On December 13, 2015 at 1:29 AM, one of the world's most famous artists decided to take a year long break from the fame and social media to travel the world and rediscover himself. All around the world people patiently waited for his return, wondering when he would return to save the world with his music. On December 13, 2016 at 1:29 AM, the world's prayers were answered: Ed Sheeran had returned to the public by posting a sky blue square.

After a few weeks of teasing, Ed released two new singles and announced that he would be releasing his third album, Divide, on March 3.

Ed wrote Divide as he traveled the world, going to places he had performed in but had never actually seen, went to new places, and went back home again. The album tells the story of returning home again, finding yourself, experiencing heart break, falling in love, and having new experiences.

The album opens with the rap heaviest song on it, "Eraser." Ed raps his way through his life story tracing back to when he was born in a small town. He explains how much he has changed since when he was younger but how he forgot a part of himself and doesn't want to lose it. This embarks him on the journey back home.

Best lyric from "Eraser": "Welcome to the new show/ I guess you know I've been away/ Where I'm heading who knows/ My heart will stay the same"

We then are taken home with Ed to the "Castle on the Hill." This song was one of the two first singles released off of the album. We hear more of Ed's childhood memories about the friendships and how he cannot wait to see his friends again. I find this track very relatable for college students because as much as we love leaving, we love going back home to see everyone once again.

Best lyric from "Castle on the Hill": "I'm on my way/ Driving at ninety down those country lanes/ Singing to 'Tiny Dancer'"

Next on the album is "Dive." This is the first passionate ballad presented to us on Divide. We hear the passion in Ed's vocals as he sings the chorus and the bridge. The song is about his love for someone but how he does not want to dive right into the relationship unless she is ready because he does not want his heart broken again.

Best lyric from "Dive": "So don't call me baby/ Unless you mean it"

"Dive" leads us into the next song on the album, "Shape of You," the other single released along with "Castle on the Hill." This song is easily one of Ed's biggest hits to date as it has spent many weeks being on the top of the charts. We, as his audience, are instantly hooked into the catchy electro-pop beat of the song. Within the lyrics, Ed sings about how he loves the shape a girl's body. He never explicitly states what the body looks like so that way everyone can easily relate to the "type" of person they like.

Best lyric from "Shape of You": "Your love was handmade for somebody like me"

Ed had stated in an interview that there was a song on Divide that was better than his hit "Thinking Out Loud." This song is entitled "Perfect." No, not like the song by One Direction. Ed's "Perfect" is going to be another song of his played at countless weddings as the bride and groom's first dance. The ballad talks of a love that will last a life time as the lovers are in one moment together dancing to their favorite song. "Perfect" will definitely be another hit for Ed.

Best lyric from "Perfect": "Be my girl, I'll be your man/ I see my future in your eyes"

Next we get to do an Irish jig with Ed in his song "Galway Girl." The song, of course, tells the story of one night with a girl from Galway, Ireland. She plays in an Irish band but falls for a man from England. They wish the night will never end. It very much sounds like an Irish Folk song and also includes many references to different things found in Galway.

Best lyric from "Galway Girl": "I swear I'm going to put you into a song that I write/ About a Galway girl and a perfect night"

This song leads us into one of the most heartbreaking songs on the album, "Happier." The lyrics to "Happier" are very beautiful and probably some of the prettiest on the album. You can say Ed is basically telling the story about the love that got away from him. As his friends reassure him that he will love again someday, even stronger, he cannot get the girl out of his head because she seems way happier now than when she was with him.

Best lyrics from "Happier":"I know one day you'd fall for someone new/ But if he breaks your heart like lovers do/ Just know that I'll be here waiting for you"

"New Man" definitely had an unexpected twist to it that no one expected. The song has some of the craziest lyrics on the album and will probably forever contain some of Ed's most iconic lyrics when we take a look back at it. Ed describes his ex's boyfriend that came after him, stereotyping him and making fun of him by singing about certain places being bleached and eyebrows being plucked. There will definitely be many people speculating who this song is about in weeks to come.

Best lyric from "New Man": "Please remember you're still free/ To make the choice and leave"

We take a trip back down memory lane to Ed's previous albums with his song "Hearts Don't Break Around Here." The familiar tunes from the song remind us of his older ballads giving his fans who have been here a while a glimpse back at what he began with in music. The song is about a loving and steady relationship Ed has experienced and expresses the admiration of the relationship.

Best lyric from "Hearts Don't Break Around Here": She is the lighthouse in the night/ That will safely guide me home"

The next song on the album is "What Do I Know?" The song has the same guitar sounds as his Grammy nominated song "Love Yourself" that was on Justin Bieber's Purpose. "What Do I Know?" does not contain the same message as "Love Yourself" though. Ed sings that even though his father told him not to get involved with the controversial topics that take over conversations on a day to day basis, he can still use his music to help sing about how he can contribute to changing the world with just his voice and guitar.

Best lyric from "What Do I Know?": "Just re-remember life is more than fittin' in your jeans/ It's love and understanding positivity"

Ed's next song is another one that will be played at many weddings, "How Would You Feel (Paean)." This song definitely takes the prize of best guitar on the record, which fun fact includes John Mayer who is featured in his own guitar solo. Ed wrote this song for his current girlfriend, as he had stated in an interview, praising her and her middle name, Paean. Of course, we know that he loves her but this song beautifully states what the rest of us could never put into words.

Best lyric from "How Would You Feel (Paean)": "I'll be taking my time/ Spending my life/ Falling deeper in love with you"

We are then taken to the final song on the album that breaks hearts everywhere, and is reminiscent of "Afire Love" off of Ed's sophomore album, Multiply. "Supermarket Flowers" is the most heartbreaking song off of Divide as Ed sings of the lost of his grandmother in the past year. He was inspired to write the song after being in the hospital room taking flowers off of the window sill. Instead of mourning the loss of his grandmother he celebrates her life like she would have wanted him to be doing.

Best lyric from "Supermarket Flowers": "Oh I'm in pieces it's tearing me up but I know/ A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved"

As Ed has stated in an interview while promvoting Divide, 2017 seems to be his year. I hope to see more praise for Ed this coming year as he completely deserves it for this album. Ed takes listeners through an emotional year wrapped up into one black and blue album for all of us to understand each other through the wonderful gift of music. Even though the title of the album is Divide, it has definitely brought the music industry and fans closer together through a mutual love of this album.

The opinions stated in this article belong to the author, Jilly Horaneck, alone. She is a very passionate fan of Ed Sheeran and loves him very dearly. She also only analyzed the main album and not the deluxe edition which contains four more songs. She highly encourages you to go take a listen to those as well.