Ed Sheeran Opens Up About Family Life and the Impact of Touring on His Daughters in New Songs

Ed Sheeran.
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Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Ed Sheeran discusses the impact of touring on his family life in the deluxe edition of his latest album, Play.
• In the song “Regrets,” he reflects, “You’re too young to understand that Daddy’s coming home. Every time I leave the house, you think I’m forever gone.”
• The artist also reveals feelings of being “deflated” in his marriage to Cherry Seaborn.

Ed Sheeran recently opened up about the challenges of balancing family life with his music career in the deluxe edition of his latest album, Play.

At 34, Sheeran has detailed the emotional toll of his three-year + – = ÷ x (pronounced “Mathematics”) Tour on his relationship with his wife, Cherry Seaborn, and their daughters, Lyra, 5, and Jupiter, 3. This is captured poignantly in his new song “Regrets.”

In the track, Sheeran sings, “You’re too young to understand that Daddy’s coming home. Every time I leave the house, you think I’m forever gone. Guess it’s from the hundred calls, good nights on the telephone. See this tour, I’ve gotta get it done, but why though? Missed out on so much, I really need to make it up.”

Additionally, in “War Problems,” Sheeran expresses struggles within his marriage. The lyrics convey a sense of struggle: “Every day we feel deflated. Tryna roll with all the changes. Reality of what we’ve created.”

Nevertheless, during a recent episode of Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals, Sheeran shared that he feels he has found a balance between his family life and his touring commitments. “My girls have been on tour with me since the start of Mathematics,” he remarked. “I feel like my life only works when we’re together.”

Sheeran clarified that touring does not feel like an obligation. “I really enjoy my career,” he stated. “I love touring, I love songwriting. Touring has gotten to a point now that it can fit around my family, and I can dictate what I do.”

Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn at the 2022 BRIT Awards.

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He elaborated, “If I’m like, ‘I only want to play Saturdays,’ that’s what I do. If I want to play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I can do that as well. But if that feels like too much, then I’ll just say, ‘I just want to play Saturdays.’ It’s kind of the perfect balance.”

In a July podcast appearance, Sheeran noted the role his wife plays in introducing their daughters to his music. “When I’m away, she’ll play my songs to them to kind of introduce the music to them slowly,” he explained.

Sheeran revealed that of all his songs, “Sapphire” is a favorite among his daughters. “They came to India when I made that record, and they were in the studio while we were putting all the tablas and santoors,” he recalled. “They know most of the lyrics to that song now.”