Ed Sheeran Rises Above His Struggles in New Music Video for “Boat”
“Boat” is the opening track on Sheeran’s upcoming album – (SUBTRACT), which arrives May 5. The album is said to be completely acoustic, a final addition to the artist’s mathematically titled projects. Its list includes fourteen tracks, with “Eyes Closed” already released.
Fans are not ready, but they cannot wait either. Both intimate and powerful, Sheeran manages to reflect on the deepest, darkest experiences and transform them into music that moves. “Boat” is a song that speaks to those struggles, a metaphor for depression that Sheeran admits quite bravely. The lyrics are almost poetic, speaking of resilience against the struggles of feeling very low.
Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. And in just over a week I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.
– Ed Sheeran
In the music video, Sheeran is constantly slammed by waves. Sometimes, the singer struggles to stand, swaying as the water relentlessly comes and goes. Despite the chaos of the situation, his expression is calm, as is his singing.
The video is saturated with the color blue, naturally, because there’s water. But it’s also associated with sadness and reflection. There is a moment when the waves recede and from the sky, records, letters and stuffed animals begin to fall. These items could be memories or belongings that literally shower Sheeran as all his struggles wash over him.
The more that I love, the less that I feel
The times that I jumped never were real
They say that all scars will heal, but I know
Maybe I won’t
But the waves won’t break my boat
– “Boat”
Ed Sheeran is touring worldwide for his + – = ÷ x Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour) with an amazing list of concert openers. Sheeran also has an upcoming documentary titled Ed Sheeran: The Sum of it All which begins streaming on Disney Plus May 3.
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