Edward Christopher Sheeran (or – Ed Sheeran, as we all know him) – British singer-songwriter from West Yorkshire, is father to many soulful pop-folk ballads. Established his name locally through Station Sessions in London’s St. Pancras International station and free gigs in Camden Town, Ed Sheeran truly made the whole world turn their heads for the first time with the soundtrack “I See Fire” which he wrote for Peter Jackson’s film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug back in 2013. And as the world’s heads turned to him, the ears and hearts melted.
With the music scene experiencing a mass shift towards electronic and programmed music, Ed Sheeran’s acoustic guitar came just in time to challenge the status quo. His songs may often have programmed rhythm or come composed as layers of guitar lines looped on top of one another, but as he plays acoustic, it all comes as perfect blend of folk and modern. His hits “Perfect” and “Thinking Out Loud” are great examples of how Ed Sheeran is able to single handedly create an infectious masterpiece.
Today we’re here to take a deep look into Ed Sheeran’s music video “Shape of you”. Released back in 2017 as a follow up to his fourth studio album “Divide”, 7 years later the video is still one of the most watched music videos on youtube in the world.
We’re curious to unwrap the magic code behind the infectious song, we’ll drill into the visual content of the video to see how the portrayed story in it is interlinked with the song, and we’ll unlock Ed Sheeran’sfashion style choices for you too. So if you’re one of the 6,246,664,550 on youtube, who’s watched Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of you” music video, and you’re curious to know everything about it – you’ve come to the right place, we hope you enjoy the read!
Song lyrics
Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
The club isn’t the best place to find a lover
So the bar is where I go
Me and my friends at the table doing shots drinking fast and then we talk slow
you come over and start up a conversation with just me and trust me I’ll give it a chance now
Take my hand stop, put ‘van the man’ on the jukebox and then we start to dance
And now I’m singing like
Girl you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now follow my lead
I may be crazy don’t mind me
Say boy let’s not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me
Come on now follow my lead
Come come on now follow my lead
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
One week in we let the story begin
We’re going out on our first date
You and me are thrifty
So go all you can eat
Fill up your bag and I fill up a plate
We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour
And how your family’s doing ok
leave and get in a taxi, then kiss in the backseat
Tell the driver make the radio play
and I’m singing like
Girl you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now follow my lead
I may be crazy, don’t mind me
Say boy let’s not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me
Come on now follow my lead
Come come on now follow my lead
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
Well I’m in love with your body
Oh I x 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I x 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
Come on be my baby come on X 8
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
Well I’m in love with your body
Come on be my baby come on X 6
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
Unlocking the song
Ed Sheeran’s song “Shape of you” tells a story about how an ordinary affair, started as a one-night stand, unexpectedly develops into a romantic relationship.
The story begins at the bar where the protagonist comes for drinks hoping to also find a lover for the night: “<…>club isn’t the best place to find a lover so the bar is where I go<…>at the table doing shots drinking fast<…>”.
The protagonist is approached by a girl and he’s eager to engage in the expected one night adventure: “<…>you come over and start up a conversation <…>trust me I’ll give it a chance now<…>I want your love<…>”. The girl makes it clear that she’s only interested in a physical romance: “<…>let’s not talk too much, grab on my waist and put that body on me<…>”.
As the first chorus comes, the protagonist reveals that after the night adventure has passed, he’s starting to discover how the experience has created an emotional attachment: “<…>my heart is falling too<…>now my bed sheets smell like you<…>”. However, he’s fighting the developing feelings, trying to diminish the importance of emotion by keeping focus on the physical aspect: “<…>I’m in love with the shape of you<…>I’m in love with your body<…>”.
Further on in the song the protagonist reveals that one week since the initial encounter, he and the girl from what was expected to be just an affair have actually decided to start seeing each other as a couple: “<…>we let the story begin, we’re going out on our first date<…>”.
There is a hint that the newly started romantic relationship may have a future, as the couple find it easy to talk to one another: “<…>We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour<…>”. The story ends as the couple drive away in a taxi together with the music playing as they kiss: “<…>get in a taxi, then kiss in the backseat, tell the driver make the radio play<…>”.
The idea that the relationship is promising and might have a future is also reinforced through the line in the chorus: “<…>Every day discovering something brand new<…>”, suggesting extended duration and positive surprise elements that arise in a romantic partnership.
Shape of you: the video
The story portrayed in Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of you” music comes as a slight contrast to the story which the artist paints through the lyrics.
