You're just a small bump unborn
In four months you're brought to life
You might be left with my hair
But you'll have your mother's eyes
I'll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can
But for now you're a scan of my unmade plans
A small bump
In four months you're brought to life

And I'll whisper quietly
I'll give you nothing but truth
If you're not inside me
I'll put my future in you

You are my one and only
And you can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
Oh, you are my one and only
You can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
And you'll be alright

Ooh, you're just a small bump unknown
You'll grow into your skin
With a smile like hers
And a dimple beneath your chin
Fingernails the size of a half grain of rice
And eyelids closed to be soon opened wide
A small bump
In four months you'll open your eyes

And I'll hold you tightly
I'll tell you nothing but truth
If you're not inside me
I'll put my future in you

You are my one and only
And you can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
Oh, you are my one and only
You can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
And you'll be alright

And you can lie with me
With your tiny feet
When you're half asleep
I'll leave you be
Right in front of me
For a couple weeks
So I can keep you safe

'Cause you are my one and only
And you can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
You are my one and only
You can wrap your fingers 'round my thumb
And hold me tight
And you'll be alright

'Cause you were just a small bump unborn
For four months then torn from life
Maybe you were needed up there
But we're still unaware as why


Lyrics submitted by sophielou512, edited by dimplez1997, mesicles, morning102, trevortaks, padalecki

Small Bump Lyrics as written by Edward Christopher Sheeran

Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Small Bump song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • +14
    General Comment

    Ed himself has said that this song is based on one of his friends losing her unborn child. Of course, for the purposes of the song, he wrote it as if it was his own.

    jeroplaneon October 28, 2011   Link
  • +11
    My Interpretation

    Well, Ed wrote this song for his friend who sadly had a miscarriage at four or five months. Ed describes the feeling, hopes and exceptions of the newborn, playing the father role who’s into the idea of being a dad. He’s sure that the baby will be born, that he’s making plans and thinking about what he’ll do when the newborn is brought to life, and also having that direct conversation with the baby. “I’ll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth, If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you” “You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight” “You can lie with me, with your tiny feet when you’re half asleep, I'll leave you be Right in front of me for a couple weeks so I can keep you safe” Which is sign of the strong bond between the parent and the baby even before the newborn is brought to life (which makes the baby death harder for the parents). Describing the baby’s features and having the idea that the baby is an angel so when the baby dies Ed says: “Maybe you were needed up there….” Still having that direct conversation with the baby even after the baby passed away, which is sign of how strong, deep and maybe special the connection between the parent and their baby, and also a sign that Ed is still confused and can’t believe baby’s death, and also sign of the deep sadness Ed is experiencing. Also Ed didn’t depend on the power of his lyrics in the song, his performance and the sad tone in his voice created that atmosphere, so that even if you don’t know what the songs is about, you can tell that there’s something wrong. NOTE: I’m crying while I’m writing this 

    Morsioon May 06, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    First and foremost every element of this song is AMAZING. He basically states the hopes and expectations of a new born baby. He displays his joys and keen anticipation for the new born in the way that he states the child may hold on to him,depend on him , that he will exchange truth and honesty with the child and most importantly the fact that he is investing his future in the new born. Not too many layers within the song it is very straightforward and yet very profound. With a very sad ending. But all in all AMAZING.

    Dream2Beon October 03, 2011   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This is such a cleverly written song. I'm not a parent, so I wouldn't know what expecting a child feels like but you obviously hope for something good to happen rather than something bad. And in the song we get to see these emotions, really simple but powerful, and in the last lines all that good feeling just turns into sadness but that's exactly what a miscarriage has to be like.

    This is actually a really bold topic for a song. I get tired of hearing love songs again and again but Ed Sheeran's lyrics are very refreshing and his songs tend to be very thought provoking.

    ThomasDBon January 08, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    My Sister in Law lost her baby. And this song reminds me of her when she was pregnant how hopeful she was about the baby. When I first heard this song when she was pregnant And I kind of hated the song because less then a week later she lost the baby. And every time I hear it, It reminds me of her and that baby. And I cry. And I want her to listen to it, to move on. To cry and get up. But she still hasn't.

    submarinesintheseaon February 25, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My Opinion

    I am so glad I found this song its means so much to me cause I would have loved to have heard this song back when I had a stillborn at 6 and a half months and then I was glad I have this song now because I just recently miscarried and its helping me grieve. Ed Sheeran

    stephdye13on March 31, 2013   Link
  • +3
    Song Comparison

    My mother had a baby that died at just 16 days old- although i wasn't alive at the time and when I told her about this song she almost cried. Great song and I love artists that don't make their song striaght to the point but get you to figure it out to connect. I'm your #1 fan Ed!

    TrunkMunkiezon March 26, 2012   Link
  • +3
    My Opinion

    this song was written for ed sheeren's friend katie who lost her baby at the end of last year

    awesomemusicon May 05, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Sad sad song...about a pregnancy loss. Lost one years ago and every St. Patty's night I think of the emergency surgery and how bad a time it was. I like that the song references God/Heaven. Talented singer/song-writer.

    xx20ended09xxon May 11, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Message is pretty straightforward.

    I really love how this song is structured, it makes it so much more emotional. He wants listeners to be overwhelmed with joy as they hear of his future plans that are centred around his unborn child and only at the very end does he shatter all hopes and dreams, "four months then torn from life".

    amieserovskion April 17, 2012   Link

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