Sheeran wrote "One" as the final song inspired by his former girlfriend, Alice, who was the subject of many tracks on his debut album, + .
The video premiered on Sheeran's YouTube channel on May 2, 2014 . Ed Sheeran - One [Official Music Video]
The song describes the vivid realizations a person has while intoxicated—often described by fans as a "drunk epiphany"—about love and the fear of becoming strangers after a breakup. Related Work: "One Shot" Sheeran wrote "One" as the final song inspired
The video features a live acoustic performance of the song, emphasizing Sheeran's solo stage presence with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. Related Work: "One Shot" The video features a
Fans often confuse this video with Sheeran's 2025 Netflix special, . While the 2014 music video is a simple performance, the Netflix special is an ambitious single continuous take through New York City, featuring hits like "Thinking Out Loud" and "Shape of You".
It is the only track on his second album, x (Multiply), that refers to that specific past relationship; the rest of the album focuses on moving on.
Shot in black-and-white, the video uses long takes and wide shots of the cavernous, empty venue to highlight the song's themes of solitude and closure. Song Meaning and Context