At a glance
- Key
- D Major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- I–I/iii–IV–V
- Chords used
- Em · A · D · Bm · G · D/F#
Summary
Blending soulful melodies with heartfelt storytelling, this 2014 smash hit became a global wedding anthem and a record-breaking streaming powerhouse. It showcases Ed Sheeran's ability to fuse classic R&B influences with contemporary acoustic pop sensibilities.
Chord Sheet
Chords Used
Progression by Section
Pre chorus
Bridge
Chorus
Verse
Chord Diagrams
N/A
Musical Analysis
The harmony is heavily influenced by 1970s blue-eyed soul, specifically echoing the structure of Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'. While the core changes (I-IV-V) are standard pop, the constant use of the I/iii (D/F#) inversion and the sophisticated descending…
History
The song was written in a single session in February 2014. Long-time friend Amy Wadge was visiting Sheeran's home; while Sheeran was in the shower, he heard Wadge playing a riff on his guitar. He ran out and suggested they write a song together using those cho…
“Ed Sheeran spent three weeks learning ballroom dancing for the music video.”
Full musical analysis
The harmony is heavily influenced by 1970s blue-eyed soul, specifically echoing the structure of Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'. While the core changes (I-IV-V) are standard pop, the constant use of the I/iii (D/F#) inversion and the sophisticated descending bridge elevate it above generic four-chord pop loops. The use of the ii-V-I in the pre-chorus is a hallmark of functional soul-pop songwriting.
The song was written in a single session in February 2014. Long-time friend Amy Wadge was visiting Sheeran's home; while Sheeran was in the shower, he heard Wadge playing a riff on his guitar. He ran out and suggested they write a song together using those chords. They completed the lyrics and melody in about 20 minutes, just before going to dinner with Sheeran's parents.
Blending soulful melodies with heartfelt storytelling, this 2014 smash hit became a global wedding anthem and a record-breaking streaming powerhouse. It showcases Ed Sheeran's ability to fuse classic R&B influences with contemporary acoustic pop sensibilities.
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Song DNA
Genre
Soul / Pop
Era
2010s
Mood
Romantic
Tempo
Slow
Key
Major
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Guitar-driven
Feel
Groovy
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Statistics
10.9M
Plays
1.3M
Listeners
2.4M
Genius Views
10
Annotations
100%
Popularity
4:41
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album × (Multiply) [Wembley Edition]
Original release
- ×2014
Singles
- Thinking Out Loud2014