Boat (song)

"Boat"
Single by Ed Sheeran
from the album −
Released21 April 2023 (2023-04-21)
Length3:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Aaron Dessner
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Eyes Closed"
(2023) 		"Boat"
(2023) 		"Life Goes On"
(2023)
Music video
"Boat" on YouTube

"Boat" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 21 April 2023 through Asylum and Atlantic Records as the second single from his fifth studio album, − ("Subtract"). Sheeran wrote the song with producer Aaron Dessner.[1]

Background and promotion

Sheeran announced the song alongside the album on 1 March 2023, setting up several pre-order opportunities.[2] On 17 April, he shared a preview of the song on his socials, with a clip of its accompanying music video, in which he said that it was the first song that he had recorded for his new album.[3]

Composition and lyrics

In a press release on the same day that the song was released, Sheeran used the song serves as "a metaphor for depression; a track that combats the struggles of feeling very low and not knowing how to break the cycle".[4] The song is led by a soft guitar melody, in which he shows his emotional strength as he sings on the chorus: "The more that I love, the less that I feel / The times that I jumped never were real / They say that all scars will heal, but I know / Maybe, I won't / But the waves won't break my boat / But the waves won't brеak my boat".[5]

Music video

The official music video for "Boat", directed by Mia Barnes, was released alongside the song on 21 April 2023. It sees Sheeran around waves in a beach in the United Kingdom.[6] When he enters the ocean, he gets swallowed by the waves as he tries to go to the shore.[7]

Charts

Chart performance for "Boat"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 48
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 71
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[10] 42
Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 125
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 86
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 23
South Korea BGM (Circle)[15] 38
South Korea Download (Circle)[16] 126
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 69
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 15
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[20] 20

References

  1. ^ Aniftos, Rania (21 April 2023). "Ed Sheeran Captures Life's Dark Moments With New Single 'Boat': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (1 March 2023). "New Ed Sheeran album, Subtract, informed by 'fear, depression and anxiety'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ^ Rowley, Glenn (17 April 2023). "Ed Sheeran Previews 'Subtract' Single 'Boat': Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  4. ^ Singh, Surej (21 April 2023). "Watch Ed Sheeran get engulfed by waves in music video for new single, 'Boat'". NME. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  5. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (21 April 2023). "Ed Sheeran Weathers A Harrowing Storm On His New Song, 'Boat'". Uproxx. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  6. ^ Zemler, Emily (21 April 2023). "Ed Sheeran Struggles With Depression in Poignant New Single 'Boat'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  7. ^ Sacal, Andrea (21 April 2023). "Ed Sheeran Is Swallowed By Waves In "Boat" Music Video". Hypebeast. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Boat". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Boat" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Boat". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  15. ^ "BGM Chart – Week 16 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Download Chart – Week 18 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Boat". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Boat". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.