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 City
Ed Sheeran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear the people walk by when it's late
Sirens bleed through my windowsill
I can't close my eyes
Can't control what I'm into
This tower is alive
The lights that blind keep me awake
With my hood up and lace untied
Can't control what I'm into
London calls me a stranger
A traveler
This is now my home, my home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
The pavement is my friend
And it will take me where I need to go
I find it trips me up
And puts me down
This is not what I'm used to
The shop across the road
Fulfills my needs and gives me company
When I need it
Voices speak through my walls
I don't think I'm gonna make it
Past tomorrow
London calls me a stranger
A traveler
This is now my home, my home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
And my lungs hurt
And my ears bled
With the sound of the city life
Echoed in my head
Do I need this to keep me alive?
The traffic stops and starts
But I need to move along
London calls me a stranger
This is not my home, home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
In Ed Sheeran's song "The City," he describes his love-hate relationship with London, where he has been "adopted" as a "stranger" and a "traveler," although it is not his true home. The noise and chaos of the city inspire him, but also tire him out. He tries to find solace in the bustle of the people and the buildings, the lights and the pavement, but he also feels lonely, disconnected, and struggling to survive.
The first verse sets the scene of the song, as Ed Sheeran portrays the sensory overload he experiences at night, when the sirens, the lights, and the people invade his senses and refuse to let him sleep. The second verse adds a dimension of longing and desperation, as he admits to feeling like a misfit in the city that he both loves and resents. He finds comfort in the mundane things, like the shop or the pavement, but he also feels trapped and abandoned, with only his thoughts and fears to keep him company.
The chorus, with its repetition of "This is now my home, my home," and "What I do isn't up to you," captures the sense of identity crisis that Ed Sheeran faces in the city. He is torn between his desire to belong and his need to assert his individuality. He is also aware of the irony that the city that never sleeps also shelters many sleepless souls like him, who are lost in its embrace.
Overall, "The City" is a poignant and introspective song that showcases Ed Sheeran's lyrical and emotional depth. It is a tribute to the contradictions and challenges of urban life, as well as a reminder of the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
This city never sleeps
The city is always busy and active, never taking a break.
I hear the people walk by when it's late
Even late at night, there are still people walking around the city streets and making noise.
Sirens bleed through my windowsill
The sound of the police sirens can be heard even inside the building, making it hard to sleep.
I can't close my eyes
The person is having trouble sleeping and cannot fall asleep.
Can't control what I'm into
The person feels like they have no control over their current situation or lifestyle.
This tower is alive
The building feels like it has its own presence and energy within the city.
The lights that blind keep me awake
The bright lights of the city prevent the person from being able to sleep or rest properly.
With my hood up and lace untied
The person is wearing a hood and their shoelaces are untied, possibly indicating a more carefree or relaxed attitude towards their appearance and surroundings.
Sleep fills my mind
The person is constantly thinking about being able to rest or sleep, but is unable to do so.
London calls me a stranger
The city of London feels unfamiliar to the person.
A traveler
The person may feel like they are just passing through the city temporarily.
This is now my home, my home
Despite feeling like a stranger, the person considers London to be their current home.
I'm burning on the back street
The person feels a sense of excitement or restlessness, possibly due to their surroundings or lifestyle.
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
The person is feeling trapped or restricted in their current situation, as though they have no control over where they are going or what they are doing.
I'm blazing on the street
The person is filled with energy and intensity while out in the city.
What I do isn't up to you
The person is making their own choices and does not feel like they are accountable to anyone else for their actions.
And if the city never sleeps
If the city is always active and bustling, then the person is also always active and alert while there.
Then that makes two
The person identifies with the endless energy and vibrancy of the city itself.
The pavement is my friend
The ground beneath their feet is familiar and comforting, almost like a friend.
And it will take me where I need to go
The pavement serves as a guide, leading the person to their next destination.
I find it trips me up
The person sometimes makes mistakes or falls down while walking on the pavement, causing them to stumble or trip.
And puts me down
The person sometimes feels discouraged or defeated when they struggle to navigate the city streets.
This is not what I'm used to
The person may come from a different environment or background, making the city feel unfamiliar or strange to them.
The shop across the road
There is a store located directly across the street from the person's location.
Fulfills my needs and gives me company
The person appreciates the convenience and comfort of being close to a store, and may also enjoy the interactions they have with employees or other customers there.
