Sheeran began recording in 2005, which lead to the release of his first EP, The Orange Room EP. Sheeran also released two albums, a self titled one in 2006 and Want Some? in 2007 gaining little attention. After Sheeran moved to London and had done extensive gigging, performing songs from his EP and albums, as well as ones which he had recently written, he decided to release another EP, You Need Me in late 2009. However, it wasn't until February 2010 that Sheeran began to get noticed after he posted a video through SB.tv displaying his diverse style. This video led to mainstream rapper Example asking Sheeran to tour with him. Throughout 2010, Sheeran began to be seen by more and more people over the internet through [app] YouTube and his fan-base grew incredibly, with him also getting credit from The Independent newspaper, England football captain Rio Ferdinand and even Elton John. Sheeran released three EP's in 2010, Loose Change, which features one of his most known songs, "The A Team", Songs I Wrote With Amy, and Ed Sheeran: Live at the Bedford, a live EP recorded in October. During the year, Sheeran also went to the US, where he was discovered by international superstar Jamie Foxx, who asked Sheeran to perform on his radio show, which gained him some fans in the US. By the end of the year, Sheeran was seen to be one of the best unsigned artists in the country.
On 9 January 2011, Sheeran released his final independent EP, No.5 Collaborations Project featuring appearances by grime artists including Wiley, JME, Devlin and Ghetts. With this EP, Sheeran gained mainstream attention for reaching number 2 in the iTunes chart, without any promotion or label. He was listed as a 'special guest' on Devlin's 2011 'Bud, Sweat and Beers' mini tour alongside Griminal and Tinchy Stryder. Songfacts reports that after signing for Atlantic Records in January 2011 "The A Team" was released as the first single from his debut album on June 12, 2011.
Sheeran's debut album + containing the singles The A Team and Lego House is certified 6x Platinum in the UK. The album has also won Sheeran two Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act and Best British Male Solo Artist. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards Sheeran gained a nomination for Best New Artist.
He received further fame for contributing the track entitled "I See Fire" to Howard Shore's soundtrack to the movie "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" in 2013.
x the second studio album by Sheeran was released in 2015. The album went straight to number one in both the UK and the US. x has had five singles thus far Sing, Don't, Thinking Out Loud, Bloodstream and Photograph.
Sheeran recently was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate by the University Campus Suffolk (UCS). The ceremony is later this year.
Discography:.
Albums:
2011 - +
2014 - x
2017 - ÷
2021 - =
2023- -
EPs:
2005 - The Orange Room
2006 - Ed Sheeran
2007 - Want Some?
2009 - You Need Me
2010 - Loose Change
2010 - Songs I Wrote With Amy
2010 - Live At The Bedford
2011 - No 5 Collaborations Project
2011 - One Take
2011 - iTunes Festival: London 2011
2011 - Thank You
2012 - The Slumdon Bridge
2012 - iTunes Festival: London 2012
Singles:
2011 - The A Team
2011 - You Need Me, I Don't Need You
2011 - Lego House
2012 - Drunk
2012 - Small Bump
2012 - Give Me Love
2013 - I See Fire
2014 - Sing
2014 - Don't
2014 - Thinking Out Loud
2015 - Bloodstream
2015 - Photograph
2017 - Shape of you
2017 - Castle on the Hill
2017 - Galway Girl
The A Team
Ed Sheeran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breathing in the snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, days end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men
And they say
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since 18
But lately, her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't wanna go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
Ripped gloves, raincoat
Tried to swim, stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since 18
But lately, her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
But she don't wanna go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the motherland
Sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
An angel will die
Covered in white
Closed eyes and hopin' for a better life
This time, we'll fade out tonight
Straight down the line
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since 18
But lately, her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
They scream
The worst things in life come free to us
And we're all under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And we don't wanna go outside tonight
And in the pipe, fly to the motherland
Or sell love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
Fly, fly
For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
Angels to die
The lyrics of “The A Team” by Ed Sheeran have a melancholic tone and paint a vivid picture of the harsh reality of drug addiction and prostitution. The lyrics are focused on a young woman who is trapped in a cycle of addiction, selling herself for drugs to get through each day. The first verse details her physical state, with white lips, burnt lungs, and sour taste from breathing in the snowflakes. The second verse highlights her struggle to make enough money to pay the rent, as she spends long nights with strange men. The chorus repeats the description of her sinking and wasting away, craving drugs to escape the harsh reality of her life. The lyric “And in a pipe she flies to the motherland” references drug use, and how it transports the young woman to a place free from the pain and grief of her life.
The song is a haunting commentary on addiction, and how society forces individuals into a position where their only escape is drug use. The lyrics paint a picture of a society where individuals are forgotten or left behind, trapped in a world where the only way to survive is through drugs or prostitution. The song’s message is clear: addiction is not a choice, it’s a symptom of a larger societal issue. The haunting melody and stripped-down production add to the solemn tone, and make the lyrics all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
White lips, pale face
The person being described has pale skin that contrasts against their lips, indicating that they are likely ill or struggling.
