Fans of Ed Sheeran are analysing his latest lyrics with concern, as the singer appears to offer a candid glimpse into potential difficulties in his marriage to childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn.
Lyrics paint a picture of strain
The speculation stems from tracks on the new deluxe version of his album, Play. In one song, bluntly titled Problems, the 34-year-old star sings a line that has set alarm bells ringing: 'You want the truth, we’re not fine'. He continues, 'We got problems, and we don’t know how to solve them'.
Further emotional depth is explored in the track War Games. Sheeran describes feeling 'deflated' daily and trying to cope with changes, singing about the 'reality of what we’ve created'. He adds a poignant line: 'There’s no one above or below you, you are all I want / But I feel that it’s not enough, to just offer you my love'.
In another stark lyric, he suggests the couple are 'inches from movin’ out and movin’ on', labelling their situation as 'either in love or we’re insane'. However, the narrative isn't solely one of strife. Songs like Heaven counterbalance the tension, with Sheeran expressing that he is 'falling in love all over again'.
Fatherhood regrets and relentless touring
The album's introspection extends beyond his relationship with Cherry, whom he secretly married in 2018. In the song Regrets, Sheeran openly wrestles with the impact of his career on his role as a father to daughters Lyra, five, and Jupiter, three.
He voices a painful sentiment about his frequent absences: 'Every time I leave the house, you think I’m forever gone'. The singer, who is in the midst of a massive global tour, confesses, 'Missed out on so much / I really need to make it up'.
This professional demand shows no sign of slowing. After a year of promotion, including a Dublin gig and London's Capital Jingle Bell Ball, Sheeran is embarking on his Loop Tour. It kicks off in December with shows in Paris, Munich, Manchester, and New York’s Madison Square Garden before Christmas. A sprawling 2025 schedule will take him to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.
A relationship under the spotlight
Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn, 33, have a long history, having grown up together in Suffolk before officially dating from 2015. She has long been considered the muse behind some of his biggest hits, including Perfect and Thinking Out Loud.
The couple had planned a significant move, with Sheeran revealing just months ago that he was 'just about to move to America' with his family. The lyrics now hint that this transition may have brought underlying tensions to the surface.
The intense public scrutiny is something Sheeran actively guards against. Earlier this year, he detailed extensive security measures at his West Sussex estate, purchased in 2012, to protect his family. 'I have security with my kids. I have security with me. I have security with my wife,' he told The Louis Theroux Podcast, citing 'a couple of weird things over the years'.
As fans dissect every line for clues, the songs on Play (Deluxe) present a complex, unfiltered portrait of an artist grappling with the pressures of fame, family, and a high-profile marriage.
