Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti | Lyrics

Meaning Explained
October 29, 2021
Adam McDonald

“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.”

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.