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]
Lost and Found
Ellie Goulding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under blossom clouds though it's late July
You don't even try, still, you look so cool
Like a cover boy when you light the moon
Near the countryside but I just forgot
All the things that matter I forget a lot
I get so caught up in the city cloud
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
Guess I need to run, take me to the bus
But don't let me go, no, don't let me on
Gotta hold me tight, won't put up a fight
Of course I'll stay, I'll stay the night
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, yeah, we're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
The opening lines of Ellie Goulding's "Lost and Found" set the scene for a countryside idyll but also hint at more melancholic tones beneath the surface. The "cherry sky" suggests a picturesque sunset while "blossom clouds" evoke the notion of fleeting beauty, with the word "lost" already looming. The line "you don't even try, still, you look so cool" could be interpreted as a commentary on the effortless charm of a lover or perhaps a broader sentiment about the seeming ease with which some people navigate the world.
As the song continues, Goulding's narrator seems to be grappling with an internal tug of war between life in the city and the simplicity of rural surroundings. She acknowledges that she forgets the things that truly matter when she's caught up in the hustle and bustle, yet there's a wistful affection for the "first love" of the countryside that lingers.
The chorus of "Lost and Found" is where the song's title comes into play. Goulding repeats the phrase "We're at the lost and found" multiple times, imbuing it with a sense of triumph that suggests she's finally arrived somewhere she belongs. The lines "Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?/If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say/Tonight, nothing will bring us down" could be interpreted as an appeal to a companion or a higher power, with the implication that even if there's no response, there's solace to be found in being lost and then found.
Overall, "Lost and Found" is a musically upbeat song with hints of nostalgia and uncertainty woven throughout its lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta love this field and the cherry sky
I really love this scenery around me, the field, and the clear sky with the lovely pink hue it has
Under blossom clouds though it's late July
It might be late July, but the clouds still have a lovely appearance, like they've just bloomed into existence
You don't even try, still, you look so cool
Despite not putting in much effort, you're naturally cool and amazing to look at
Like a cover boy when you light the moon
You look so good, you could easily grace the cover of a magazine while you casually light up the full moon
Near the countryside but I just forgot
Even though I'm very close to the countryside, I tend to forget the important things in life
All the things that matter I forget a lot
I tend to forget the significant stuff in life continually, which is not a good thing
I get so caught up in the city cloud
The busy city life tends to take up all my attention and focus, making me forget where I come from
But this place is still my first love
Despite everything, this place, my hometown, will always hold a special place in my heart as it's where I grew up and learned most of my life lessons
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
I wonder if someone is waiting for me on this journey I am embarking on?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
If the person waiting for me at the destination is you, my dear, I want to express my feelings
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight we will have a great time, and nothing is going to ruin our fun, no matter what
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
Tonight we're going to lose ourselves and be carefree, forgetting our worries and responsibilities for a while
Guess I need to run, take me to the bus
I think I'm running late and need to hurry up and catch the bus
But don't let me go, no, don't let me on
I want you to hold me back so I can stay a little while longer and not have to leave yet
Gotta hold me tight, won't put up a fight
Hold me tightly, and I promise I won't resist or try to leave anymore, I just want to stay here with you for now
Of course I'll stay, I'll stay the night
Yes, I'll stay here for the night with you, no problem at all
We're at the lost and found
Right now, we're in a state of being lost, but also found - somewhere in between where we can just let go and have fun
Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL FALK, ELENA GOULDING, JOAKIM BERG, LALEH POURKARIM, MAX MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michal Tocimak
Gotta love this field and the cherry sky
Under blossom clouds though it's late July
You don't even try; still, you look so cool
Like a cover boy when you light the moon
Near the countryside but I just forgot
All the things that matter I forget a lot
I get so caught up in the city cloud
But this place is still my first love
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
Guess I need to run, take me to the bus
But don't let me go, no, don't let me on
Gotta hold me tight, won't put up a fight
Of course I'll stay, I'll stay the night
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
Is there anybody out there waiting for me on my way?
If that somebody is you, then baby, I just wanna say
Tonight, nothing will bring us down
Tonight, we're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
We're at the lost and found
Sav L
This song gives me such good vibes that I smile and dance
Rudaina Mustansir
I know right. ..I am dancing when i was just dumped !!! 😂😂😂❓❓❓❓❓❓❓
Bel Paulino
Savvy Lewiss I agree
—————-
Rudaina Mustansir hope you feel better he's a douche you can do so much better ! 💕
—————-
Savvy Lewiss also I agree XD
Felicia Pattinson
I used to listen to this when my boyfriend was about to leave the town and used to cry a lot I only confessed to him when I got to know he's leaving 😭😭😭😭😭 till now whenever I listen to this I get emotional 😭😭 I can never dance to this song 😭😭😭😭 this thing was 3 yrs ago 😭😭😭 but still......😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
Ale Alvarez
Ellie's songs always makes me feel so good.
Fahd Baljous
I'm obsessed with this song.
It gives me peace and joy.
Love you Ellie ❤️❤️
legare_15
I have no idea why people would dislike this. This song is great, it is like time travel back to the old Ellie!
GerardoMjr
dear god this song is beautiful... Makes me feel like I'm driving down an idyllic country highway with the windows down and the sweet springtime air rushing through and filling me with pure bliss.