Ed Sheeran Reveals He Almost Quit Music - Thank God He Didn't!
In his new book A Visual Journey, the star opens up about his struggles to hit the big time...
Ed Sheeran has confessed in his new book that he almost quit music.
In an extract from A Visual Journey published by The Mirror, the Thinking Out Loud singer recalls how he was ready to call it a day after a show in London back in 2010 because he was sick of having no money.
Sheeran explains: "There came a point when I wanted to quit. When I thought: 'This is horrible. This isn’t going to work'.
"It was December 2010 and I’d sold out Cargo in Shoreditch, the biggest show I’d ever played. There were 500 people there... even my dad turned up.
"After the show, I was drinking with my dad and loads of other people. One by one, they started leaving. My dad said: 'Do you mind if I get off?' Then it was just me and the bar staff. 'We’ve got to go,' they said. 'Cool, safe,' I said."
He continues: "I took out my phone. It was dead. I was really drunk, but very aware that I had no money on me at all. I’d spent all the cash I had buying people drinks. 'This isn’t great,' I thought.
"I’d worked really f***ing hard and gigged my ass off for three years. I’d released four EPs. I’d just played a sold-out show. But I’d come out of it with no money, no place to live, a dead phone and nowhere to go."
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?
And, darling, I will
Be loving you 'til we're 70
And, baby, my heart
Could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well me, I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am
So, honey, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way, mhm
I know you will still love me the same
'Cause, honey, your soul
Could never grow old, it's evergreen
And, baby, your smile's
Forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
And maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand
That, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
And maybe we found love right where we are
So, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are
Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are
Ed goes on to add: "I ended up walking to a friend’s house and burst into tears. 'Dude, I can’t do this any more'. I was in a proper state."
However, Sheeran goes on to state how "quickly" things changed for him, from receiving calls from Elton John to singing on stage with Paul McCartney.
He states: "Twelve months after releasing the No. 5 Collaborations Project as an unsigned, independent act, I’d won Breakthrough Artist at the BT Digital Music Awards, Best Single at the Q Awards and been nominated for a Best Newcomer MOBO.
"In February 2012 I won two BRIT Awards for British Breakthrough and British Solo Male Artist, and in May I won the Ivor Novello."
"In June I performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert. At the end of the show I was on stage singing with Paul McCartney.
"It was incredible, to be honest. While we were doing the national anthem, Stevie Wonder was behind me – literally right behind me – playing it on his harmonica. It was such a surreal experience."
Love Ed? Watch 'Storytellers – Ed Sheeran' this Saturday (January 25) at midnight on MTV Music.