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Castle On the Hill
Ed Sheeran Lyrics


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When I was six years old I broke my leg
I was running from my brother and his friends
And tasted the sweet perfume of the mountain grass I rolled down
I was younger then, take me back to when I

Found my heart and broke it here
Made friends and lost them through the years
And I've not seen the roaring fields in so long, I know I've grown
But I can't wait to go home

I'm on my way
Driving at ninety down those country lanes
Singing to "Tiny Dancer"
And I miss the way you make me feel, and it's real
We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill

Fifteen years old and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes
Running from the law through the backfields and getting drunk with my friends
Had my first kiss on a Friday night, I don't reckon that I did it right
But I was younger then, take me back to when

We found weekend jobs, when we got paid
We'd buy cheap spirits and drink them straight
Me and my friends have not thrown up in so long, oh how we've grown
But I can't wait to go home

I'm on my way
Driving at ninety down those country lanes
Singing to "Tiny Dancer"
And I miss the way you make me feel, and it's real
We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill

One friend left to sell clothes
One works down by the coast
One had two kids but lives alone
One's brother overdosed
One's already on his second wife
One's just barely getting by
But these people raised me and I can't wait to go home

And I'm on my way, I still remember
These old country lanes
When we did not know the answers
And I miss the way you make me feel, it's real
We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill

Overall Meaning

"Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran is an emotional ballad that reflects on the singer's adolescence and the nostalgia he feels for that time in his life. The song starts by vividly describing a specific memory from Sheeran's childhood, where he broke his leg while playing. He longs to return to that time when he was still young and carefree, forgetting about the problems of the world.


The chorus of the song is a depiction of Sheeran driving back home to this place from his childhood, where he spent time with friends and family, chasing girls, working, and enjoying life. He sings about the thrill he feels while driving at ninety miles per hour down those country lanes with "Tiny Dancer" playing on the radio. The song culminates with Sheeran reminiscing about his old friends and the paths their lives have taken. He acknowledges that they've all grown up and moved on, but he can't wait to go back and be with them again.


"Castle on the Hill" is an anthemic track that showcases Sheeran's ability to tap into raw emotions and tell personal stories that anyone can relate to. This song is a beautiful tribute to Sheeran's upbringing and the people who helped shape him into the person he is today.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was six years old I broke my leg
As a child, I had an accident while playing where I fractured my leg.


I was running from my brother and his friends
My injury happened because I was trying to avoid my brother and his friends who were probably playfully chasing me.


And tasted the sweet perfume of the mountain grass I rolled down
I vividly remember the scent of the grass from the hill where I was playing when I had my accident.


I was younger then, take me back to when I
I often feel nostalgic and long for the carefree days of my childhood.


Found my heart and broke it here
I fell in love for the first time in this town but it didn't work out.


Made friends and lost them through the years
I have made many friends over the years but some of them drifted away due to various reasons.


And I've not seen the roaring fields in so long, I know I've grown
I haven't seen the picturesque countryside in a while and I have matured since the last time I was here.


But I can't wait to go home
Despite the changes that have happened, I am excited to return to where I grew up.


I'm on my way
I am currently traveling back to my hometown.


Driving at ninety down those country lanes
I am driving fast down the rural roads that I am familiar with.


Singing to "Tiny Dancer"
I am singing along to a classic song as I reminisce about old memories.


And I miss the way you make me feel, and it's real
I miss the emotions that this place brings out in me and they are authentic.


We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill
I vividly remember watching the sun go down behind the old castle that is a landmark of my hometown.


Fifteen years old and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes
At the age of 15, I was experimenting with smoking homemade tobacco products.


Running from the law through the backfields and getting drunk with my friends
During my rebellious teenage years, I and my friends would engage in delinquent activities like drinking alcohol and evading the authorities.


Had my first kiss on a Friday night, I don't reckon that I did it right
I had my first romantic kiss with someone on a Friday night but I feel like I didn't do it properly or skillfully enough.


We found weekend jobs, when we got paid
As we got older, we began to hold part-time jobs where we earned salaries over the weekends.


We'd buy cheap spirits and drink them straight
My friends and I would pool our meager resources to purchase low-quality alcoholic drinks which we would consume without mixing with anything else.


Me and my friends have not thrown up in so long, oh how we've grown
It has been a long time since my friends and I have gotten so intoxicated that we vomited and this shows how much we have matured since then.


One friend left to sell clothes
One of my friends now works as a salesperson in the fashion industry.


One works down by the coast
Another friend is employed in a job that is near the sea.


One had two kids but lives alone
One of my friends is a single parent who has two children but doesn't have a romantic partner.


One's brother overdosed
Another friend has unfortunately had to deal with the tragic death of their sibling due to drug overdose.


One's already on his second wife
Yet another friend has already gone through two marriages.


One's just barely getting by
One of my friends is currently struggling financially and just barely making ends meet.


But these people raised me and I can't wait to go home
These individuals, despite their current situations, were an important part of my upbringing and I am excited to be back in my hometown with them.


I still remember these old country lanes
I have vivid and dear memories of the rural paths in this town that have stayed with me over the years.


When we did not know the answers
Back in the day, we were naive and didn't have all the solutions to the problems we faced.


Over the castle on the hill
This line is repeated several times throughout the song and refers to the iconic castle in my hometown that fills me with nostalgia and longing.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Benjamin Joseph Levin, Edward Christopher Sheeran

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@annie_stasiaaa8982

Ugh, this songs makes me cry every single time. Especialy the last part:

"One friend left to sell clothes
One works down by the coast
One had two kids but lives alone
One’s brother overdosed
Ones already on his second wife
Ones just barely getting by
But these people raised me
And I can’t wait to go home"

Because I know I am probably never going home, and I will probably never see them again. It really hurts.



All comments from YouTube:

@Gumbino

wow, anyone else wish they had a grass hill neighborhood like that?

@helloimnoone8733

Gumbino yes

@xicacrazyy

Gumbino me😓

@jazzypiper5137

It is beautiful, but I don't think that's the actual field. I go to the school he went to and I know the castle, and I think it would be difficult for him to film there cos it's quite busy, but I could be wrong

@laanadeley8937

yes...

@anthonyw.2533

Yup I definitely do! That's like my ultimate wish.

261 More Replies...

@aravindsreedharan302

People who choose 'Castle on the hills 'over 'Shape of you' is my kind of people.

@abioduntolulope1302

I totally agree with you

@shadowcat90

Agree

@ghoulzz3788

agreed

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