Fans love to pick apart lyrics to glean some small insight into their favourite singer’s private life.
Ed Sheeran follows his good friend Taylor Swift as the latest to have his songs dissected as fans worry about marriage problems.
A few months ago, he revealed he was ‘just about to move to America’ with his wife, Cherry Seaborn, 33, and daughters Lyra, five, and Jupiter, three.
However, songs on his new deluxe version of album Play have suggested his marriage might be struggling.
In a song rather blatantly titled Problems, he sings: ‘You want the truth, we’re not fine’
‘We got problems, and we don’t know how to solve them,’ Ed, 34, continued, sending fans into a spiral.
The Castle on the Hill singer and Cherry grew up together in Suffolk, officially beginning to date in 2015.
In 2018, they secretly tied the knot, with Ed sharing the good news the following year.
‘Every day we feel deflated / Tryna roll with all the changes / Reality of what we’ve created,’ he sings on War Games.
‘There’s no one above or below you, you are all I want / But I feel that it’s not enough, to just offer you my love.’
In another lyric, he sings they are ‘inches from movin’ out and movin’ on’ and adding ‘either in love or we’re insane.’
However, other songs, such as Heaven, share how he is ‘falling in love all over again’.
Over the years, Cherry is thought to have been the inspiration behind hits like Shape of You, Thinking Out Loud and Perfect.
It’s not just his marriage Ed is ruminating on as in song Regrets he shares how being a parent is tough but isn’t why their ‘love is a mess’.
‘Why does it feel like our lives on a Slip ‘N Slide?’ he asks. ‘Kids, they add stress, work ain’t working the best. But that ain’t the explanation why this love is a mess.’
While lyrics point to him struggling to maintain his relationship, Ed also voices wishes he could be more present in his daughters’ lives.
‘You’re too young to understand that Daddy’s coming home / Every time I leave the house, you think I’m forever gone / Guess it’s from the hundred calls, goodnights on the telephone / See this tour, I’ve gotta get it done, but why though?’
He adds: ‘Missed out on so much / I really need to make it up.’
Earlier this year, Ed revealed he has gone to extensive measures to protect his family on the sprawling estate in West Sussex, which is made up of five houses which he purchased in 2012.
‘I have like 24-hour security on my house. I have security with my kids,’ he said on The Louis Theroux Podcast.
‘I have security with me. I have security with my wife, just because there have been a couple of weird things over the years that have happened.’
Ed has been on the road promoting his album for the better part of the last year, including a one-off gig in Dublin and a performance in London for Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball.
Starting in December, he’s embarking on the Loop Tour with shows in Paris, Munich, Manchester and even New York’s Madison Square Garden before Christmas.
Next year he’s set to visit Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and more.
Metro reached out to Ed’s team for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.