“Overpass Graffiti” by Ed Sheeran

“Overpass Graffiti” is not literally about the graffiti you may find on a highway overpass. Rather, the titular reference acts as a parallelism pointing to defunct romantic relationships. In other words, the vocalist is addressing a specific ex of his.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Ed Sheeran's Overpass Graffiti at Lyrics.org.

And what he is saying is just as ‘graffiti on the overpass never fades’, so too are his feelings for this lady. She may be gone out of his life but is far from forgotten.

So it’s as if in the here and now, perhaps having become wiser as time progressed, the vocalist is able to look back and see what it was exactly that drove the two of them apart. And it can be further postulated that he concludes breaking up was inevitable, all factors considered. 

The lyrics also read like this may have been Sheeran’s first true love. So he’s also mature enough to know that maybe she doesn’t look back as fondly on their past relationship as he does. But either way, as currently asserted the addressee is holding down a permanent place in the vocalist’s heart.

Lyrics to Ed Sheeran's "Overpass Graffiti"
Ed Sheeran explains "Overpass Graffiti"

Facts about “Overpass Graffiti”

Atlantic Records, Asylum Records and the Warner Music Group made this track public on 29 October 2021. And within two days of its issuance, the Official UK Charts Company reported that “Overpass Graffiti” was swiftly heading towards number one.

This is more or less to be expected considering that three out of the last four standard singles Ed dropped topped said listing. Indeed we can safely say that as far as solo male singers go, Ed has by far been the most successful to come out of the UK during the 21st century.

For instance, all four of his studio albums that were released prior to = (Equals), the project that “Overpass Graffiti” is derived from, have topped the UK Albums Chart. This is in addition to proving commercially successful in the United States and around the world.

Ed Sheeran first made fans aware of “Overpass Graffiti” via the announcement of the aforementioned album during mid-August 2021. Then, he apparently debuted it on 27 October 2021. He did so via what is referred to as a Tiny Desk Concert. This is a performance hosted by the NPR (National Public Radio) in what looks like a storefront, without any live audience present.

The music video to this track was directed by American cinematographer Jason Koenig. Jason has worked on quite a few Ed Sheeran clips in the past.

Ed contributed to both the writing and production of this song. In creating this song, he worked with Johnny McDaid and another artist known as Fred Again. The pair contributed in both the composing and production of the song.

Overpass Graffiti

Official Singles from Ed’s “=” Album

2 Responses

  1. Anthon Dhliwayo (zw) says:

    Wow overpass graffiti is so real,its like these guys were in my head walking on my past relationship and looking through my mind when they compose this song

  2. Me says:

    It also has meaning about existing relationships that are going thru struggles but not yet at the point of breaking

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