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Ed Sheeran Says Youth Ends When Grief Happens

Ed Sheeran says that youth ends when you experience grief. As part of his Instagram “Subtract Sundays” series, the English singer-songwriter explored this thought with his new song, “End of…

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran attends 50th Anniversary Spirit Of Ireland Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on October 20, 2022 in New York City.

Jason Mendez/Getty Images

Ed Sheeran says that youth ends when you experience grief. As part of his Instagram "Subtract Sundays" series, the English singer-songwriter explored this thought with his new song, "End of Youth."

Sheeran, 32, wrote, "I never really felt like an adult until the last few years. When heavy life stuff just starts happening. And it really hit me that this obviously happens to everyone, it doesn’t matter what age you are." The artist continued to list the different kinds of grief people go through. "Friends of mine lost parents when they were teenagers, and they became adults instantly from the pure real life nature of grief."

When it comes to the different types of grief Sheeran lists, like depression and anxiety, he says it "just ends youth and playfulness." He offered the reason being that it's "so real, and so final, so all-encompassing." Ending his caption on a sad note, he adds, "This is the ending of our youth when pain starts taking over."

In the video, Sheeran tells his 43 million followers that "heavy life stuff" can happen at 30 or 6 years old. He mentions the lyrics, "We spend our youth with our losing hearts wide open. And in the dark, it's in the next, the end of youth." With guitar in hand, he then begins to play a bit of "End of Youth," the sixth track on his upcoming Subtract album.

One fan commented, "I’m just……… speechless. Subtract is already the most beautiful album ever." Another fan shared, "I can still remember my 'End of Youth' at 16, the first real grief in my life ..... another beautiful, heartfelt song Ed." Meanwhile, one fan said, "Every little piece of music that comes from you is so pure. Thank you for that." Another commented, "This is the ending of our youth when pain starts taking over. That’s so f---ing real."

Next Sunday, Sheeran will be featuring the 12th track, "Sycamore." Subtract is the upcoming sixth studio album and the fifth and final entry in his series of albums titled with mathematical symbols. It is set to be released on May 5, 2023.

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran knows how to make some of the saddest lines upbeat. His lyricism is top-tier, accompanied by his acoustic guitar and infectious pop melodies, and the Brit often strikes musical gold. Born Edward Christopher Sheeran on February 17, 1991, in England, he developed an interest in music at a very young age. He sang at a local church choir at the age of four. As we previously reported, Sheeran developed a stutter after undergoing surgery to remove a birthmark in his early years. He was gifted Eminem's The Marshall Mathers album as a kid by his uncle. The album helped him to grow out of it. When he was nine, his uncle told his dad his nephew would be "the next Bob Dylan." After learning the 2000 record and "rapping it back, to back, to back, to back," it cured his stutter.

Sheeran's Rise To Stardom

Gaining more confidence, Sheeran learned how to play the guitar and started writing songs when he was eleven. Two years later, at thirteen, Sheeran began recording music. He independently released his first collection of work, titled Spinning Man. In 2008, he moved to London, playing music in small venues and on the street. That same year, he auditioned for the ITV series Britannia High. Since the show's producers were looking for triple threats, Sheeran's dance skills proved to be highly uncoordinated, so he got cut. He wasn't too torn up about it, able to admit that everyone auditioning really wanted to be cast.

He released another EP in 2009, titled You Need Me. He and fellow English singer Leddra Chapman recorded covers with each other often, including CeeLo Green's "F--- You." In 2010, Sheeran released his critically acclaimed Loose Change EP, which featured his future debut single, "The A-Team."

With seven studio albums below his belt, see which of our favorite Ed Sheeran songs warms (or breaks) our hearts.

10. Drunk

GettyImages-888577400.jpgMike Coppola/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Ed Sheeran performs at the Z100's Jingle Ball 2017 on December 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)


9. The A Team

GettyImages-926252054.jpgPaul Kane/Getty Images

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 02: Ed Sheeran performs in concert on the opening night of his Australian tour at Optus Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


8. Wake Me Up

GettyImages-1235946549.jpgYui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Ed Sheeran performing on stage during the first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


7. I'm A Mess

GettyImages-1339366860.jpgGerardo Mora/Getty Images

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 09: Ed Sheeran performs during the 2021 NFL Kickoff Concert Featuring Ed Sheeran at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park on September 09, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


6. Thinking Out Loud

GettyImages-931549212.jpgNoam Galai/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Recording artist Ed Sheeran performs onstage during 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards - I'm Still Standing: A GRAMMY Salute To Elton John at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images )

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


5. Photograph

GettyImages-1354307361.jpgAnthony Devlin/Getty Images

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Ed Sheeran performs during HITS Live 2021 at M&S Bank Arena on November 19, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for BAUER)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


4. Shirtsleeves

GettyImages-937241620.jpgPhil Walter/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 24: Ed Sheeran performs on stage at Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


3. Hearts Don't Break Around Here

GettyImages-1353275662.jpgTristan Fewings/Getty Images

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - NOVEMBER 14: Ed Sheeran performs on stage during the MTV EMAs 2021 'Music for ALL' at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena on November 14, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for MTV)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


2. U.N.I.

GettyImages-1342505408.jpgMarc Piasecki/Getty Images

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Sheeran performs on stage during Global Citizen Live on September 25, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images For Global Citizen)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart


1. Bad Habits

GettyImages-1358336922.jpgJamie McCarthy/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Ed Sheeran performs onstage during iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball 2021 on December 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart

Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.