Ed Sheeran manifests his grief for an old friend in the touching music video for his new single Eyes Closed, which debuted Thursday night.
The 32-year-old singer posted an emotional teaser for the video on Wednesday that already had fans reeling, with one claiming, “I’m already crying my eyes out.”
The Halifax, West Yorkshire native explained in January that the song – the lead single from his fifth studio album – (Subtract) – was a tribute to his good friend Jamal Edwards.
Edwards was just 31 when he died of cardiac arrest from alcohol and cocaine abuse in February 2022.
While Sheeran Eyes originally envisioned Closed as a breakup song, that changed significantly when Edwards died, as the singer used a giant blue monster to express his grief and sadness at his loss.
Grief: Ed Sheeran manifests his grief for an old friend in the touching music video for his new single Eyes Closed, which debuted Thursday night
Monster: While Sheeran originally envisioned Eyes Closed as a breakup song, that changed significantly when Edwards died, as the singer used a giant blue monster to express his grief and sadness at his loss
The video begins with a shot of a car sinking deeper and deeper into a body of water with an unconscious Sheeran in it before flashing to a fully conscious Sheen walking into a bar.
“I know it’s a bad idea/But how can I help myself/Been indoors most of this year/And I thought a few drinks might help,” Sheeran sings as he walks in and sits at the bar.
A beer is placed in front of him as he continues to sing, while a door behind the bar opens and a bartender walks in… while we get our first glimpse of a giant blue monster meant to represent the singer’s sadness.
“Every song reminds me that you’re gone/And I feel the lump shape in my throat/’Cause I’m here alone,” Sheeran sings before breaking into the chorus.
“I just dance with my eyes closed/”Coz everywhere I look I still see you/Time moves so slow/And I don’t know what else I can do,” he sings as the video shows him , as he wanders through a crowd of young people dancing in the bar.
He has been seen taking pictures and sitting alone at a table with the blue monster looking over at him.
The song continues, “Delusion is here again/And I think you’ll come home soon/A word brings me right back in/Then it’s only me that’s in this room” as he looks out the bar window and we see the reflection of the blue monster.
He was seen exiting the bar with the monster hot on his heels, then he was seen in the bathroom and then in a small diner with the blue creature accompanying him.
Car: The video begins with a shot of a car sinking deeper and deeper into a body of water with an unconscious Sheeran inside, before flashing to a fully conscious Sheer walking into a bar
Bar: “I know it’s a bad idea/But how can I help myself/Been indoors most of this year/And I thought a few drinks might help,” sings Sheeran as he walks in and sits at the bar
Monster: A beer is placed in front of him as he continues to sing, while a door behind the bar opens and a bartender walks in… while we get our first glimpse of a giant blue monster that’s said to represent the singer’s sadness
Dance: “I’m just dancing with my eyes closed/’Coz everywhere I look I still see you/Time moves so slow/And I don’t know what else to do,” he sings while the video shows him wanders through a crowd of young people dancing in the bar
Look: He’s seen taking shots and sitting alone at a table with the blue monster looking over at him
Reflection: The song continues, “Delusion is here again/And I think you’ll come home soon/A word brings me right back in/Then it’s only me that’s in this room,” while he looks out the bar window and we looks see the reflection of the blue monster
Lyrics by Ed Sheeran – Blue Monster
[Verse 1]
I know it’s a bad idea
But how can I help myself?
Been indoors most of the year this year
And I thought a few drinks might help
It’s been a while, darling
Dealing with the dealt cards
I’m still holding back these tears
While my friends are somewhere else
[Pre-Chorus]
I imagined something different this year in February
I step into the bar, it hit me so hard
Oh how can it be so hard?
Every song reminds me that you’re gone
And I feel the lump form in my throat
‘Cause I’m here alone
[Chorus]
I just dance with my eyes closed
‘Cause wherever I look, I still see you
Time goes by so slowly
And I don’t know what else I can do
So I keep dancing with mine
[Post-Chorus]
eye-eye-eye
eye-eye-eye closed
eye-eye-eye
Oh, I keep dancing with mine
[Verse 2]
The madness is back
And I think you’ll be coming home soon
One word brings me right back in
Then it’s just me in this room
I think I could just pretend
The colors are more than blue
But I lost more than my boyfriend
I can’t help but miss you
[Pre-Chorus]
I envisioned something different this month, nobody is ever ready
And when it unfolds, you get into a hole
Oh how can it be so hard?
Everything changes, nothing is the same
But the truth is that you’re gone now
And life just goes on
[Chorus]
So I dance with my eyes closed
‘Cause wherever I look, I still see you
Time goes by so slowly
And I don’t know what else I can do
So I’ll keep dancing with mine
[Post-Chorus]
eye-eye-eye
eye-eye-eye closed
eye-eye-eye
Oh, I’ll keep dancing with mine
eye-eye-eye
eye-eye-eye closed
eye-eye-eye
Oh, I’ll keep dancing with mine
[Bridge]
They close the bar, they clean the floors
And everyone is home
But I’m on my own
[Chorus]
I just dance with my eyes closed
‘Cause wherever I look, I still see you
Time goes by so slowly
And I don’t know what else I can do
So I keep dancing with mine
[Post-Chorus]
eye-eye-eye
eye-eye-eye closed
eye-eye-eye
Oh, I keep dancing with mine
eye-eye-eye
eye-eye-eye closed
eye-eye-eye
Oh, I keep dancing with mine
Source: Genius
“Everything changes, nothing is the same/Except the truth is, now you’re gone/And life just goes on,” sings Sheeran before jumping back into the chorus.
