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Ed Sheeran Reveals Tragic Truth Behind The Song That Made Him Famous

Ed Sheeran Reveals Tragic Truth Behind The Song That Made Him Famous

Unlike his many hit songs about love, 'We Are' is about a tragic event that unfolded when Sheeran was just 14 years old.

EMS 7

EMS 7

Ed Sheeran is a household name, having shaped a career as a singer-songwriter and made millions of fans along the way.

But it's not always been an easy journey for the musician - the heartbreaking tragedy behind 'We Are', the song that helped him catch his big break, has been revealed in a new book.

With the tome published - appropriately - under the title of Ed Sheeran, author Sean Smith described how the song was written in memory of his best friend Stuart Dines, who tragically died in a car accident while on a school trip nearly 13 years ago.

As a 14-year-old schoolboy, Sheeran struggled with the death of his pal and ended up channeling his grief to write the song.

PA

In the book, Smith wrote: "Ed had to come to terms with the death of someone he saw practically every day.

"He resolved to write a song about his feelings. He composed it, he said, 'whilst I got round to actually accepting it'."

The Mirror reports that although the song didn't make it on any of Sheeran's best-selling albums, it became a favourite of his fans when he played live shows as a teen and garnered attention from one of the bosses at record label Atlantic during a concert at the The Bedford pub in Balham, south London.

They were so moved by the song that they ended up signing him three months later. But perhaps more importantly for the singer, the track moved his friend's family so much, it was played at the funeral.

Dines' dad Robert told Sean: "Ed was very, very upset, like a lot of the children."

Sheeran also performed at a special tribute concert which raised funds for the 'Stuart Dines Library' at a school in Kenya.

PA

Unlike many of his other hits which focus on love and relationships, 'We Are' is a touching tribute to his friend that focuses on grief and acceptance. Coincidentally, as the singer himself pointed out, it's 'the song that actually got [him] a record deal'.

Fast forward to the present day and Sheeran, now 27, is one of the most famous singers in the world, having earned £83 million last year and sold over 100 million singles across the globe. Despite his fame, it's clear Sheeran will never ignore his humble beginnings and will never forget his best pal.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Celebrity, Music, Feels, Ed Sheeran