Born in Hereford, England, she later moved to the country's east coast to study drama at the University of Kent. Goulding had developed a love for folk music as a teenager, and her time at university also exposed her to electronica. After two years, she took a break from her studies and moved to West London, where she pursued a career as an alternative singer/songwriter and befriended producers like Starsmith and Frankmusik, who gave her songs an electro-pop twist. In 2009, Goulding began building an audience via the Internet, where early tracks like "Starry Eyed" and a cover of Sam Sparro's "Black & Gold" were posted on tastemaking MP3 blogs such as Discodust. Goulding soon graduated from the blogosphere to print media, gaining praise from mainstream publications like The Guardian and fielding offers from record labels. She ultimately signed a major-label deal with Polydor Records and began making preparations to release her debut album. In the meantime, she penned songs for Diana Vickers, Gabriella Climi, and others.
During the final weeks of 2009, Goulding topped the BBC's Sound of 2010, a poll conducted by British music critics and industry insiders to identify new talent. Building on that momentum, she released Lights -- a sparkling debut album that splashed Goulding's vocal flutter across a landscape of acoustic and synthesized instruments -- in March 2010. Lights topped the U.K. charts during its first week and spun off "Starry Eyed" as a Top Five single (it also charted well in Ireland and New Zealand). Later that year, the album was re-released as Bright Lights, featuring seven new recordings (including a cover of Elton John's "Your Song," which peaked at number two).
In 2012, Goulding returned with her sophomore album, Halcyon, which showcased an even more sonically adventurous, electro-pop-infused sound. In 2013, a deluxe reissue featuring ten extra songs was released; entitled Halcyon Days, it acted as a supplement to the original release. Two of its new songs, "Burn" and "How Long Will I Love You," were among her biggest hits. The following year, she was featured on Calvin Harris' Top Ten U.K. hit "Outside," participated in Band Aid 30's update of "Do They Know It's Christmas?," and entered the U.K. Top Ten once more with "Beating Heart," a song released on the soundtrack for Divergent. Another soundtrack single, "Love Me Like You Do," added to the success of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015.
That same year, Goulding released her third studio album, Delirium, which featured collaborations with Max Martin, Greg Kurstin, and others. The pop-leaning Delirium included the single "On My Mind" and peaked at number three on the U.S. and U.K. charts. Goulding returned in 2017 on "First Time," a collaboration with electronic producer Kygo.
In 2018, Goulding joined Tap Management after almost a decade with First Access Management.[107] She appeared on a collaboration with Sean Paul on his Mad Love the Prequel EP titled "Bad Love", released on 29 June 2018.[108]
Goulding collaborated with Diplo and Swae Lee on the single "Close to Me", which was released on 24 October 2018.[109] On 1 January 2019, The Guardian reported that she has been working on her fourth album, set to release in the same year.[110] On 1 March, she released the next single "Flux".[111] She said regarding the album, "It's very much written by me".[112]
On 12 April 2019, Goulding released the single "Sixteen".[113] Goulding said of the single, "...That age was such a pivotal year for me in many ways and this song is so close to my heart. It takes me back to the reckless days of being a teenager and I hope it reminds us all about the innocence of youth."[114]
Goulding released "Hate Me" with American rapper Juice Wrld on 26 June 2019.[115][116] It was premiered by Zane Lowe as his 'World Record' on Beats 1.[117] In July, Goulding stated that her next material to be released would be the songs "Woman I Am" and "Start".[118] In November, she released her rendition of Joni Mitchell's Christmas song "River", which topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming her third UK number one single and the last UK number one song of the 2010s.[119]
On 13 March 2020, Goulding released the new single "Worry About Me" which was created in-collaboration with Blackbear.[120] In a radio interview with Heart the same month, she revealed that the album "kind of comes in two parts", adding that "the first side is something written entirely by me which was fun and I wrote most of it in New York when I was living there a few years back. I play the guitar and I play the bass and piano and then I'm singing a lot of vocals. It's very classically influenced because I love classical music. There's a lot going on, it's a big soundscape and one big film. The second half is my kind of alter ego songs."[121] On 21 May she released single "Power" and on 30 June single "Slow Grenade" with Lauv.
Goulding released her fourth studio album, Brightest Blue, on 17 July 2020. Originally scheduled for 5 June 2020, the album's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart, becoming Goulding's third album to do so,[122] as well as at No. 2 in Scotland.[123] It reached the top 10 in Ireland[124] as well as the top 40 in over ten countries including Australia, Germany and the United States.