Breathing in the snowflakes
The person is breathing in the cold air, which is harsh and uncomfortable for them.
Burnt lungs, sour taste
The air they breathe in feels like it is burning their lungs and has a bitter taste. This could be due to pollution or drug use.
Light's gone, day's end
It is nighttime and the daylight has faded.
Struggling to pay rent
The person is having a hard time coming up with the money to pay their rent or bills.
Long nights, strange men
The person is staying up during the night and may be meeting strange or sketchy people. This could be indicative of drug use or a dangerous lifestyle.
And they say
Others have opinions or rumors about the person being described.
She's in the Class A Team
The reference to Class A drugs suggests that the person is involved in drug use or drug culture.
Stuck in her daydream
The person is stuck in a fantasy or delusion of some kind.
Been this way since 18
The person has been caught up in this lifestyle since they were 18 years old.
But lately, her face seems
The person's face is now showing signs of stress, sadness, or physical strain.
Slowly sinking, wasting
The person is deteriorating, physically and/or emotionally.
Crumbling like pastries
The person is disintegrating, much like a pastry would crumble and fall apart.
And they scream
Other people are very upset or concerned about the person's situation.
The worst things in life come free to us
The reference to 'worst things' and the fact that they come for free could refer to drugs, which can be obtained relatively easily and at low cost, but have severe negative consequences.
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
The person is in a vulnerable position and has little control over their circumstances.
And go mad for a couple grams
The person is desperate for drugs and will go to great lengths to get even a small amount of them.
And she don't wanna go outside tonight
The person is so afraid, anxious, or depressed that they do not want to leave the house.
And in a pipe she flies to the motherland
This line suggests drug use, with the person smoking something through a pipe and feeling the effects strongly enough to transport them to another mental state or realm ('motherland').
Or sells love to another man
This line could refer to prostitution or other illicit activities the person may engage in to earn money or obtain drugs.
It's too cold outside
The cold, harsh weather is a difficult barrier that the person must overcome, both physically and emotionally.
For angels to fly
The reference to angels implies that the person, or people like her, are deeply troubled and in desperate need of help or guidance.
Ripped gloves, raincoat
The person's clothing is worn, damaged, and not sufficient to protect them from the elements.
Tried to swim, stay afloat
The person is struggling against forces that are much stronger than them, much like trying to stay afloat in a strong current.
Dry house, wet clothes
The person has been caught in the rain and is now suffering the consequences of it. Their living conditions may also be inadequate.
Loose change, bank notes
The person has very little money, only a small amount in coins and a few bills in their possession.
Weary-eyed, dry throat
The person is sleep-deprived and may be suffering from thirst or dehydration.
Call girl, no phone
This line could be interpreted in several ways, but it implies that the person may be a sex worker or may not have access to a phone, which would make communication and access to resources difficult.
An angel will die
This line reinforces the idea of the person's desperate situation, as if they are angels who are at risk of dying if they are not rescued or helped somehow.
Covered in white
This line could refer to being covered in snow, but it could also be interpreted as death and the visual of a body being covered by a white sheet.
Closed eyes and hopin' for a better life
Even in death, the person is still holding on to the hope that there is something better out there for them.
This time, we'll fade out tonight
The repetition of 'we' implies that death is not an isolated event, but rather something that affects many people who are in the same situation as the person being described.
And we're all under the upper hand
The collective 'we' reinforces the idea of a group of people who are struggling and are in a vulnerable state.
And we don't wanna go outside tonight
The same idea is repeated, that the cold, dark, and harsh outside world is too much to bear.
Angels to fly
The repetition of the idea of angels implies once again that the people being described are still holding onto hope that they can be saved or redeemed.
Fly, fly
The repetition of 'fly' is another reference to this idea of redemption, escape, and salvation.
For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
The repetition of 'to fly' is a final statement of the hope that redemption and release are possible.
Angels to die
This final line reinforces the idea that many people, who are collectively angelic in their hope and vulnerability, are at risk of dying if they don't get help.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Christopher Sheeran
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wolfsong
on Perfect
I whispered underneath my breath darling you look perfect tonight~
Sergio Biancu
on Wake Me Up
x TE
Paula Morgan
on Thinking Out Loud
what a beautiful meaningful song, loved it
Rhealyn Aton Carbonel
on Thinking Out Loud
ang ganda
Sanae Chairi
on Thinking Out Loud
amazing song!
Tan Tan
on Thinking Out Loud
thinking out loud by ed sheeran ..ganda tlaga nang kanta nto
Eldredge Aton Almanzor
on I See Fire
Ang cool ng mga songs dito and hindi nagba-buffer...
Dave Fry
on Tenerife Sea
xx
Ricardo Barrachino
on I See Fire
fantastic sound niceeeee
Jack Jacquisita Jeje Viera Trelles
on Thinking Out Loud
THINKING OUT LOUD