In the music video, the story is set in a boxing gym. The main character played by Ed Sheeran is presented as an amateur, who comes to the boxing gym as a newbie. In one of the early scenes of the video it is shown how a boxing coach is giving him a lesson and holding the punching bag for him.
As a contrast to the amateur main character, we see a girl boxer, who is portrayed as a much more advanced and experienced boxer. Her advancement in boxing is revealed through the scenes where she is seen practicing solo as well as competing against other boxers in the ring.
The video highlights professional movement of her hands and legs and the preview of her training solo reveals her impressive physique or body shape. This plays so well with the lyrics of the chorus: “<…>I’m in love with the shape of you<…>”, giving it a new meaning: “shape” not as a silhouette, but as “body development state”, which, since the girl boxer in the video has a well trained musculous body shape, can also be translated as “I love that you’re hard to get”.
The main character and the girl make eye contact passing each other in the boxing gym and eye contact is followed by smiles on each side, showing characters are interested in each other.
Characters make first actual contact in the boxing gym’s dressing room at the lockers. Their lockers are next to one another, and as they both come to get their things the girl boxer accidentally hits the main character in the face with the door of her locker.
The accident results in the couple exchanging a laugh, they leave the gym together and go to a diner. It is made clear that a romantic relationship is developing between the two, as the characters are seen having a fun time and laughing. It corresponds with the song lyrics: “<…>We’re going out on our first date<…>”. The diner scene has the brightest lighting in the whole video, supporting the bright mood of the characters and the feeling of joy about the developing romance.
The couple is shown leaving the diner together and getting into the same taxi – another plot detail matching the plot of the lyrics. They are seen holding hands and kissing. The further progression of the video provides scenes where the couple is seen exercising together on different days, portraying the passage of time and adding duration to the relationship.
The mood changes with the second chorus. We see the girl boxer empty out her locker, leaving a box with her mouth guard and a picture of a boxing ring where street boxing fights for money take place. She is seen driving away and leaving town. This unexpected element of loss is completely new to the song, since in the lyrics there is no mention of lovers parting, however, for the video plot it adds suspension, making it interesting to continue watching to see what happens next.
The dark mood is amplified, showing the frustration of the main character as he discovers that the girl has left him. He is shown excessively exercising and pursuing body building through boxing. Video reveals the emotional suffering crushing the main character, leading to growing anger and leading towards self destruction. The video scene is followed by the song lyrics repeatedly singing “come on be my baby”, which, given the plot development in the video, signals the main character is still holding up to hope that pursuing the boxing career he will one day see his lover again and that the relationship would continue.
The finale of the video shows a boxing ring crowded with people making money bets. The main character is seen entering the boxing ring with his face scared and with a numb look, supporting the idea of emotional void and depression. Main character’s opponent in the ring appears to be heavyweight and merciless. The song is paused for a second when opponents meet in the ring, to highlight the shock in the main character’s eyes as it is made clear he does not stand a chance against the other boxer.
The final fight takes place as the main character is wearing a soft protective suit, adding a tragicomical element to the fight. The heavyweight opponent lifts him up and smashes him to the ground. We see the main character tapping the floor with his hand admitting his loss and asking to end the fight.
The video ends as the main character’s lover – the girl boxer – suddenly jumps out from behind the crowd and knocks out the heavyweight boxer. This finally ends the suspension in the video plot and provides the happy ending after all, leaving a subtle hint that the couple would be reunited and their romantic relationship would continue.
If you’re following Ed Sheeran’s style check out our Ed Sheeran’s shop page where we have outfits similar to the one he wears in the “Shape of you” music video and so much more! Also, make sure to check our fun Ed Sheeran Facts Quiz. Oh, and in case you’re curious how Ed Sheeran did back at school – check out our “10 surprising school stories” post!
Outro
Red fuzzy hair, checked shirt and sneakers – Ed Sheeran stands out as an artist who embodies his music: casual and approachable, not a fan of fancy and yet so genuine! It seems that Ed Sheeran has truly found the key to an unforgettable ballad – with melodic harmonies in his acoustic guitar play and a soulful tune in his voice Ed Sheeran has truly charmed us all!
Stay tuned for our blog as we have some video style unlocks coming up!
