Thinking Out Loud

Song Meaning of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Thinking Out Loud is a love song about the kind of relationship that can withstand any internal or external turmoil. It reflects on the fact that everyone makes mistakes, and what matters is how you overcome them together.

Sheeran says that he wrote this song about his then girlfriend, Athina Andrelos. He describes her as an evergreen, a metaphor for someone who never loses their leaves or color during winter.

The sparse acoustic guitar arrangement provides a dreamy, bass-less backdrop for Sheeran's crooning vocals. This song is easy on the ear, and evokes a campfire level of intimacy between Sheeran and his listeners. Its blend of Blue-Eyed Soul and contemporary singer-songwriter propelled this song to the top of Mainstream radio charts in the U.S. and global hit status.

From the start of the song, Sheeran throws his listeners into what he is thinking and feeling. He tells them he thinks they might have found love right where they are, and reiterates that thought over and over again.

Sheeran's acoustic guitar sound and the lyrical content of this song is inspired by the late singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". Sheeran was criticized for copying aspects of that song, but ultimately won a copyright case against the owners of the music.

Sheeran claimed that the melody was "very Van-like" in the way that it was created on the guitar. He was alluding to Van Morrison. Sheeran has long regarded the Irish musician as an inspiration, and when he wrote the song, he tried to convey that feeling.

On February 4, 2014, at 2:00 am, Sheeran and Wadge started writing the song in the kitchen. They finished it in 20 minutes.

Before hitting at number one in early November 2014 in the UK, the song spent 19 weeks there in the top 40, becoming Sheeran's second number-one single there. The song also peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100 and achieved the top spot in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands.

Thinking Out Loud lyrics by Ed Sheeran

When your legs don't work like they used to before

And I can't sweep you off of your feet

Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?

Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70

And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23

And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe just the touch of a hand

Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day

And I just wanna tell you I am

So, honey, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades

And the crowds don't remember my name

When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm...)

I know you will still love me the same

'Cause, honey, your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen

And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory

I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe it's all part of a plan

Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes

Hoping that you'll understand

That, baby, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

Thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are (oh, oh)

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, lo-ud

So, baby, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

But maybe we found love right where we are

Oh, baby, we found love right where we are

And we found love right where we are