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Ed Sheeran – Small Bump(acoustic)

Background

• Genre: Acoustic. • Style: Performance based but also has narrative shots

included.• The message of this song is about Sheeran’s close friend, who

experienced a late miscarriage and 4 months.• It is sung from a 1st person perspective.• There is a non-acoustic version to this song but I chose to

analysis this version of the song and music video as it is similar to what Becka and I are looking to create.

Lyrics"Small Bump"

[Verse 1:]You're just a small bump unborn, in four months you're brought to life,You might be left with my hair, but you'll have your mother's eyes,I'll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can,But for now you're scan of my unmade plans,[album version:] A small bump in four months you're brought to life[acoustic version:] A small bump in four months you'll open your eyes

[Pre-Chorus:][album version:] I'll whisper quietly, I'll give you nothing but truth,[acoustic version:] I'll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth,If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you

[Chorus:]You are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.Oh, you are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.

[Verse 2:]Oh, you're just a small bump unknown, you'll grow into your skin.With a smile like hers and a dimple beneath your chin.Finger nails the size of a half grain of rice,And eyelids closed to be soon opened wideA small bump, in four months you'll open your eyes.

[Pre-Chorus:][album version:] And I'll hold you tightly, I'll tell you nothing but truth,[acoustic version:] And I'll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth,If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you

[Chorus:]You are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.Oh, you are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.

[Bridge:]And you can lie with me,With your tiny feetWhen you're half asleep,I'll leave you be.Right in front of meFor a couple weeksSo I can keep you safe.

[Chorus:]'Cause you are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.You are my one and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.

[Verse 4:]'Cause you were just a small bump unborn for four months then torn from life.Maybe you were needed up there but we're still unaware as why.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals

• “And hold me tight, and you’ll be alright”. The couple stood next to the river are an indexical sign because they are showing love by hugging, linking to the ‘hold me tight’ lyrics. The symbolic sign wants the audience to relate to the lyrics and to feel as if there is always someone there for them.

Quick Lyric Analysis

• Ed describes the feeling, hopes and exceptions of the newborn, playing the father role who’s into the idea of being a dad.

• He’s sure that the baby will be born, that he’s making plans and thinking about what he’ll do when the newborn is brought to life, and also having that direct conversation with the baby.

• “I’ll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth,• If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you”• “You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight”• “You can lie with me, with your tiny feet when you’re half asleep, • I'll leave you be right in front of me for a couple weeks so I can keep you safe”• Which is sign of the strong bond between the parent and the baby even before the newborn is brought to

life (which makes the baby death harder for the parents).• Describing the baby’s features and having the idea that the baby is an angel so when the baby dies Ed says: “Maybe you were needed up there….”• Still having that direct conversation with the baby even after the baby passed away, which is sign of how

strong, deep and maybe special the connection between the parent and their baby, and also a sign that Ed is still confused and can’t believe baby’s death, and also sign of the deep sadness Ed is experiencing.

• Also Ed didn’t depend on the power of his lyrics in the song, his performance and the sad tone in his voice created that atmosphere, so that even if you don’t know what the songs is about, you can tell that there’s something wrong.

Analysis of Music Video

• The Video starts with the name of the song and the artist over the artist sat on a narrowboat on a canal playing his guitar which shows me that this video is performance based as well as concept based, as later on in the video people are shown on the path as Ed Sheeran passes them on the boat, which also shows us the environment.

Barthes Theory