Best Part of Me (feat. YEBBA)

"Best Part of Me" is a tender and introspective duet that explores the themes of love, self-doubt, and the transformative power of acceptance. The song's core message revolves around finding self-worth through the eyes of a loving partner. Both Ed Sheeran and YEBBA portray characters who are acutely aware of their own imperfections, listing both physical and personal flaws. Sheeran sings about his thinning hair, scarred hands, and general insecurity, while YEBBA details her tendencies to overthink and always be late. This mutual vulnerability creates a powerful narrative where both individuals question why they are deserving of the other's love, especially when they struggle with self-love. The central theme is beautifully encapsulated in the recurring line, "Baby, the best part of me is you." This phrase signifies that their partner's love and presence are what they value most about themselves, providing a sense of completeness and making life feel coherent ("lately, everything's making sense, too"). The song suggests that true love isn't about finding a perfect person, but about being loved completely, flaws and all, and how that acceptance can help one learn to love themselves.

The song unfolds as a poignant conversation between two lovers, each grappling with their own insecurities and self-perceived flaws. It begins with the male narrator, voiced by Ed Sheeran, taking a candid inventory of his imperfections. He describes his physical and habitual shortcomings: his lungs are "black," his hands are "scarred," his hair is thinning, and his weight fluctuates. He openly admits to being insecure, listing things like his crossed eyes and the nervous habit of biting his nails. Despite these flaws, he acknowledges a core purity of heart and a commitment to honesty. He is bewildered by his partner's love, questioning why she would choose him when she could have anyone else, especially when he struggles to love himself. This sentiment of disbelief gives way to a moment of profound realization in the chorus: the best part of his existence, the element that brings clarity and sense to his world, is her. His love for her becomes the anchor in his sea of self-doubt.

The narrative then shifts to the female perspective, sung by YEBBA. She, in turn, reveals her own set of flaws, which are more internal and behavioral than physical. She confesses to overthinking, being forgetful, losing her phone, and being chronically late. Her anxieties, she implies, are just as significant as his. She mirrors his earlier bewilderment, wondering why he loves her so deeply when he has other choices. Yet, through her questioning, a sense of security emerges. She recognizes his unwavering love, expressing a belief that he will never let her go and, more importantly, that his love is a guiding force, teaching her how to love herself. This mutual recognition of imperfection and unconditional acceptance culminates in the shared chorus. Together, they affirm that their love for each other is the defining, most positive aspect of their lives. It's the source of meaning and the foundation of their profound connection, a love that doesn't just overlook flaws, but makes sense of the world because of them.

"Best Part of Me" was released on July 5, 2019, as a single from Ed Sheeran's fourth studio album, No.6 Collaborations Project. The album, a sequel to his 2011 EP No. 5 Collaborations Project, features a wide array of guest artists from different genres. The song was co-written by Ed Sheeran, American singer Yebba (Abbey Smith), and Benny Blanco. The production was handled by Sheeran, Benny Blanco, and Joe Rubel. In an interview, Sheeran explained the song is about his relationship with his wife, Cherry Seaborn, stating, "I constantly wake up every day with Cherry and I'm just like, 'Why the f--k are you with me?'." This personal sentiment of feeling insecure within a loving relationship formed the foundation of the track. Sheeran praised his collaborator, stating, "YEBBA is phenomenal, she's onto massive things." The collaboration was a first between the two artists. A live performance video was filmed at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, directed by Dan Massie, capturing the raw, face-to-face emotion of the duet.

The song's structure is built on a simple, effective rhyme scheme that enhances its lyrical sincerity. The verses generally follow an AABB rhyme pattern (e.g., pure/before, blue/truth), which gives the confessional lyrics a gentle, song-like quality that feels both organized and natural. The pre-chorus shifts slightly, often using repetition and near rhymes to build emotional tension before the resolution of the chorus. The rhythm of the lyrics is conversational, flowing naturally with the simple melody without feeling forced into a rigid metrical structure. The tempo is slow and steady, characteristic of a ballad, allowing the listener to absorb the weight of the words. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the acoustic guitar accompaniment is seamless; the guitar provides a steady, gentle pulse over which the vocal melodies can drift, creating a feeling of intimacy and introspection.

