Ou Est Le Swimming Pool were an electro pop band based in Camden, London, E… Read Full Bio ↴Ou Est Le Swimming Pool were an electro pop band based in Camden, London, England. They are most known for their track 'Dance the Way I Feel' and the Armand van Helden remix included on several mixes over the summer of 2009.

The band first formed as a three piece in 2008 when late founding member Charles Haddon met up with other members Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan. Alex Starling joined the band soon afterwards.

After a concert at Pukkelpop festival (Kiewit, Belgium), on Friday August 20th, 2010, the band's frontman, Charles Haddon, committed suicide. Haddon was reportedly "deeply upset" that he'd landed on a female fan during the band's show after he dived off the stage. His manager, Sam Farr, stated the fan's father had suggested he might take legal action after claiming that his daughter had suffered three damaged vertebrae due to his crowd surfing.

The singer had spoken to her father on the phone after the show. Haddon leapt to his death from a telecommunications mast behind the main stage. He was found to have 197mg of alcohol in his blood, which is more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

The London three-piece were in Europe playing a number of festivals and were due to perform as part of Australia's touring Parklife festival the next month. They were also set to embark on a headline tour of the UK in October.

Our Lives
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You,
You and I
Just do,
Do what you like.

Because you're wasting all our struggles
All your time
And they're playing with the stakes(?)

With you and I.

Keep telling me that you'll wait.
I'll believe you, I'll even stay.
Yes cause the thought of me alone
Hits me high.
It's just another drawn out trouble
For you and I.
It's just another drawn out trouble
For you and I.

I know you're always with the weather
It always rains on me.
I thought we'd always be together
But will these games(?) come free?
And I've been thinking we will never be the same again

Cause that's the story of our lives. (I know she knows she knows.)
It's the tale of you and I. (x6)

Cause that's the story of our lives.

Overall Meaning

The song "Our Lives" by Ou Est Le Swimming Pool is a poignant reflection on the tumultuous nature of human relationships. The lyrics speak to the frustration and confusion that often accompany emotional entanglements. The first verse encourages the listener to live their life boldly and unapologetically, but the chorus reveals the consequences of taking that advice too far. The singer's partner is not as fully invested in their relationship as they are, leading to pain and alienation.

The line "Keep telling me that you'll wait" reveals the singer's desperation. They are willing to put their faith in their partner's promises, even when it is clear that those promises may not be kept. The chorus's refrain "cause that's the story of our lives" is a melancholy admission of defeat. The singer knows that their relationship is unlikely to work out in the long term, but they are powerless to change the outcome.

Line by Line Meaning

You,
The subject being addressed is 'you'.

You and I
Both the subject being addressed and the singer are included in the statement.

Just do,
The singer is advising the subject to take action without overthinking.

Do what you like.
The artist is giving permission to the subject to act as they please.

Because you're wasting all our struggles
The subject is not making meaningful progress in life and is causing setbacks for both themselves and those around them.

All your time
The subject is dedicating their time to unproductive or detrimental activities.

And they're playing with the stakes(?),
Someone else is indirectly influencing the subject's decisions and outcomes.

With you and I.
Both the subject and the artist are experiencing negative consequences from the subject's actions.

Keep telling me that you'll wait.
The artist is being promised something by the subject, likely related to their relationship.

I'll believe you, I'll even stay.
The artist is expressing their trust in the subject and their commitment to the relationship.

Yes cause the thought of me alone
The singer is uncomfortable with the idea of being without the subject.

Hits me high.
The artist experiences strong emotions related to this idea.

It's just another drawn out trouble
The situation at hand is not the first time this type of issue has arisen.

For you and I.
Both the subject and the singer are negatively impacted by this recurring issue.

I know you're always with the weather
The subject's mood and behavior frequently changes without explanation.

It always rains on me.
The artist is negatively impacted by the subject's unpredictable behavior and mood swings.

I thought we'd always be together
The artist assumed that they and the subject would remain together for the long term.

But will these games(?) come free?
The singer questions the subject's loyalty and the true cost of being in a relationship with them.

And I've been thinking we will never be the same again.
The singer believes that the relationship has changed irreparably and will never return to how it used to be.

Cause that's the story of our lives. (I know she knows she knows.)
The repeated cycle of struggles and negative consequences is a defining feature of the subject and the artist's lives.

It's the tale of you and I. (x6)
The story being told in the song is representative of the relationship between the subject and the artist.

Cause that's the story of our lives.
Reiteration of the central idea: the subject and the artist's lives are marked by struggles and negative consequences.

Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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