Ed Sheeran is opening up like never before about the emotional cost of life on the road, using his latest songs to shed light on the strains in his marriage and family life.
On Saturday, Page Six reported that the deluxe edition of Sheeran’s album Play features candid revelations about the challenges he’s faced in his relationship with his wife, Cherry Seaborn. According to the outlet, the expanded release includes 13 additional tracks, many of which touch on how his three-year Mathematics World Tour created pressure at home as his career soared.
In the deeply personal track “Problems,” Sheeran reflects on a relationship struggling to stay afloat. The lyrics offer a striking metaphor for things falling apart.
Sheeran continues exploring that unease in “War Game,” a song that captures exhaustion, love, and uncertainty in equal measure: “Each day leaves us drained. We’re scrambling to keep up with the shifting tides. This reality we’re sculpting—you’re my everything. Yet it seems my love alone isn’t cutting it.”
The singer also turns inward in “Regrets,” confronting the guilt he’s carried as a father during long stretches away from his two young daughters. His voice cracks with vulnerability as he sings, “You’re too young to grasp that Daddy’s coming home. Each departure feels like forever to you. Blame it on the countless good nights over video calls and phone lines. This tour needs to wrap up, but at what cost? I’ve missed so much, and I’m desperate to make amends.”
Sheeran and Seaborn announced their engagement in January 2018. The couple later welcomed their first daughter in August 2020, followed by their second in May 2022.