"Best Part of Me" employs both musical and literary techniques to create its intimate and emotionally resonant atmosphere.

• Musical Techniques: The song is a stripped-back, acoustic pop ballad, a style that is characteristic of Sheeran's softer hits. The arrangement is centered around a gently plucked acoustic guitar, creating an intimate, coffee-house feel that puts the focus entirely on the vocals and lyrics. The production is minimal, avoiding heavy instrumentation to enhance the raw and honest vocal delivery of both Sheeran and YEBBA. The call-and-response structure of the verses, where each artist presents their perspective, builds a conversational and balanced duet. The harmony in the chorus, where their voices blend, reinforces the theme of unity and shared feeling.
• Literary Techniques: The song's lyrical power comes from its confessional, narrative voice. It uses direct address ("you love me") and rhetorical questions ("Why the hell do you love me?") to convey a sense of genuine disbelief and wonder. The use of juxtaposition is key, contrasting negative self-descriptions ("My lungs are black") with positive affirmations of character ("my heart is pure"). This technique highlights the internal conflict between self-doubt and inherent goodness. The conversational and straightforward language makes the complex emotions highly relatable and avoids poetic abstraction in favor of raw honesty.

Released as one of the singles from the commercially successful No.6 Collaborations Project, "Best Part of Me" showcased a more traditional, acoustic side of Ed Sheeran amidst an album filled with diverse, genre-spanning collaborations with artists like Travis Scott, Eminem, and Bruno Mars. While it didn't achieve the same massive chart-topping success as other singles from the album like "I Don't Care" or "Beautiful People," it was praised by critics as a welcome return to Sheeran's signature ballad style. The song peaked at number 99 on the US Billboard Hot 100. For the featured artist YEBBA, the collaboration was a significant moment, exposing her soulful voice to Sheeran's massive global audience and further establishing her as a rising star following collaborations with artists like Sam Smith and Mark Ronson. The song has also found a place in popular culture as a wedding song, appreciated for its tender lyrics about enduring love. The official video, a live performance at Abbey Road Studios, was also well-received for its intimacy and authenticity.

The song's primary symbolic device is the stark contrast between internal self-perception and external validation through love. The lyrics don't rely heavily on complex metaphors, but rather use direct, confessional statements as a form of raw imagery.

• List of Flaws as Symbols of Insecurity: Each flaw listed by Sheeran ("lungs are black," "hair is thin," "eyes are crossed") and YEBBA ("I overthink," "never catch the train on time") symbolizes their deep-seated insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. These are not dramatic, tragic flaws, but common, everyday imperfections that are magnified in their own minds, representing the universal human tendency toward harsh self-judgment.
• The Partner as a Mirror: The partner in the song acts as a symbolic mirror, reflecting a version of the self that is worthy of love. When each singer concludes that "the best part of me is you," it's a metaphor for their partner's love being the source of their own best qualities and self-worth. Their love doesn't just add to their life; it redefines it and makes everything else fall into place, or "make sense."

The most significant recurring motif in "Best Part of Me" is the central phrase of the chorus: "Baby, the best part of me is you." This line is the song's thesis, repeated multiple times by both singers, both individually and together. Its repetition drills home the core message that their partner's love is the most valuable aspect of their own identity. It acts as the emotional anchor and the ultimate resolution to the self-doubt expressed in the verses.

Another recurring element is the rhetorical question, "Why the hell do you love me?". This question is posed by both Sheeran and YEBBA from their respective verses. Its recurrence highlights the song's central conflict: the struggle to reconcile one's own perceived flaws with the unwavering love received from a partner. This repeated questioning creates a powerful sense of shared vulnerability and mutual bewilderment, making their eventual union in the chorus more impactful.