Take Me Back to London (feat. Stormzy)

"Take Me Back to London" is a powerful anthem about homecoming, identity, and the dual nature of success. At its core, the song is a celebration of London, not just as a city, but as a symbol of home and authenticity for both Ed Sheeran and Stormzy. After achieving global fame and traveling the world, they express a deep-seated desire to return to their roots. This longing isn't just for a place, but for the grounding reality, the friendships, and the culture that shaped them.

The lyrics also serve as a platform for braggadocio, where both artists assert their dominance and success in the music industry. Sheeran boasts about the massive financial success of his "Divide Tour," while Stormzy projects an image of street-level credibility and power. However, this boasting is juxtaposed with the recognition that fame and fortune are not the ultimate goals. They reflect on the emotional cost of their success, the loneliness of being far from home, and the realization that accolades like BRIT Awards don't quell the longing for genuine connection. Ultimately, the song's meaning is encapsulated in the recurring sentiment that "there ain't no place like home," reinforcing the idea that true contentment is found in one's origins, away from the often-superficial world of celebrity.

The song opens with the feeling of returning home after a long time away, symbolized by a jet plane soaring through the sky. There's a palpable sense of longing for the familiar energy of London and its vibrant nightlife, a desire to reconnect with the city's pulse.

Stormzy's verse immediately grounds the listener in the raw, unfiltered reality of his South London upbringing. He paints a picture of a world where words have consequences (“chat shit get banged”) and reputation is everything. He distances himself from the superficiality of online feuds and the glitz of fame, emphasizing his authenticity and deep-rooted connections. He speaks of loyalty and the protective circle he maintains, where his crew is ready to defend him. His references to luxury items like an Audemars Piguet (AP) watch aren't just about wealth, but about the control and precision he now commands in his life. The verse is a declaration of his identity, forged in the streets of South London, and a warning to those who might underestimate him.

Ed Sheeran then takes over, reflecting on his own journey and the public's perception of him. He acknowledges the stereotype of being just a singer, challenging it by asserting his skills as a lyricist and rapper (“nobody thinks I write rhymes”). His return to London is portrayed as a simple, grounding experience—reuniting with friends at a local pub for a pint and a packet of crisps. This contrasts sharply with the immense success he casually mentions, having “grossed half a billi’ on the Divide tour.” He doesn't dwell on the fortune but uses it as a launchpad to celebrate his collaboration with Stormzy (“Big Michael”). The verse is a blend of humility and boastfulness, showing that despite his global stardom, he finds comfort and identity in the simple pleasures of home.

The narrative then shifts to a shared reflection on the price of fame. Both artists touch on the relentless nature of the music industry. They mention achieving major milestones like winning BRIT Awards and headlining Glastonbury, but reveal that these pinnacles of success don't bring lasting satisfaction (“when you get to the top man it's never enough”). There's an underlying sense of loneliness and sacrifice, the feeling of being miles away from home and the people you love. The song culminates in a powerful, recurring realization: despite all the achievements, accolades, and wealth, “there ain’t no place like home.” This central theme ties the entire track together, portraying London not just as a geographical location, but as an emotional anchor, a source of identity, and the ultimate sanctuary.

"Take Me Back to London" was born from the longstanding friendship and mutual respect between Ed Sheeran and Stormzy. They had previously collaborated on a remix of Sheeran's massive hit "Shape of You," which they performed together at the 2017 BRIT Awards. The song was created for Sheeran's No.6 Collaborations Project, an album released in 2019 that featured a diverse range of artists. Sheeran has a history of collaborating with UK grime artists, dating back to his No. 5 Collaborations Project EP in 2011.

The track was written by Ed Sheeran and Stormzy (Michael Omari Jr.) along with frequent collaborators Shellback, Max Martin, and Fred Gibson. The production team was a powerhouse trio consisting of Skrillex, Kenny Beats, and Fred Gibson (Fred again..). An interesting anecdote from the creation process involves Jay-Z. The American rap mogul was in the studio during the song's development and expressed interest in adding a verse. However, Stormzy felt that Jay-Z's presence wouldn't be the right fit for a song so deeply rooted in London's culture and respectfully declined the offer, a decision that Jay-Z reportedly understood and respected.

The song uses London as its central and most powerful symbol. It represents more than just a city; it symbolizes home, authenticity, and roots. For both artists, returning to London is a return to their true selves, away from the artifice of international stardom. The simple act of going to a pub for a "packet of crisps with my pint" symbolizes a grounding, everyday reality that contrasts with the extraordinary life of a touring musician who has "grossed half a billi'."

The "jet plane headed up to the sky" is a recurring image that functions as a metaphor for their careers—constantly moving, ascending, and being away. However, it's also the vehicle that brings them back, creating a duality of escape and return. Stormzy's lyrics are rich with the symbolism of street culture; his "shooter" represents loyalty and a dangerous past, while the Audemars Piguet ("AP") watch symbolizes not just wealth, but a mastery over his own time and destiny after a life where things were unplanned. The shared final verse, which mentions winning "BRITs" and doing "Glasto," uses these iconic British cultural milestones to symbolize the peak of success, but immediately juxtaposes them with the feeling of being "miles away and you're feeling alone," reinforcing the core theme that worldly success cannot replace the feeling of home.

The predominant emotional tone of "Take Me Back to London" is a mix of triumphant pride and heartfelt nostalgia. There is an overarching feeling of defiance and confidence, particularly in the braggadocio of both artists as they celebrate their hard-earned success and assert their dominance in the music world. This is conveyed through the aggressive energy of the grime beat and the assertive vocal deliveries of both Stormzy and Sheeran.

