“Overpass Graffiti” is the fifth track on Ed Sheeran’s 2021 album ‘=’ also known as ‘Equals.’ This song is about a breakup from Ed’s past that he thought was the one. Back then he imagined that this love will not fade away like graffiti on some random overpass wall.
Ed Sheeran announced his fourth studio album ‘=’ also known as ‘Equals’ to be released on October 29, 2021. Announcing the album, Ed Sheeran commented his experiences that inspired this brand new album; “I’ve been through love, loss, new life, grief and everything in between during the whole period of writing it, and I feel like it’s really a coming of age record.” This is Ed Sheeran’s first major project since his collaborative album ‘No. 6’ in 2019 and follow-up to his mathematic’s inspired album series.
Ed Sheeran talked about the meaning behind “Overpass Graffiti” on Apple Music; “The song’s about a breakup that was years ago. You still hold on to the memory of that and it will never fade, like graffiti on the overpass. Originally, this song was a power ballad, it was very slow. Then Fred said, ‘Have you ever thought about making it double time?’ It gave it new life.”
Watch “Overpass Graffiti” Music Video by Ed Sheeran
Buy ‘=’ Album on Apple Music & Amazon
Ed Sheeran “Overpass Graffiti” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
Verse 1
The wounds from Ed’s breakup are still fresh. He still aches at the memory of her. The world seems a bit darker than usual and the sunlight seems dimmer. Rain seems to have taken over. Ed Sheeran knows what her friends will say about the breakup – “a cause for celebration” because he was never right in their eyes.
Ed Sheeran says that their relationship was meant to fail despite them trying their hardest. Trying doesn’t necessarily mean they are no match for each other. Sometimes, the right people come into each other’s life at the wrong time.
Chorus
Despite having lost this battle, Ed Sheeran says that he will always love her. He knows she returns the favor. Something just did not click with them this time. But whatever they had for however long they had it, was precious. Ed Sheeran says this was the first relationship that made him stop for a moment from his chase for love.
But I’ll remember the way we were, you were the first full stop
Love that will never leave
Graffiti is random drawings on walls. Often these drawings will be forgotten after some time and will fade into non-existence. Graffiti under an overpass will have a worse fate. It will gather moss and dirt and will fade into nothing. The relationship they had was nothing like graffiti under an overpass.
Verse 2
Ed Sheeran almost sounds angry that he could not do anything to make it work with her. The kind of love they had could not be replaced. He knew it was one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of deal.
Ed Sheeran brings in a metaphor of a car stuck in a snowstorm to paint a picture of how their relationship came to an end. They were stuck. And there was no one to help push the car out of the snow. They had friends, but we already know how her friends felt about them. They were slowly suffocated until they escaped the car for the fear of their lives. A tragic ending, indeed.
Looking back, the singer cannot even recall the bad times they had, which they obviously had. This just means that the good times they had were so powerful and strong that they overshadowed the bad times they had.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.
It doesn’t make me think of past loves and what could have been, I really just love the tune/melody, that hits me harder than any of the lyrics. I always thought that he had wed his childhood sweetheart so to intimate at another lost love in this song seems odd?? I don’t know if that’s right though. I think it’s one of his best songs, and I will have this on my playlist for a long long time!
This will be the best song I ever heard from Ed, I love all his music, but this one has some magical thoughts, too meaningful, it reminds me of my younger years when I was badly in love with a guy who never love me back the way I love him. I still remember him and but sad that I wish that I never met him
This song really hits hard for me. A close friend (of 3 years) and I dated last year, my first ever date as someone with autism. I cared for her very much, but she decided to disrespect me by texting me a break up after I visited her 7/8 hours by train and not in person when I was there. It tore me up, and this song makes me cry for all I remember are the good times until I remember how it horribly ended. I’ll never forget my near-enough first love… however as much as I love this song, it makes me want to forget her and wish that I never met her.
This resonates for me for my first love. Although we’ve moved on, both married with kids a part of me will always love him and I think he feels the same. That doesn’t mean I don’t love what I have now but he was responsible for some of the happiest times of my life too. First love hits hard!
It’s a great song. I like it for my own reasons. Not pining over a lost love when I hear it, I just like it for what’s it is … not to be a Debbie downer.. but I thought he married his friend or someone close to him for awhile now. I musta read it somewhere and thought this ? Even if he is married, why does he still have her in the back of his head?
Love this song but it has been ruined for me, my wife cheated on me we are trying to work through it but when she ended the affair with the other bloke he sent her this track and she listened to it over and over. I though it was her listening to it about us and thought that she had decided we were over and that was hard enough, although I think the truth is maybe worse she was thinking about him and will do every time she hears this record
Some songs resonate so much ,,its as if they were written just for your experience
Its beautiful that lyrics can bring such emotion and mean so much
Hearing the beauty can make your heart and soul sing as well
My soulmate and I are not currently together in the physical sense
Each and every time we find a song that sings to us we share with each other and create a dance that
Moves us to tears …both happy and sad
Making LOVE can mean alot of things !
This song hits way too close to home. I cry every time I hear it for a special love lost between my daughter and her (ex)boyfriend. I really hope they can find their way back to each other some day.
It’s such a lovely song indeed ❤
This song could also be for past life lovers or twin flames that can’t be together in this lifetime. 🙁
A beautiful song….listen to it on repeat! Well done, Ed!
Great song, great analysis. Thank you for your work.
This song resonates with me. I’ve lost my one and only love! Yes her friends were hip hooraying and I don’t believe that we are better off today
I am in the same station. For me this song Its ed’s best. I feel it, understand it. Love it