Goulding announced on an Instagram Q&A that she would be releasing new music which was not part of the Brightest Blue era at the end of January 2021.[125] On 21 January, she released a collaboration with electronic duo Silk City, titled "New Love".[126] On 30 September, Goulding performed "Anything Could Happen" as part of the opening ceremony for Expo 2020, held in Dubai.[127]
On 19 June 2022, Goulding performed at Rock in Rio in Lisbon, Portugal. After the concert, she announced that she would be releasing new music in July. The following day, she blacked out all her social media profiles.[128] Back in July 2021, during an interview with Joe Wicks, she described the forthcoming album as "a dance record. It's electronic pop, a dance thing from outer space".[129] On 4 July 2022, she announced the release of "Easy Lover" featuring Big Sean, which was released on 15 July.[130] The single did not enter the UK Singles Top 100, but peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart Top 100.[131] It was followed by "All by Myself", a collaboration between Goulding and producers Alok and Sigala, on 7 October.[132] Goulding released the single "Let It Die" along with its video on 19 October and announced the same day that her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven would be released on 3 February 2023.[133][134]
On 22 March 2023, Goulding released the single "By The End Of The Night".[135][136]
Halcyon
Ellie Goulding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, I worked this out for sure
It's gonna be colder
Now you force open the door
I know you better than I ever have before
I know you
I know you're a fighterBut you never fought for me when I was a shelter
So you're not heading home to me
We could be closer, we could be closer
We could be
When it's just us
You show me what it feels like to be lonely
You show me what it feels like to be lost
I take your hand for you to let it go
Let it go, let it go, let it go
When it's just us
You show me what it feels like to be lonely
You show me what it feels like to be lost
I take your hand for you to let it go
Let it go, let it go, let it go
It's gonna be, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
We'll take a long walk
Down the alleys of these houses and we'll talk
See what conversation rouses when we're alone
When we're alone, it could be home
When it's just us
You show me what it feels like to be lonely
You show me what it feels like to be lost
I take your hand for you to let it go
Let it go, let it go, let it go
It's gonna be, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better, it's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be
It's gonna be better
It's gonna be better
The lyrics of "Halcyon" by Ellie Goulding describe a tumultuous relationship between two people. The singer expresses that she has worked out that their relationship is not over, but it's going to be colder now that her partner has forced open the door. The singer claims to know her partner better than ever before, but also acknowledges that her partner never fought for her when she needed them as a shelter. The singer dreams of being closer to her partner, but when they are alone, they only make her feel lonely and lost.
The chorus of the song offers a glimmer of hope as the singer insists that "it's gonna be better". A long walk and conversation between the two is suggested as a way to get to know each other better and find common ground. Yet, the repetition of "it's gonna be better" may also suggest a kind of resigned acceptance that, despite the struggles, their relationship will continue. Overall, "Halcyon" is a sad but honest reflection on the difficulties of a relationship and the possibility of finding a way to make it work.
Line by Line Meaning
I know it's not over
I am aware that this is not the end of our relationship
Baby I worked this out for sure
I have thought through our situation and know what needs to be done
It's gonna be colder
Our relationship is going to become more distant and harsh
Now you force open the door
You are making an effort to get back into my life
I know you better than I ever have before
I have gained a deeper understanding of who you are
I know you
I have a strong understanding of your character
I know you're a fighter
You are a strong and resilient person
But you never fought for me
You did not put in effort to keep our relationship intact
When I was a shelter
When I protected and cared for you
'Cause you're not heading home to me
You are not coming back to be with me
We could be closer
We have the potential to have a better relationship
When it's just us, you show me what it feels like to be lonely
When we are alone, I feel isolated and disconnected from you
You show me what it feels like to be lost
I feel confused and uncertain when I am with you
I'll take your hand for you to let it go let it go let it go
I am willing to help you move on from our past and start fresh
It's gonna be better
Our relationship has the potential to improve
We'll take a long walk
We will spend time together and talk through our issues
Down the alleys of these houses
Through the quiet and hidden parts of our lives
And we'll talk
We will have a meaningful conversation
See what conversation rouses
Discover what emotions and thoughts our conversation can bring up
When we're alone
When we have privacy and intimacy
When we're alone, it could be home
Our private time together can be a place of comfort and safety
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ellie Goulding, James Eliot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cupid
on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"
You're the light, you're the night
You're the color of my blood
You're the cure, you're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much
You're the fear, I don't care
'Cause I've never been so high
Follow me through the dark
Let me take you past the satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life
So love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've gotta find
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around, I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Ah
I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around, I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Oh)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do (Ah)
What are you waiting for?
Cupid
on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"
You're the light
You're the night
You're the colour of my blood
You're the cure
You're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much
You're the fear
I don't care
'Cause I've never been so high
Follow me through the dark
Let me take you past the satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life
So love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've gotta find
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around
I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Ah ah
I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around
I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Oh)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do (Ah)
What are you waiting for?
Milena Donis
on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"
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