Roots and Wings
Ed Sheeran Lyrics


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A mama watched her baby
Fall and bump his head
Taking baby steps across the floor

She could have tried to catch him
But a voice inside her said
"In the long run, that'll only
hurt him more"

But she picked me up and
told me that she loved me
And she helped me and
she made me feel secure
And I grew to understand
what real love means
And what it takes for two
hearts to endure

Roots and wings
To my ship you are the
lighthouse on the shore
And I'm a kite on your string

Your love is my anchor in the storm
And a part of me stays grounded
So the rest of me can fly
But only 'cause you are
my roots and wings

A daddy kissed his baby
Then he fixed her veil
Took her arm and walked
her down the aisle

When the preacher turned
and ask him
Who gives this child away?
Well he said "Me", and did
his best to smile

Now you call him every
weekend and you tell him
That you love him and
you're thankful as can be
That his firm hand and his
soft heart were a blessing
And the reason you can give
the gift to me of

Roots and wings
To my ship you are the
lighthouse on the shore
And I'm a kite on your string
Your love is my anchor in the storm

And a part of me stays grounded
So the rest of me can fly
But only 'cause you are
my roots and wings

Roots and wings
To my ship you are the
lighthouse on the shore
And I'm a kite on your string
Your love is my anchor in the storm

And a part of me stays grounded
So the rest of me can fly




But only 'cause you are
my roots and wings

Overall Meaning

The song Roots and Wings by Ed Sheeran beautifully captures the essence of what it takes to build a loving relationship. The song begins with a story about a mother who chooses to let her child make mistakes and learn through experience rather than coddling him. This is a metaphor for the larger theme of the song - that in order for a relationship to sustain, it needs both roots and wings. Roots represent the grounding and security that comes with love, while wings represent the freedom and joy that comes from being with someone who supports you.


As the song continues, we hear of a father who gives away his daughter at her wedding, acknowledging his role in shaping her into who she is today. This is another reminder that love is not just about the present, but also about the future - it is about building a foundation for someone else to take flight while remaining a steady anchor for them.


Throughout the song, Sheeran emphasizes the importance of communication and gratitude in love. He reminds listeners that it is not enough to simply love someone - you must also express that love and appreciate what they do for you. It is this combination of roots and wings, of security and freedom, that creates a bond that endures through the years.


Overall, Roots and Wings is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of love when it is grounded in trust and respect. It speaks to the idea that true love is not just a feeling, but an ongoing commitment to support and uplift each other.


Line by Line Meaning

A mama watched her baby
A mother observed her child


Fall and bump his head
Fall down and hit his head


Taking baby steps across the floor
Walking for the first time


She could have tried to catch him
She could have tried to prevent the fall


But a voice inside her said
A thought in her mind told her


"In the long run, that'll only hurt him more"
"It's better for him to learn from his mistakes than to always be protected"


But she picked me up and told me that she loved me
But she comforted me and expressed her affection


And she helped me and she made me feel secure
And she assisted me and made me feel safe


And I grew to understand what real love means
And I learned to comprehend the true meaning of love


And what it takes for two hearts to endure
And what it requires for two people to stay together


Roots and wings
A foundation and freedom


To my ship you are the lighthouse on the shore
You guide and protect me through difficult times


And I'm a kite on your string
You support and direct me


Your love is my anchor in the storm
Your affection provides stability during hardships


And a part of me stays grounded
I am connected to my roots


So the rest of me can fly
Which allows me to explore and grow


But only 'cause you are my roots and wings
All of this is possible because of you


A daddy kissed his baby
A father showed affection to his child


Then he fixed her veil
Then he adjusted her veil


Took her arm and walked her down the aisle
Linked arms with her and escorted her during a wedding


When the preacher turned and asked him
When the pastor faced him and inquired


Who gives this child away?
Who is giving this bride away?


Well he said "Me", and did his best to smile
He responded with "I do," while trying to smile


Now you call him every weekend and you tell him
Now you contact him every weekend and express to him


That you love him and you're thankful as can be
That you love him and are extremely grateful


That his firm hand and his soft heart were a blessing
That his tough love and kind nature were a gift


And the reason you can give the gift to me of
And the cause of why you can give me the same




Writer(s): Ed Sheeran

Contributed by Matthew G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Retro Fury

Ed can probably make a better song with a banana than most artists nowadays can make with autotune

Phylline Cristel Calubayan

fr tho

FrenzyBoi

Damn.

Victory Arceus

Agreed

Xaoz Kort

You do realize this song is basically a rip off of No Scrubs by TLC

12 More Replies...

Markkus johanson

It's 2am and i'm out here admiring ed's banana skills

Cynthia Veilleux

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜Ž

Teacher Adri

the same here, at 2:35am lol

Hubert Ratajczak

That's what she said

Valentina Forcina

Me 1.26 am but damn today I passed the history text๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

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