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]
Stay Awake
Ellie Goulding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something is calling us, we're breaking free
I'm curious, I need to see
Like a flash before our eyes, rolling to the night
And if it feels like you're dreaming
Believe it, believe it
The sun will never go down
And we'll be this way forever
I guarantee you that
Just stay awake, stay awake
You can feel it just the way it goes
Just stay awake, stay awake
Bring me down, side by side
While our reflections pick up all this collide
So full of energy, nothing to hide
No need to sleep, we come alive
And if we're gonna take this right
We can go wherever we like
And if it feels like you're dreaming
Believe it, believe it
We'll have to wait to the morning
The sun will never go down
And we'll be this way forever
I guarantee you that
Just stay awake, stay awake
You can feel it just the way it goes
Just stay awake, stay awake
Believe it
Take my faith in your hands, we have a lot that hasn't near begun
Something is calling us, we're breaking free
I'm curious, I need to see
Our dreams was lower than this
I flash before our dreams
Like a flash before our eyes, running through the night
And if it feels like you're dreaming
Believe it, believe it
We'll have to wait to the morning
The sun will never go down
And we'll be this way forever
I guarantee you that
Just stay awake, stay awake
You can feel it just the way it goes
Just stay awake, stay awake
In "Stay Awake," Ellie Goulding sings about breaking free and exploring something new. The lyrics are an invitation to take a leap of faith and to seize the moment. The opening lines of the song express a sense of surrender as the singer hands over their faith to a significant other, with whom they urge to explore uncharted territory. It seems like something vital and significant is calling to them. The singer wants to see what it is that's calling them, and they want their partner to see it too, urging them to stay awake to join them on this adventure.
The song's chorus emphasizes the idea that the moment they're living in is fleeting and that they need to stay awake to experience it. The singer is enjoying this moment so much that they wish it could last forever, vowing that they will always be this way. The bridge provides a moment of reflection or observation about the singer's feelings on their journey. They know that what they are living is only a dream, but they still believe in it.
The song's lyrics tell a story that encourages listeners to take chances and enjoy life's moments. The tune's intensity is designed to urge individuals to be present and experience everything fully, emphasizing the beauty in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my faith in your hands, we have a lot that hasn't near begun
Let's trust each other and explore everything that life has to offer us.
Something is calling us, we're breaking free
We are being pulled towards something new that is liberating and exciting.
I'm curious, I need to see
I am eager to discover what awaits us and I cannot wait to find out.
Like a flash before our eyes, rolling to the night
Our experience will be brief and intense, but we will savour every moment.
And if it feels like you're dreaming
Believe it, believe it
Even if it seems like an unrealistic dream, we should trust our instincts and hold on.
We'll have to wait to the morning
The sun will never go down
And we'll be this way forever
I guarantee you that
We will continue to have these intense experiences, and our lives will be filled with wonder and adventure forever.
Just stay awake, stay awake
You can feel it just the way it goes
Just stay awake, stay awake
We must remain alert and perceptive in order to fully enjoy each and every moment.
Bring me down, side by side
While our reflections pick up all this collide
We will support each other no matter what challenges come our way.
So full of energy, nothing to hide
No need to sleep, we come alive
We are energized and alive; we have nothing to hide because we are true to ourselves.
And if we're gonna take this right
We can go wherever we like
If we stay focused and committed to our path, we can achieve anything we want.
Believe it
Trust yourself and your instincts; life is full of possibilities.
Our dreams was lower than this
I flash before our dreams
Our previous dreams were less ambitious than what we are capable of achieving now.
Like a flash before our eyes, running through the night
Our adventure will be intense and fleeting, moving quickly through the night.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., SPIRIT /GLOBAL TALENT MUSIC
Written by: ELLIE GOULDING, HUGO PIERRE LECLERCQ, MAKEBA RIDDICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christian Rodriguez
This song has a full potential to be a single. So sad Ellie didn't consider
Ashleigh Smith
it's madeon's song technically so idk if it was her choice
Cody -
this was already released on Ellie Goulding's "Halcyon Nights" - 2013
CytotoxicTrev
I was just now thinking the same thing, listening to it for the first time in ages. This one could have a full-blown music video accompanying it, it's a bop!
Victor Alexandre
Uma das melhores músicas da Ellie, merecia tanto ter sido single!
Jmed De
El instrumental de esta canción es demasiado bueno, mi favorita de Ellie por siempre
virginia Roberts
Me gusta todas sus músicas algun día la vere en concierto.
Some Guy
One of my favorite songs from the album! You and Madeon did such a great job
Mahdi Rezaie
Here in Iran the internet is heavily restricted, but I always find ways to come here to listen to your musics. Specificly this one. Since I love them so much
BRUS WALTER
Thank you, Ellie Goulding. Your song gave me peace of mind.