When I need it
The store is a reliable resource for the person when they require something specific.
Voices speak through my walls
The person can hear sounds or voices coming from the surrounding buildings near their location.
I don't think I'm gonna make it
The person may be struggling with their current situation and doubts their ability to cope or survive in the city.
Past tomorrow
They are uncertain about their future in the city and do not have plans or aspirations beyond the immediate future.
And my lungs hurt
The air quality in the city is poor or polluted, causing the person physical discomfort.
And my ears bled
The loud and consistent noise of the city causes the person pain or discomfort in their ears.
With the sound of the city life
The noise and energy of the city is constantly present and unrelenting.
Echoed in my head
The sounds of the city are so pervasive that the person hears them even when it is quiet or they are alone.
Do I need this to keep me alive?
The person questions whether their current lifestyle or environment is really necessary for their survival or fulfillment.
The traffic stops and starts
The flow of cars and pedestrians in the city is unpredictable and constantly changing.
But I need to move along
Despite any obstacles or setbacks, the person is determined to keep moving forward and making progress in their life.
This is not my home, home
Despite previously feeling like they belonged in the city, the person now feels like an outsider and that it is not truly their home.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BDI Music Limited
Written by: Jake Gosling, Ed Sheeran
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@negronegro3286
"The City"
This city never sleeps
I hear the people walk by when it's late
Sirens bleed through my windowsill
I can't close my eyes
Don't control what I'm into
This tower is alive
The lights that blind keep me awake
My hood up and lace untied
Sleep fills my mind
Don't control what I'm into
London calls me a stranger
A traveler
This is now my home, my home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
The pavement is my friend
Hey, and it will take me where I need to go
I find it trips me up
And puts me down
This is not what I'm used to
The shop across the road
Fulfills my needs and gives me company
When I need it
Voices speak through my walls
I don't think I'm gonna make it
Past tomorrow
London calls me a stranger
A traveler
This is now my home, my home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
And my lungs hurt
And my ears bled
With the sound of the city life
Echoed in my head
Do I need this to keep me alive?
The traffic stops and starts
But I need to move along
London calls me a stranger
This is not my home, home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
@rumpelstillkills8036
his city never sleeps
I hear the people walk by when it's late
Sirens bleed through my windowsill
I can't close my eyes
Don't control what I'm into
This tower is alive
The lights that blind keep me awake
With my hood up and lace untied
Sleep fills my mind
Don't control what I'm into
London calls me a stranger
A traveller
This is now my home, my home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
And I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
The pavement is my friend
It will take me where I need to go
I find it trips me up
And puts me down
This is not what I'm used to
The shop across the road
Fulills my needs and gives me company
When I need it
Voices speak through my walls
I don't think I'm gonna make it
Past tomorrow
London calls me a stranger
A traveller
This is now my home, home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
And my lungs hurt
And my ears bled
With the sound of the city life
Echoed in my head
Do I need this to keep me alive?
The traffic stops and starts
But I need to move along
I'm from a city where the rain won't cease
Pollution in the air matches that on the street
The black smoke gets you head into a muddle, like
Walking into elephant syringes in the puddle, like
I was a country boy when I moved out
Grew up too fast for my family to find out
Now I try to stop my music running into nosedives
Can't resort to arrogance with white lies
This city won't erase me
But I can't help to see how this dark city changed me
It's all the same scene, music is my life
But now I try to fight whatever I need to hide from
North, South, East, West, London's my home now
Knees weak, but we never slow down
Now I start to do my music properly
And stay from all the negative shit that will follow me
London calls me a stranger
This is not my home, home
I'm burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I'm blazing on the street
What I do isn't up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
@caifabe8050
As someone who is currently struggling with homelessness, this song hits hard.
@bedrokkpebbles8888
I pray you find a home & strength 🙏🏾
@nusta7496
I hope you’ll find a good place!
@plimmerton3992
Hey man all love here to u
@caifabe8050
update: i cant remember when i posted this comment but ive been in my own apartment and off of the streets for a little over a year and a half now. moved in in April 2020.
@plimmerton3992
@@caifabe8050 good going bro 🙏😊
@blackhawkX02
This is such a great song and it seems to be so underrated.....
@kyanataylaa608
BlackhawkX02
@florians.849
Great? :O the song is not great. It is just fantastic...
@samuelwegwart9702
This is one of the best he's written