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Ed Sheeran’s Music Video “Shape Of You”: Review
Edward Christopher Sheeran (or – Ed Sheeran, as we all know him) – British singer-songwriter from West Yorkshire, is father to many soulful pop-folk ballads. Established his name locally through Station Sessions in London’s St. Pancras International station and free gigs in Camden Town, Ed Sheeran truly made the whole world turn their heads for the first time with the soundtrack “I See Fire” which he wrote for Peter Jackson’s film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug back in 2013. And as the world’s heads turned to him, the ears and hearts melted.
With the music scene experiencing a mass shift towards electronic and programmed music, Ed Sheeran’s acoustic guitar came just in time to challenge the status quo. His songs may often have programmed rhythm or come composed as layers of guitar lines looped on top of one another, but as he plays acoustic, it all comes as perfect blend of folk and modern. His hits “Perfect” and “Thinking Out Loud” are great examples of how Ed Sheeran is able to single handedly create an infectious masterpiece.
Today we’re here to take a deep look into Ed Sheeran’s music video “Shape of you”. Released back in 2017 as a follow up to his fourth studio album “Divide”, 7 years later the video is still one of the most watched music videos on youtube in the world.
We’re curious to unwrap the magic code behind the infectious song, we’ll drill into the visual content of the video to see how the portrayed story in it is interlinked with the song, and we’ll unlock Ed Sheeran’s fashion style choices for you too. So if you’re one of the 6,246,664,550 on youtube, who’s watched Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of you” music video, and you’re curious to know everything about it – you’ve come to the right place, we hope you enjoy the read!
Song lyrics
Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
The club isn’t the best place to find a lover
So the bar is where I go
Me and my friends at the table doing shots drinking fast and then we talk slow
you come over and start up a conversation with just me and trust me I’ll give it a chance now
Take my hand stop, put ‘van the man’ on the jukebox and then we start to dance
And now I’m singing like
Girl you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now follow my lead
I may be crazy don’t mind me
Say boy let’s not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me
Come on now follow my lead
Come come on now follow my lead
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
One week in we let the story begin
We’re going out on our first date
You and me are thrifty
So go all you can eat
Fill up your bag and I fill up a plate
We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour
And how your family’s doing ok
leave and get in a taxi, then kiss in the backseat
Tell the driver make the radio play
and I’m singing like
Girl you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now follow my lead
I may be crazy, don’t mind me
Say boy let’s not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me
Come on now follow my lead
Come come on now follow my lead
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
Well I’m in love with your body
Oh I x 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I x 4
I’m in love with your body
Oh I X 4
I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
Come on be my baby come on X 8
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new
Well I’m in love with your body
Come on be my baby come on X 6
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you
Unlocking the song
Ed Sheeran’s song “Shape of you” tells a story about how an ordinary affair, started as a one-night stand, unexpectedly develops into a romantic relationship.
The story begins at the bar where the protagonist comes for drinks hoping to also find a lover for the night: “<…>club isn’t the best place to find a lover so the bar is where I go<…>at the table doing shots drinking fast<…>”.
The protagonist is approached by a girl and he’s eager to engage in the expected one night adventure: “<…>you come over and start up a conversation <…>trust me I’ll give it a chance now<…>I want your love<…>”. The girl makes it clear that she’s only interested in a physical romance: “<…>let’s not talk too much, grab on my waist and put that body on me<…>”.
As the first chorus comes, the protagonist reveals that after the night adventure has passed, he’s starting to discover how the experience has created an emotional attachment: “<…>my heart is falling too<…>now my bed sheets smell like you<…>”. However, he’s fighting the developing feelings, trying to diminish the importance of emotion by keeping focus on the physical aspect: “<…>I’m in love with the shape of you<…>I’m in love with your body<…>”.
Further on in the song the protagonist reveals that one week since the initial encounter, he and the girl from what was expected to be just an affair have actually decided to start seeing each other as a couple: “<…>we let the story begin, we’re going out on our first date<…>”.
There is a hint that the newly started romantic relationship may have a future, as the couple find it easy to talk to one another: “<…>We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour<…>”. The story ends as the couple drive away in a taxi together with the music playing as they kiss: “<…>get in a taxi, then kiss in the backseat, tell the driver make the radio play<…>”.
The idea that the relationship is promising and might have a future is also reinforced through the line in the chorus: “<…>Every day discovering something brand new<…>”, suggesting extended duration and positive surprise elements that arise in a romantic partnership.
Shape of you: the video
The story portrayed in Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of you” music comes as a slight contrast to the story which the artist paints through the lyrics.
In the music video, the story is set in a boxing gym. The main character played by Ed Sheeran is presented as an amateur, who comes to the boxing gym as a newbie. In one of the early scenes of the video it is shown how a boxing coach is giving him a lesson and holding the punching bag for him.
