Don't

"Don't" by Ed Sheeran is a candid and emotionally charged song that delves into the themes of betrayal, infidelity, and the painful unraveling of a promising romantic connection. The lyrics narrate a story, which Sheeran has confirmed to be 100 percent true, about a fellow singer with whom he had a brief and intense relationship. The song's meaning is rooted in the frustration and hurt that comes from being deceived by someone who initially seemed genuine and innocent. Sheeran chronicles the development of the relationship, from a casual warning not to get attached to a deeper connection that is ultimately shattered by a single act of betrayal. The core message of the song is a direct and raw confrontation of this betrayal, encapsulated in the explicit and repeated line, "Don't f*** with my love." This line serves as the emotional anchor of the song, expressing both anger and a sense of violated trust. The narrative details the specifics of the infidelity, with the other person being a friend of Sheeran's and the act occurring in the same hotel, which amplifies the feeling of disrespect. While there has been much public speculation that the song is about Ellie Goulding and Niall Horan, Goulding has denied ever being in a relationship with Sheeran. Regardless of the specific individuals involved, the song's meaning transcends gossip and speaks to a universal experience of heartbreak and disillusionment.

The song narrates the story of a burgeoning romance between two musicians who share a similar lifestyle, constantly traveling between cities. The narrative begins with the singer meeting a woman who initially warns him not to get too attached, hinting at her transient nature. Despite this, he finds himself drawn in, and they spend a brief but intense period together. He describes their connection as more than just a fleeting fling, with her staying at his place and seemingly appreciating his affection. He puts their budding relationship on hold while he is away for a few months, only to be met with her friendly advances upon his return, which quickly lead to intimate invitations.

The chorus serves as a repeated plea and a warning: "Don't f*** with my love." This line encapsulates his feeling of betrayal and the coldness he now perceives in her actions. He expresses a desire to remain ignorant of the details of her infidelity, as the knowledge is too painful.

The story escalates as he details their time together, filled with simple pleasures like takeaway pizza, which he contrasts with their hectic professional lives. He reflects on their shared career paths, with the line "we make money the same way," and the possibility of them navigating their busy schedules together. However, this hope is shattered.

The third verse delivers the climax of the betrayal. He recounts her emotional vulnerability, crying on his shoulder, and his emphasis on the importance of trust and respect in their connection. He asserts that he never intended to be just another person in a line of her conquests and believed their relationship was unique. The pivotal moment of betrayal is revealed: she cheated on him with another man in the same hotel where he was staying, a floor below. He confronts the blatant disrespect of the act, expressing his hurt and disillusionment. He concludes by stating that while he wasn't looking for a formal commitment, he thought their connection was more than just 'fun' and that he believed she was different from others. The song ends with a sense of finality and disappointment, as it's too late for her to realize what she truly wanted.

The creation of "Don't" began with a simple guitar riff that Ed Sheeran had saved on his phone for about a year. The song was written by Sheeran and Benny Blanco, with production handled by Blanco and the legendary Rick Rubin. Initially, Sheeran recorded the track with Blanco, but a second version was later recorded with Rubin. The final version of the song is a combination of both producers' work. Interestingly, "Don't" was originally slated to be the lead single from Sheeran's second studio album, × (Multiply). However, "Sing" was ultimately chosen instead, a decision some speculate was due to the explicit nature of the chorus in "Don't". Sheeran himself was initially hesitant to even include the song on the album, viewing the writing process as a personal and therapeutic way to deal with his frustration over a real-life event. He stated that he wrote the song out of anger and that it helped him feel better afterward. Friends and collaborators who heard the track convinced him of its quality and persuaded him to release it. The song samples "Don't Mess with My Man" by the R&B group Lucy Pearl. It was released as a promotional single on iTunes on June 13, 2014, before officially being sent to US contemporary hit radio on July 15, 2014, as the album's second single.

The rhyme scheme and rhythm of "Don't" are integral to its energetic and confrontational feel. The song's verses largely follow an AAAA rhyme scheme, a technique often found in rap and pop music that creates a driving, forward momentum. For example, in the first verse, "year," "disappear," "mistake," and "away" don't perfectly rhyme, but the assonance and consonant sounds create a cohesive flow. This is more apparent in other sections with rhymes like "nights," "right," and "either," "feature." This consistent rhyming pattern, combined with Sheeran's fast-paced, rhythmic vocal delivery, gives the verses a percussive quality. The tempo of the song is a moderate 92 beats per minute, which allows for both the laid-back, groovy feel of the chorus and the rapid-fire lyrical delivery of the verses. The rhythm of the vocal melody often plays against the steady beat of the drums and bass, creating a syncopated and engaging feel. The chorus, with its more sung and melodic nature, provides a contrast to the rhythmic intensity of the verses, allowing the song to build and release tension effectively. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is a key element of the song's style, blending pop catchiness with hip-hop's verbal dexterity.