However, this triumphant mood is deeply layered with a sense of longing and nostalgia for home. The recurring plea to be taken "back to London" reveals a vulnerability beneath the confident exterior. It speaks to the loneliness and dislocation that can accompany massive fame, creating a bittersweet undertone. The artists acknowledge the sacrifices made ("go through tears with the people you love") and the ultimate emptiness of accolades when you are far from your roots. This blend of pride in their accomplishments and a yearning for the comfort of home creates a complex and relatable emotional landscape—celebratory and successful, yet grounded and wistful.

"Take Me Back to London" had a significant cultural and commercial impact, particularly in the UK. Upon the release of a remix by Sir Spyro featuring rappers Jaykae and Aitch, the song soared to number one on the UK Singles Chart. This marked Ed Sheeran's eighth UK number one single and Stormzy's second. The song's success further solidified the mainstream appeal of grime, a genre that Stormzy has been instrumental in bringing to a global audience. The collaboration between a global pop superstar and a leading grime artist was seen as a powerful endorsement of the genre's cultural significance.

The music video for the Sir Spyro remix became widely popular, showcasing quintessentially British activities like drinking tea, visiting a pub, and driving a Rolls Royce through the countryside, playfully celebrating national identity. The track was a standout on Sheeran's No.6 Collaborations Project, an album that itself debuted at number one in numerous countries. The song reinforced the strong creative partnership between Sheeran and Stormzy, who have shown great public support for one another, including a surprise joint performance at one of Sheeran's homecoming shows in Ipswich.

The song's rhythmic structure is driven by a fusion of grime and pop-rap conventions, creating a dynamic and energetic feel. The underlying beat, produced by Skrillex, Kenny Beats, and Fred, features the fast tempo (around 138 BPM) and syncopated rhythms characteristic of grime, with sharp hi-hats and a deep bass line. This provides a high-energy canvas for the vocal performances.

Stormzy's verses exemplify a classic grime flow, characterized by rapid, percussive delivery and complex rhythmic patterns that often push and pull against the beat. His rhyme scheme is intricate, using a mix of perfect rhymes ("twanged"/"planned"/"gangs"/"banged") and multi-syllabic rhymes to create a dense, relentless lyrical texture. For example, in the lines "I don't do online beef, or neeky grime beef / I'm way too G'd up to beef a grime neek," he uses internal rhymes and assonance to maintain momentum.

Ed Sheeran adapts his delivery to the grime style, employing a more rhythmic, rap-like cadence in his verses rather than his typical melodic singing. His rhyme scheme is generally simpler (AABB or ABCB), which makes his sections catchy and memorable, acting as a pop counterpoint to Stormzy's complex flow. The chorus features a simple, melodic hook with a straightforward rhythm, making it the song's anchor and most memorable element.

"Take Me Back to London" is a stylistic fusion that merges Ed Sheeran's pop-rap melodic sensibilities with the hard-hitting aesthetics of UK grime, a genre Stormzy champions. The track is built on a trap-influenced beat with a prominent, nimble pizzicato-like synth line that provides a buoyant yet tense energy.

Literary Techniques:

• Juxtaposition: The song constantly juxtaposes the glamorous life of a superstar with mundane, quintessentially British imagery. For instance, Sheeran mentions earning "half a billi' on the Divide Tour" right before wanting a simple "packet of crisps with my pint." This highlights the theme of staying grounded.
• Braggadocio: Both artists employ boastful language typical of hip-hop and grime to assert their success and credibility. Stormzy's lines about his "shooter" and Sheeran's about his tour gross are prime examples.
• Cultural References: The lyrics are packed with references specific to UK culture, such as Glastonbury ("Glasto"), the BRIT Awards, and pub life, which firmly root the song in its British identity.

Musical Techniques:

• Vocal Delivery: The song showcases a dynamic interplay between Sheeran's melodic, rhythmic singing and Stormzy's aggressive, fast-paced grime flow. Sheeran also demonstrates his versatility by rapping his own verses, challenging the perception of him as solely a singer.
• Production: The production by Skrillex, Kenny Beats, and Fred is clean yet energetic. It blends grime's characteristic sparse, bass-heavy sound with pop's melodic hooks, creating a track that is accessible to a wide audience while retaining its genre credibility.

What is 'Take Me Back to London' about?

The song is a celebration of returning to one's roots. Both Ed Sheeran and Stormzy reflect on their massive success while expressing a deep longing for the authenticity and comfort of their home city, London, emphasizing that despite their global fame, there's 'no place like home'.

Who produced 'Take Me Back to London'?

The track was co-produced by a notable trio: American electronic musician Skrillex, hip-hop producer Kenny Beats, and English producer Fred Gibson (also known as Fred again..).

What genre is 'Take Me Back to London'?

The song is primarily classified as grime, a genre of electronic music that emerged in London in the early 2000s. It blends Ed Sheeran's pop and rap influences with Stormzy's distinct grime style.

Why did Stormzy turn down a feature from Jay-Z on the song?

Stormzy, who considers Jay-Z his hero, felt that having an American artist on a song so deeply rooted in London's culture wouldn't be the right fit. He respectfully declined the offer to maintain the track's authentic British identity, a decision Jay-Z understood.

What does Stormzy's lyric 'chat shit get banged' mean?

This is a common piece of British slang, particularly from London. It means that if you talk disrespectfully or make empty threats ('chat shit'), you will face violent consequences ('get banged'). It's used to establish credibility and a sense of danger.

Was there a remix of 'Take Me Back to London'?

Yes, a popular remix produced by Sir Spyro was released, featuring additional verses from UK rappers Jaykae and Aitch. This version's release, along with its music video, helped propel the song to number one on the UK Singles Chart.

When was 'Take Me Back to London' released?

The song was originally released on July 12, 2019, as part of Ed Sheeran's album 'No.6 Collaborations Project'. The single and the popular Sir Spyro remix were released in August 2019.