Lately
Ed Sheeran Lyrics

I seem to find myself talking to the powers that be
I find myself seeking guidance from a higher power

Awaking the shade and shadowed under towering trees
Waking up in a dark, mysterious forest

Admiring the scene, inhaling fumes of flowers that breathe
Taking in the natural beauty and fragrances around me

Jet-lagged eyes are begging for an hour to sleep
My tired eyes are desperate for some rest

Although my blood shot whites and irises they never find any
My eyes remain bloodshot and tired despite my desire for sleep

Clock stops at times where the sunshine can blind many
The clock seems to freeze when the sun shines too brightly

Although my eyes are heavy, they won't be closing soon
Despite my tiredness, my eyes refuse to close

'Cause I heard that time waits for nobody, I suppose it's true
I believe that time does not wait for anyone and must be used wisely

We make corrosive tunes through acid tabs and vocables
We create music through experimentation and improvisation

To see the flashing lights at photo shoots, we make our motive moves
We make efforts to succeed and achieve fame in the music industry

I say whatever I feel to vent a rhyme
I express my emotions through my lyrics

So I can still invent the lines and stay close to the friends of mine
I write new lyrics to stay connected with my friends

"'Cause real will recognize real" is what my father says
My father believes that authentic people recognize authenticity in others

And I'll be sticking to this phrase until I pass away
I will always believe and follow my father's advice

Overworking, no sleep is just another way to die slow
Working too hard and not getting enough rest can lead to negative consequences

But I'll just keep going strong and never let my eyes close (eyes close)
I will persevere and not let my tiredness get in the way of my success

Five o'clock with lights off, interview with a vampire
It's late at night and I feel like I'm in a spooky situation

Sleep is for the living and not a utensil that I require
I don't need sleep to function in my life

I swear I said, that I'll sleep when I'm dead
I plan to keep pushing myself until I can't anymore

Who's on the beat upon the feature with Ed? It's D-E-V to the Z
I have a collaborator on this song

Overtired, pale-faced like Michael Myers
I'm extremely tired and look like a horror movie character

Bags underneath my eyes can show the baggage I've acquired
The bags under my eyes represent the stress and weight of my life experiences

And over the time within this maze I'll think you'll find
As time goes on, life becomes more complicated and confusing

You'll never find that piece of mind you seek to find until your dying
True peace of mind can only be found in death

'Cause I got too much to stay awake for
I have too much going on in my life to sleep

To sleep or even take four seconds out the game it's time to wage war
I must keep pushing myself to succeed, even if it means sacrificing rest

Scissors, grab a sword, and sharpen up your hunting knives
Get ready for a battle

Two psychopathic lyricists are driving on the hunt tonight
Two intense, passionate musicians are creating music together

I'm haling from the Essex and the East London boarder line
I'm from a specific area of London

Villains never sleep, the mastermind in all sorts of crimes
Bad people are always working, plotting, and scheming

Be wide awake just like you're snorting lines
Stay alert and awake as if you were doing drugs

Or get left mortified like you've just seen the ghost of Jesus walking by
Be prepared or else you'll be scared and shocked

When trouble steals thoughts from my restless mind for free, it could be (ohh)
When I'm not sleeping, my mind wanders and negative thoughts can take over

The times I'm living in I never sleep
I'm living in a fast-paced, exciting time and don't want to miss anything

I brush my teeth every night but still I wake up with a bad mouth
Even when I try to take care of myself, I still feel bad in the morning

And the background is my past and my presence will bring it back out
My past experiences influence my present and future

Deliver the raps how I flow, I live with the raps now and those
My lyrics reflect my life and how I live it

That hate me call me "Ron" but they won't slither in too easy
People who dislike me have a hard time getting close to me

Believe me I'm snake-minded, be within this great time
I have a sneaky mindset and take advantage of my opportunities

Be on minimum wage, life is a prison escape that I'm in
Even when I'm not making much money, life is still a challenge

It's all to do with timing not the label that you sign with
Success is all about the right timing, not just what record label you're signed with

Then my mates are doing fine but then they never put the time in
My friends may be successful, but they haven't worked as hard as I have

I try to hide my cold side like when I flip my pillows
I try to conceal my negative qualities and appear more positive

Some of the songs I write are real
I write some of my songs from personal experience

Because the chart is filled with silicone
Most popular music is fake or manufactured

I'm still broke without the money for a Mac Pro
I'm not rich and can't afford a high-end computer

Living out of three bags no talk about my cash flow
I'm living with very few possessions and don't have much money

Opposite of sober 'cause I never did my homework
I'm not very responsible because I never did my homework as a kid

Which has got me on the sofa, no degree but growing older
My lack of education has limited my career options and I'm getting older

I played a fool to catch the wise, I will never tell a lie
I may have made mistakes in the past, but I will always be honest

Two guys with the same view, keep it tight like screws
I have a strong connection with my musical collaborator

Making metaphors flow and move, like typhoons and tunes (yeah)
Our lyrics are creative and unique

And if we got our eyes on you, we'll catch you while you snooze
We are always watching for new opportunities and will take them as soon as they come

Times elapsing while you're catching Z's, the masses like to move
While you're sleeping, time is passing and people are still busy and active

We scan the situation, analyze information
We take a strategic approach to our music and career

And then decide what probably is most practical to do
We make practical decisions about our next steps

Driven young gentlemen, I've hardly changed my bed sheets
I'm focused and hardworking, but my personal hygiene may suffer

At all over the last twelve months 'cause I haven't slept in them (true)
I haven't had much time to sleep or take care of myself in the past year

I'm coming home, the lights are on, your rights are wrong
I'm coming back and things will be different from last time

So I'm correcting 'em
I'm taking action to make things right

We got the fans all like, "Oh wow it's Devs and Ed"
Our fans are excited to see us collaborate

What less did you bloody expect from 'em?
Our fans shouldn't be surprised at our success

In the end sleep deprivation might just be our detriment
In the long run, not getting enough sleep could be harmful

Fighting through writers block from ninve o'clock to five o'clock
I'm working hard to overcome writer's block all day

And no way will I ever waste a second of the time I got
I will use every moment of my time wisely

I keep my pupils engaged like a classroom in holy matrimony
I keep my audience engaged and interested in my music

But I'm only trying to stay awake
I'm struggling to stay awake despite everything happening around me