Ed Sheeran: The Meaning Behind His Song Lyrics

1. Ed Sheeran - 'U.N.I'

Ed's coming-of-age song 'U.N.I' is about the often unavoidable end of a relationship which comes when one or both people head off to university at 18. The song sees the 'A Team' singer coming to terms with realising they won't be "together forever", as well as the pain of finding reminders of the relationship around. Best lyrics: "And I said that's fine, but you're the only one that knows I lied".

2. Ed Sheeran - 'The A Team'

Ed's debut single is a surprisingly dark affair which was inspired by the singer-songwriter's performance and visit to a homeless shelter back at the age of 18. The song features several references to addiction and homelessness, and was his response to some of the stories he heard there. The 'Lego House' singer explained that he wanted to write the song upbeat so that the it's heavy content was slightly hidden from the listener. Best lyric: "And they scream, the worst things in life come free to

3. Ed Sheeran - 'Drunk'

'Drunk' is a sombre song which tells of someone unable to cope with the end of a relationship so instead they drink to forget about it, only to remember the pain regardless of whether they are drunk or sober and realising that, "I'll never hold you like I used to". Best lyric: "Now I'll watch you fizzle at the bottom of a coke can".

4. Ed Sheeran - 'Grade 8'

Ed's song 'Grade 8' is about the type of love that makes you feel like you're back in school again and follows the intensity of a new relationship that feels new and exciting. Best lyric: "You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I never felt this way."

5. Ed Sheeran - 'Small Bump'

Ed's latest single release 'Small Bump' is an emotional song written about the painful experience and feeling of losing a baby during pregnancy. The song explores the feeling of becoming a parent with lyrics like "You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight" but also focuses on dealing with the loss of a child "torn from life". Best lyric: "You're just a small bump unborn for four months then torn from life".

6. Ed Sheeran - 'Wake Me Up'

'Wake Me Up' tells of the pure feeling of being in love with someone from the minute you wake up in the morning as well as talking about the smaller things that make a relationship work like watching Shrek DVDs twelve times and playing videogames with a girlfriend's little brother. Best lyric: "And you will never know, just how beautiful you are to me, but maybe I'm just in love when you wake me up."

7. Ed Sheeran - 'This'

'This' sees Ed singing about the girl who would make him "loose it all", feeling positive about a new relationship until something goes wrong and she "falls into his arms again". The song is a powerful ballad that anchors Ed's debut album '+' and ends on a positive note as he hopes for the "start of something new". Best lyric: "You are the one that make me loose it all, you are the start of something new."

8. Ed Sheeran - 'Lego House'

Ed's third single release 'Lego House' is another emotional song from debut '+' and seems to be about the struggle to fix a relationship that is breaking down slowly and wanting to "mend" your partner to stop them from getting hurt. Best lyric: "I'm gonna paint you by numbers and colour you in, if things go wrong we can frame it and put you on a wall." Picture by: Paul Hampartsoumian.

9. Ed Sheeran - 'The City'

'The City' seems to be about the feeling of moving away from a small town as a young adult and trying to make a home in the big city. The song sees Ed making London his new home and tells of a time at the start of his career when he promises to "start to do my music properly". Best lyric: "And if the city never sleeps then that makes two."

10. Ed Sheeran - 'Give Me Love'

'Give Me Love' seems to be about missing something from a relationship but being unable to talk about it. The singer finds "paint spotted tear drops" on his clothes in the morning from where his girlfriend has been crying, without realising that he is "craving more" and being unable to decide whether to end the relationship. Best lyric: "Give a little time to me, we'll burn this out, we'll play hide and seek, to turn this around."

11. Ed Sheeran - 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You'

Ed's most upbeat track on '+' is 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' which takes a shot at other artists who fail to write their own music or want to find success without putting in the hard work first. Ed assures the listener he "don't need another wordsmith to make my tune sell" and talks about playing over a thousand gigs but still having to sleep on a friend's couch at the end of a night. Best lyric: "I'm not you, now that would be disastrous, let me sing and do my thing and move to greener past