Ed Sheeran Struggles With Grief & Sadness That ‘Follows’ Him In ‘Eyes Closed’ Music Video

Apr 03, 2023 by apost team

Ed Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt lyrics, soulful voice, and unique blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. Born on Feb. 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Sheeran began playing the guitar at a young age and quickly developed a passion for music. He grew up in a musical family, and his father was an art lecturer and a composer.

Sheeran's early musical influences included Irish folk music and hip-hop, which he listened to while performing in local venues around his hometown. After moving to London to pursue a career in music, he began playing in small clubs and recording demos, which led to him being discovered by Jamie Foxx. In 2011, Sheeran released his debut album, "+," which showcased his signature style of combining acoustic guitar and electronic beats with his poignant and introspective lyrics. The album's lead single, "The A Team," became a massive hit and earned him international recognition.

Over the years, Sheeran has continued to release chart-topping albums and singles, including "x," "÷" and "No. 6 Collaborations Project," which featured collaborations with popular artists such as Justin Bieber, Cardi B and Bruno Mars. In addition to his solo career, Sheeran has written songs for other artists, including One Direction and Taylor Swift.

Sheeran quietly married his childhood sweetheart in a secret ceremony in 2018. He is also now a dad of two daughters. However, Sheeran’s personal life hasn’t always been easy, as in March 2023, he revealed he suffered great loss and that his wife had gone through health hardships. The release of his song “Eyes Closed” and its accompanying music video amplified the sadness Sheeran has faced.

Back in 2019, Sheeran confirmed he had married his long-time girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. The British press reported they had wed in front of close family and friends at the singer’s home just before Christmas 2018 and that Sheeran wanted a break to spend time with his newly wedded wife.

The pair welcomed their first child, daughter Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran, in August 2020. In May 2022, he announced the birth of his second child. The child was later reported to be named Jupiter.

The trailer for Sheeran’s Disney+ docuseries “Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All” was released in March 2023. In the trailer, Sheeran explained how he envisioned the documentary going in a different direction, but “life can be unpredictable,” and he needed to share more.

"Everything in my life sort of got so much better when Cherry got into it," Sheeran shared. "I've got married and I'm a dad who has two daughters."

Unfortunately, Seaborn endured health struggles. According to Page Six, Seaborn was diagnosed with a tumor during her second pregnancy. She had “no route to treatment until after the birth.”

Clips showed Sheeran breaking down and crying in the car as he explained the hardships he and his wife went through. Sheeran continued:

"I’ve always been very guarded in my personal and private life; the only documentary I’ve ever made has been one that focused on my songwriting. Disney approached me to make a four-part documentary, and it felt like the right time to open the door and let people in. I hope people enjoy it."

Sheeran also revealed that his best friend and the man who discovered him, Jamal Edwards, had died. 

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Sheeran explained:

"Cherry's health, it was really bad and then suddenly my best friend Jamal dies. You guys said we should make a documentary and I said 'Yeah, it will be me in the studio, and we'll play the gig.' That's not what the documentary is. Loss, it just took over my life. Every time something bad happens, I tend to write a song about it."

Sheeran’s song “Eyes Closed,” from his upcoming album “-,” truly depicts this heartache. Through the lyrics, Sheeran revealed how often he’s found himself on the verge of tears and how every situation reminds him of his late friend. Unable to cope with it, he closes his eyes to shield himself from the memories.

Speaking with the Independent, Sheeran talked about what “Eyes Closed” meant to him:

“This song is about losing someone, feeling like every time you go out and you expect to just bump into them, and everything just reminds you of them and the things you did together. You sort of have to take yourself out of reality sometimes to numb the pain of loss, but certain things just bring you right back into it.”

In the music video, a big blue monster followed Sheeran around. “Often sadness is something that follows you around, engulfing the rooms you’re in, and you can feel and see it, but no-one else around you can,” Sheeran explained. “So, I decided to create my own big blue monster for the video. He gets bigger and bigger as the video goes on, until he takes up whole rooms, and is all I can see, just like sadness.”

At the end of the video, the monster went away, showing that perhaps Sheeran is finally moving forward with his grieving process.

Are you a fan of Ed Sheeran? What are your thoughts on him opening up more about his private life? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.