetition of "the weight of living," which conveys the feeling of being burdened by the responsibilities and expectations of adulthood. The first verse talks about how as a child, all you wanted was to be older, but now that you're here, you've lost control and have doubts about who you've become.
The second verse continues to explore this theme, emphasizing how time seems to pass quickly and that every day feels faster than the last. The line "And you'll be old soon, you'll be old" adds a sense of urgency and a reminder that time is passing by quickly. The repeated question "Do you like the person you've become?" highlights the pressure to succeed and meet societal expectations.
The chorus "under the weight of living" conveys the feeling of being crushed by these pressures and anxieties. The repetition of this phrase also emphasizes how pervasive and constant these feelings can be. The song ends with a plea to tell yourself that "this is how it's going to be," acknowledging that these pressures may never completely go away.
Overall, "Weight of Living Pt. II" captures the struggles and fears of growing up and trying to find your place in the world. The song is both relatable and introspective, encouraging listeners to confront their own anxieties and doubts about adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
The weight of living
The burden of existence
All that you desired, when you were a child
As a child, your only wish was to grow up
Was to be old, was to be old
To become mature, to be wise
Now that you are here, suddenly you fear
Arriving at adulthood is daunting
You've lost control (lost control)
You feel powerless to change your situation
Under the weight of living
Crushed by the difficulty of existing
It all crept up on you, in the night it got you
The passage of time has caught up with you
And plagued your mind, it plagues your mind
You're consumed by anxiety about the future
Every day that passes, faster than the last did
Time seems to fly as you grow older
And you'll be old soon, you'll be old
Growing old seems inevitable
Oh, tell yourself this is how it's going to be
Accept your fate
Under the weight of living
Crushed by the difficulty of existing
You are under the weight of living
You're struggling to manage day-to-day life
The weight of living, the weight of living
The emotional baggage of existing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Daniel Campbell 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.