A More Intimate Understanding of Ed Sheeran Gained in “Divide”

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran shocked much of the world in 2015 by announcing that he was quitting social media and giving up his phone. His reason for this was that he was tired of “seeing the world through a screen,” and instead resolved to travel the world and experience everything firsthand. A year later, he came out with his third album, “Divide,” which bends all genre barriers, stepping into the realms of pop, rap, folk, and even traditional Irish music. Romance dominates the subject matter of the album, but there are glimpses of Sheeran in a larger sense of the world, more specifically, where exactly he stands in it and what he has learned.

“Shape of You” is Sheeran’s lead single from the album, claiming the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth week straight. The use of the marimba is especially catchy and fits well with a song that is about lustful love. It is a standout on an album that predominantly utilizes the guitar.

Sheeran’s other released single is “Castle on the Hill,” and though it has not been revered as much as “Shape of You,” it is one of my personal favorites. Sheeran shows that he is a master of dominating both high and low notes, building up from the raspy bridge to the monumental chorus. The major motifs are growing up, nostalgia, and the realization that he has come so far from the days he spent “[buying] cheap spirits and [drinking] them straight.” Powerful imagery of him running back to his hometown, assuring his friends, “I’m on my way,” and remembering the places that defined this childhood immediately recalls the reminiscence of youth that is in Lukas Graham’s worldwide debut of “7 Years.”

One of the most striking things about “Divide” is how Sheeran is able to convey so much emotion even when the songs are not told from his point of view. The touching ballad “Supermarket Flowers” is told from his mother’s perspective. It is a tribute to his late grandmother, who Sheeran revealed in an interview with DJ Zane Lowe “passed away at the end of [the completion of] the record.” He also described this as “the most special song” on the album, and the use of only his guitar put his lyrics and tone on display. Sheeran’s soft voice communicates the sadness and love he has for his grandmother; the angel references and subtle voice hitches on particular lyrics add to the power of the song.

“Nancy Mulligan” is also told from another’s point of view; this time, it is his grandfather’s. Nancy Mulligan is Sheeran’s grandmother (not the one who passed away), and the track relays the story of his grandparents. It is an epic tale of lasting love, something that contrasts with other songs on the album that dwell on the gloomier aspects of romance, such as “Happier” and “New Man.” In keeping with his grandmother’s childhood in Belfast, Ireland, “Nancy Mulligan” has a definite Irish feel to it; the listener is able to distinguish the fiddle and tin whistle.

Though Sheeran is known for being a fantastic lyricist, there are several moments on “Divide” when his use of cliches takes away from the meaning of the songs. For instance, “Perfect” is supposed to represent the epitome of love. However, lyrics such as “Now I know I have met an angel in person” and “You look perfect tonight” are unoriginal and have been applied to countless others. Sheeran told Zane Lowe that he wrote “Perfect” to outdo his 2014 track “Thinking Out Loud,” but it does not even come close to topping the carefully thought-out and poetic lyrics of his former hit.

The effects of Sheeran’s world travels and social media ban are clear in “Barcelona” and “Bibia Be Ye Ye,” which showcase the influence of Spanish and Ghanaian culture, respectively. “Bibia be ye ye” means “everything will be all right” in the Ghanaian language Twi, and if there is something the song conveys, it is that good times are coming. It is very lighthearted and fun, accentuated by the fast, rhythmic beat that recalls African drums.

“Divide” ends with an extremely intimate look at Sheeran’s past drug and alcohol abuse. “Save Myself” is deeply moving and relatable. Sheeran croons, “I gave away all my oxygen to people that could breathe,” expressing how he sacrificed too much of himself to people who didn’t need or return it. In many ways, though this song is despairing, Sheeran offers himself the opportunity and ability to heal himself. His last lyrics are “And before I love someone else, I’ve got to love myself,” recognizing that he needs to prioritize himself. It is a poignant finish to an album that progressively gets more personal as it draws to its close.

Though “Divide” has its drawbacks in that the lyrics are not quite as effective as Sheeran intended them to be, he makes up well for it by overdoing himself in other tracks. There is a plethora of sounds and emotions conveyed, mixing pure pop with traditional Irish bagpipes in a way that does not seem cohesive, but the tracks ultimately tie together in that they are based on his personal experiences, giving listeners an intimate understanding of him as an artist and his music.