How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Listening for the hoofs of the rescue party
Waiting for some ghost pony
To glide into Berkeley
With an old fish bowl for a tear trap
Strapped to its ghost saddle
It moves slow like an exercise bike
On an airport walkway
Yeah
Something that wouldn't smell like ground ants
Or glossy magazine cologne
But a wet street after light late summer rain
A wooden match just lit
Or something new in the green
Subject of a landscape painting
Or something new in the foreground
In a poster of some Asian mountains
That says "patience" in a funky Italics
Waiting for some ghost pony
To glide into Berkeley
With an old fish bowl for a tear trap
Strapped to its ghost saddle
It moves slow like an exercise bike
On an airport walkway
Yeah
Something that wouldn't smell like ground ants
Or glossy magazine cologne
But a wet street after light late summer rain
A wooden match just lit
Or something new in the green
Subject of a landscape painting
Or something new in the foreground
In a poster of some Asian mountains
That says "patience" in a funky Italics
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More Featured Meanings
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Blue
Ed Sheeran
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I'll try to be the first to take a shot at this.
To me, it seems like Why? feels trapped or stuck in the place that he is ("Berkeley"). He's waiting for that thing, that moment, or person, that will rescue them from his grudging everyday life in this place he doesn't want to be, and even fantasizes about being rescued from there.
And in the midst of one of his fantasies, a serendipitous event causes him to focus on a sign that says the word "Patience". It seems almost as if the sign was meant or is speaking to him.
In other words, the event tells him that he will get out of his situation, he just needs to be patient and let life take him there.
Or something new in the foreground In a poster of some Asian mountains That says "patience" in a funky Italics
I looked for a "motivational picture" with that reference, and couldn't find it... I need it so bad...
i'm assuming the mountain being referred to is the one on the album cover that poses the band's name to us. Patience almost seems like the punchline to the band's name.
the two verses together remind me of the whole "life's a trip, enjoy the ride" mantra.
also, found this...? 4.bp.blogspot.com/_ODui4s4OrgI/Sp1DXFHwSiI/AAAAAAAAAHo/uxe6sZold8k/s400/asian+mountains+motivational.jpg