"Don't" showcases a blend of musical and literary techniques that contribute to its impact. Musically, the song is characterized by its R&B and hip-hop influences, a departure from some of Sheeran's more acoustic-folk material. The prominent, groovy bassline and a sample of Lucy Pearl's "Don't Mess with My Man" provide a soulful foundation. Sheeran's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element, shifting from a smooth, melodic singing voice in the chorus to a more rhythmic, almost rap-like cadence in the verses. This rapid-fire delivery in the verses allows him to pack in a significant amount of narrative detail, giving the song a storytelling quality. The use of a simple, repetitive vocal hook ("Ah lahmlahlah") adds a catchy, pop-oriented element that contrasts with the harshness of the lyrics. Lyrically, the song employs a direct, conversational, and at times brutally honest narrative voice. The use of explicit language in the chorus is a deliberate choice that emphasizes the rawness of his emotions. The song's structure, with three distinct verses that set up, explain, and resolve the situation, is a classic storytelling technique that Sheeran himself has acknowledged. The lyrics are filled with specific details, such as "four cities, two planes, the same day," which ground the story in a believable reality.

"Don't" was a significant commercial success and had a notable cultural impact. It became Ed Sheeran's first top 10 single in the United States, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. The song's success was fueled in part by the widespread speculation about its subject matter, with many media outlets and fans believing it to be about a love triangle involving Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, and Niall Horan of One Direction. While Sheeran has remained officially silent on the subject, he has acknowledged that "everyone f***ing knows anyway." This intrigue undoubtedly helped to generate buzz around the song. An extended play was released to accompany the single, which featured a remix by the rapper Rick Ross. The song's music video, directed by Emil Nava, also garnered attention. It features a dancer's journey from poverty to wealth and notably does not heavily feature Sheeran himself, who only makes a brief cameo. "Don't" showcased a more R&B and hip-hop-influenced side of Sheeran's music, which was a departure from his earlier work and demonstrated his versatility as an artist. The song remains a popular and recognizable track in his discography and is often cited as an example of his more confrontational and emotionally raw songwriting.

While "Don't" is largely a straightforward narrative, it employs some lyrical elements that can be interpreted as symbolic or metaphorical. The line, "I reckon she was only looking for a lover to burn," uses the metaphor of burning to suggest a destructive and perhaps careless approach to relationships, treating lovers as disposable. This imagery has also been speculated by fans to be a direct reference to Ellie Goulding's hit song "Burn," though this remains unconfirmed. The hotel setting itself becomes a symbol of the transient and detached nature of their musician lifestyles, yet it's also the very space where the intimate betrayal occurs, heightening the sense of personal violation. The act of cheating happening on the "same f***ing hotel floor" underscores the proximity and blatant disrespect of the infidelity. The mention of "a takeaway pizza" and sitting on the couch to watch a film represents a desire for normalcy and simple intimacy amidst their chaotic, jet-setting lives, a stark contrast to the drama that unfolds. The song's narrative structure, moving from a hopeful beginning to a bitter end, can be seen as a metaphor for the disillusionment that can occur when the idealized image of a person is shattered by their actions.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Don't" is the chorus's central line, "Don't f*** with my love." This phrase acts as the song's thesis statement, a raw and uncensored expression of the singer's pain and anger. Its repetition throughout the song drives home the central theme of betrayal. The phrase is often followed by "that heart is so cold," which serves as a recurring motif of the woman's perceived emotional detachment. Another recurring lyrical idea is the contrast between the couple's professional and personal lives, particularly the motif of travel and being on the road. The line "we make money the same way / Four cities, two planes, the same day" appears in the second verse and highlights their shared lifestyle, which initially seems to be a point of connection but ultimately doesn't prevent the betrayal. The concept of her being "different" is another recurring idea. In the final verse, he sings, "I thought you were different," which encapsulates his sense of disillusionment and the shattering of his initial perception of her. The song also features a recurring melodic vocal hook, a wordless "Ah lahmlahlah," that appears in the intro and chorus, providing a catchy and memorable element that contrasts with the lyrical bitterness.