In this song, Ed Sheeran skillfully explores the concept of love and the way in which we are indentured by it. As the chorus and song title suggest, the narrator is seeking love, pleading for it. He can't bear the emptiness of being alone nor the pain of memories of love past. In the first stanza, it is apparent that he is still in love or at least fixated by the memory of love with with "her." He is seeking temporary relief from the unfamiliar solitude.
He then addresses the problem of seeking a new person while still emotionally unavailable. He needs the love, but he can't quite let go or fully overcome what is still tethering him to the memories of old love.
What is very interesting, is that he knows that it is unfair to the new person, yet he makes it less personal by referring to them as "ya." Only once the alcohol allows him to let go can he surrender to the restlessness and seek out "love." He is clear that he just wants someone to hold, nothing more. But perhaps he knows that he indeed does want more, and that's why he understands that tonight can only be an interim release.
He needs time to purge the memories of her. He'll keep count and then seek out new love when he is ready. He knows that he isn't ready for new love, but he needs love. All that he wants is to taste it once more.
Throughout the song, the narrator becomes more open to finding new love. He is still tethered to the past, but he needs more than the temporary love he finds. He knows that it is unfair to the new love, but it is indicative that he has come to a conclusion about what he wants. Although many of the words are the same in both verses, the tone of the song shifts in the second. He realizes that he still needs some time, but he is promising something more. All he wants right now may actually be the new love.
The song climbs to a climactic point where the narrator refers to his new "lover." He rhythmically repeats the same plea as the tone grows stronger and more decided.
It isn't clear how the story ends, but that may be precisely the point. We don't know how love will pan out. The song, however, concludes by emphasizing the need for love and the necessity of someone who can provide us with it.
The music video depicts a sort of side story featuring a young woman acting as Cupid. When "Cupid" sees Sheeran alone twice she merely observes him, deciding perhaps that the timing wasn't right yet. The video also furthers the point that everyone needs love. Although the young woman brought love to others, she couldn't bear the emptiness of lacking love herself.
He then addresses the problem of seeking a new person while still emotionally unavailable. He needs the love, but he can't quite let go or fully overcome what is still tethering him to the memories of old love.
What is very interesting, is that he knows that it is unfair to the new person, yet he makes it less personal by referring to them as "ya." Only once the alcohol allows him to let go can he surrender to the restlessness and seek out "love." He is clear that he just wants someone to hold, nothing more. But perhaps he knows that he indeed does want more, and that's why he understands that tonight can only be an interim release.
He needs time to purge the memories of her. He'll keep count and then seek out new love when he is ready. He knows that he isn't ready for new love, but he needs love. All that he wants is to taste it once more.
Throughout the song, the narrator becomes more open to finding new love. He is still tethered to the past, but he needs more than the temporary love he finds. He knows that it is unfair to the new love, but it is indicative that he has come to a conclusion about what he wants. Although many of the words are the same in both verses, the tone of the song shifts in the second. He realizes that he still needs some time, but he is promising something more. All he wants right now may actually be the new love.
The song climbs to a climactic point where the narrator refers to his new "lover." He rhythmically repeats the same plea as the tone grows stronger and more decided.
It isn't clear how the story ends, but that may be precisely the point. We don't know how love will pan out. The song, however, concludes by emphasizing the need for love and the necessity of someone who can provide us with it.
The music video depicts a sort of side story featuring a young woman acting as Cupid. When "Cupid" sees Sheeran alone twice she merely observes him, deciding perhaps that the timing wasn't right yet. The video also furthers the point that everyone needs love. Although the young woman brought love to others, she couldn't bear the emptiness of lacking love herself.