The video cuts from the bar and diner with a few shots of him still drowning in the car before sitting alone in a diner with the blue creature standing over him.
“They close the bar/They clean the floor/And everyone’s already home/But I’m alone,” Sheeran sings as he stands alone in the bar with the blue monster.
He’s walking out of the bar as we see another woman walk in followed by another creature as he walks past another man standing by his car with another unique creature by his side.
The singer walks down a wooden walkway as the blue creature appears overhead from behind as we see multiple shots of Sheeran looking up at the creature for the first time – sort of like he’s facing his sadness head-on.
He continues to stare up at the creature before it disappears while Ed walks up the pier alone as the video ends.
Diner: The video cuts from the bar and diner with a few shots of him still drowning in the car before he sits alone in a diner with the blue creature standing over him
Alone: ”They’re closing the bar/They’re cleaning the floor/And everyone’s already home/But I’m alone,” Sheeran sings as he stands alone in the bar with the blue monster
Monster: He’s walking out of the bar as we see another woman walk in followed by another creature as he walks past another man standing by his car with another unique creature by his side
Ed: The singer walks down a boardwalk with the blue creature appearing overhead from behind as we see multiple shots of Sheeran looking up at the creature for the first time – seemingly head-on in his sadness, so to speak
Alone: He continues to stare up at the creature before it disappears while Ed walks up the pier alone as the video ends
Ed Sheeran – Blue Monster Reviews
An emotionally charged tune, The Independent claims that once you’ve heard it, it “sticks with you” and “hits home.”
In the online newspaper’s four-star rating, they wrote: “A lot of the emotional weight lies in its presentation. Sheeran’s signature reedy vocals have a richer timbre as he hits the lower register.
“If this were a love song, it would make a romantic picture. But the picture Sheeran paints — the moment he opens his eyes and knows the person he loves is no longer there — is stronger. It stays with you.’
Meanwhile, The Guardian gave the track three stars, writing, “It’s certainly a bit more understated than previous Sheeran singles; There’s more reverb on the guitar and accompanying synth, and some atmospheric, wind-like ambient noise in the background.’
Fans were quick to respond to the video on social media, including @_brightttwinnn, who said: “#EdSheeran I hope you’re doing well! We’ll be alright!!!!!’
@allthingswifted added: “It’s lovely folks. I love you sm @edsheeran #EyesClosed.
@CareoSR626 added: “Madre mia. This album will ruin me’ with the hashtag #EdSheeran.
@SelmaNkelo shared a meme of Robert Downey Jr., adding: “What a delivery.”
@nixxx_h added: “Hit hard bruh. I miss you @edsheeran #EdSheeran #EyesClosed.
@kookievhane added, “It’s really been a while @edsheeran since I’ve cried” with the hashtag #EyesClosed.
@_brightttwinnn added: “I WANNA CRY!!!!!” while @madengakan added: “HE NEVER SET ME!!!”
@1LoganAdams1 added: “This song is so fiery, thanks @edsheeran! I will dance with my #eyesclosed loves this song and Ed so much.’
@LaVidaEmo added Ed Sheeran’s new song is so heartbreaking,” while Brent Lindeque added, “Ed Sheeran just released a beautiful, tragic song that deals with loss, grief and sadness. I do not cry. You are.’
@simonmaderazo added, “@edsheeran’s new song ‘Eyes closed’ is such a vibe,” while @karolina_kolodynska added, “this song means a lot to me too. Thank you for doing what you do. We love you.”
Okay: Fans were quick to respond to the video on social media, including @_brightttwinnn, who said: “#EdSheeran I hope you’re doing well! We’ll be alright!!!!!’
Beautiful: @allthingswifted added: “It’s very beautiful guys. I love you sm @edsheeran #EyesClosed
Wreck: @CareoSR626 added: “Madre mia. This album will ruin me’ with the hashtag #EdSheeran
Delivery: @SelmaNkelo shared a meme of Robert Downey Jr., adding: ‘What a delivery’
Hit hard: @nixxx_h added: “Hit hard bruh. I miss you @edsheeran #EdSheeran #EyesClosed
A while: @kookievhane added, “It’s really been a while @edsheeran since I cried” with the hashtag #EyesClosed
Cry: @_brightttwinnn added: “I WANNA CRY!!!!!”
Never Failed: @madengakan added: “HE NEVER BAD ME!!!”
Fire: @1LoganAdams1 added: “This song is so fiery, thanks @edsheeran! Gonna dance with my #eyesclosed love this song and Ed so much.
New: @LaVidaEmo added Ed Sheeran’s new song is so heartbreaking
Brent: Brent Lindeque added, “Ed Sheeran just released a beautiful, tragic song about loss, grief and sadness. I do not cry. You are.’
Mood: @simonmaderazo added, ‘@edsheeran new song ‘Eyes closed’ is such a mood”
Means a lot: @karolina_kolodynska added: “This song means a lot to me too. Thank you for doing what you do. We love you’
Amazing: @ednana__ added: “It’s really incredible, beyond words.”
Hug: @edsheerrn added: “I want to hug you so much, I love you so much, ok????”
Great: @whosthemorley added: “Another great song pal
Summarizes: @mikwhite97 added: “This song is so beautiful and really sums up the sadness so accurately. Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait for the rest of the album.”
Cried: @ednana__ added, “I cried listening to this.”