While Ed Sheeran is known for his pure, melodic voice, talent on guitar, and incredible lyrics, he is also known for his brilliance in writing about heartbreak. On his new album Divide, there's still a trace of heartbreak, however, we see a new side of Ed. The new album includes love songs and tributes to his family and friends. It's hard to pick a favorite on Divide, as each song is strongly composed and evokes a powerful set of feelings. However, one song continues to lead the album – “Castle on the Hill."
Why? It is a care-free, coming of age song that everyone can relate to. Even if this particular narrative does not share similarities to your personal childhood and adolescent years, it elicits the same nostalgic feeling. It's been a while since an artist has produced a hit single that celebrates and appreciates the simple things in life: family and friends. Sheeran takes us through a chronological memory of his youth and, as we listen to the lyrics, we follow the story as if we were there. The music video adds a new level to this vicarious feeling as it is the perfect visual depiction of the song.
Many music videos, popular music, and current TV shows focus around the glamour that we should aspire to have: the wealth of Gossip Girl, the exciting and scandalous lives of the Kardashians, the repeated lyrics about hitting the clubs and popping champagne with friends in glitzy LA, and the dream of living in luxury on the Golden Coast. Ed, instead, illustrates an ordinary life that he paints as extraordinary. Every lyric is in reference to an anecdote that floods listeners with feelings of nostalgia as we imagine and reminisce messing around with our brother and his friends at 6 years old, driving down the open country roads and belting out the lyrics to our favorite song, getting stupidly drunk with our friends as dumb teenagers, reaching life milestones like our inevitably awkward first kiss, attending quaint house parties with our high school friends, getting our first after school job, and sitting around with our friends just enjoying each other's company.
The lyrics, "I was younger then, take me back to when," that lead into the chorus guide us through nostalgic childhood memories of being young and care-free with no obligations, but also remind us that our experiences shape us and have taught us our core values. Sheeran reminds us not to forget our roots and that it doesn't matter where you're from or if you've outgrown your hometown because it's home and it's cultivated you into the person you are today.
Sheeran acknowledges that we all leave home eventually and go our separate ways to achieve our dreams, but home is a special commonality we will always share. Those angst-ridden teenage years are when we raised each other, helped each other through difficult and confusing times when none of us were sure about our future or if we were doing things right, but we all tumbled through those years together and assured each other we were doing our best.
"Castle on the Hill" is about growing up. Sheeran asks us to reflect on these memories and feelings, and to remember to appreciate and look back fondly on the life you were given.
Thank you, Ed Sheeran for producing incredible music and reminding us all of where we came from, how to embrace it, and what truly matters in life.