As a contrast to the amateur main character, we see a girl boxer, who is portrayed as a much more advanced and experienced boxer. Her advancement in boxing is revealed through the scenes where she is seen practicing solo as well as competing against other boxers in the ring.
The video highlights professional movement of her hands and legs and the preview of her training solo reveals her impressive physique or body shape. This plays so well with the lyrics of the chorus: “<…>I’m in love with the shape of you<…>”, giving it a new meaning: “shape” not as a silhouette, but as “body development state”, which, since the girl boxer in the video has a well trained musculous body shape, can also be translated as “I love that you’re hard to get”.
The main character and the girl make eye contact passing each other in the boxing gym and eye contact is followed by smiles on each side, showing characters are interested in each other.
Characters make first actual contact in the boxing gym’s dressing room at the lockers. Their lockers are next to one another, and as they both come to get their things the girl boxer accidentally hits the main character in the face with the door of her locker.
The accident results in the couple exchanging a laugh, they leave the gym together and go to a diner. It is made clear that a romantic relationship is developing between the two, as the characters are seen having a fun time and laughing. It corresponds with the song lyrics: “<…>We’re going out on our first date<…>”. The diner scene has the brightest lighting in the whole video, supporting the bright mood of the characters and the feeling of joy about the developing romance.
The couple is shown leaving the diner together and getting into the same taxi – another plot detail matching the plot of the lyrics. They are seen holding hands and kissing. The further progression of the video provides scenes where the couple is seen exercising together on different days, portraying the passage of time and adding duration to the relationship.
The mood changes with the second chorus. We see the girl boxer empty out her locker, leaving a box with her mouth guard and a picture of a boxing ring where street boxing fights for money take place. She is seen driving away and leaving town. This unexpected element of loss is completely new to the song, since in the lyrics there is no mention of lovers parting, however, for the video plot it adds suspension, making it interesting to continue watching to see what happens next.
The dark mood is amplified, showing the frustration of the main character as he discovers that the girl has left him. He is shown excessively exercising and pursuing body building through boxing. Video reveals the emotional suffering crushing the main character, leading to growing anger and leading towards self destruction. The video scene is followed by the song lyrics repeatedly singing “come on be my baby”, which, given the plot development in the video, signals the main character is still holding up to hope that pursuing the boxing career he will one day see his lover again and that the relationship would continue.
The finale of the video shows a boxing ring crowded with people making money bets. The main character is seen entering the boxing ring with his face scared and with a numb look, supporting the idea of emotional void and depression. Main character’s opponent in the ring appears to be heavyweight and merciless. The song is paused for a second when opponents meet in the ring, to highlight the shock in the main character’s eyes as it is made clear he does not stand a chance against the other boxer.
The final fight takes place as the main character is wearing a soft protective suit, adding a tragicomical element to the fight. The heavyweight opponent lifts him up and smashes him to the ground. We see the main character tapping the floor with his hand admitting his loss and asking to end the fight.
The video ends as the main character’s lover – the girl boxer – suddenly jumps out from behind the crowd and knocks out the heavyweight boxer. This finally ends the suspension in the video plot and provides the happy ending after all, leaving a subtle hint that the couple would be reunited and their romantic relationship would continue.
Ed Sheeran's style picks
Throughout the music video “Shape of you” Ed Sheeran remains loyal to his uncompromisingly casual wardrobe. As the main character played by Ed Sheeran is taking the boxer girl on their first date in the music video “Shape of you”, Ed Sheeran is wearing a navy varsity jacket styled with khaki fingerless gloves, light blue straight leg jeans, black knit beanie and a pair of black converse sneakers.
If you’re following Ed Sheeran’s style check out our Ed Sheeran’s shop page where we have outfits similar to the one he wears in the “Shape of you” music video and so much more! Also, make sure to check our fun Ed Sheeran Facts Quiz. Oh, and in case you’re curious how Ed Sheeran did back at school – check out our “10 surprising school stories” post!
Outro
Red fuzzy hair, checked shirt and sneakers – Ed Sheeran stands out as an artist who embodies his music: casual and approachable, not a fan of fancy and yet so genuine! It seems that Ed Sheeran has truly found the key to an unforgettable ballad – with melodic harmonies in his acoustic guitar play and a soulful tune in his voice Ed Sheeran has truly charmed us all!
Stay tuned for our blog as we have some video style unlocks coming up!
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