Ed Sheeran - Under the Tree (from “That Christmas”) Lyrics

Ed Sheeran - Under the Tree (from “That Christmas”) Lyrics

I’m alone this December

It’s the last light of the day

Oh, I can’t help but wonder

If you feel the same

Oh I guess I’ll surrender

To the tears and the pain

And the cold we are under

Will remain

 

You were the hearth light, my fire, that died

Waiting for morning sunrise

 

There is nothing under the tree

That I wished for

I want you to come back to me

And be like before

Have I lost you? Nothing will ever fill the hole

My heart will be here under the tree

Just letting you know

 

I’m alone this December

And the long nights, they begin

Still my minds overthinking now who’s arms you’re in

And were mine just an afterthought of needing to be kind

Guess when we’re out of sight it’s out of mind

 

You were the first touch, first look in my eyes

Now we’re just strangers who walk by

 

There is nothing under the tree

That I wished for

I want you to come back to me

And be like before

Have I lost you? Nothing will ever fill the hole

My heart will be here under the tree

Just letting you know

You were the first touch, first look in my eyes

Now we’re just strangers who walk by

 

There is nothing under the tree

That I wished for

I want you to come back to me

And be like before

Have I lost you? Nothing will ever fill the hole

My heart will be here under the tree

Just letting you know

Ed Sheeran - Under the Tree (from “That Christmas”) Lyrics

 Ed Sheeran's "Under the Tree" from That Christmas reflects themes of loss, longing, and nostalgia, set against the backdrop of the holiday season. The song expresses deep emotional pain and regret, as the narrator navigates a December without the person they once loved.

Themes and Emotions:

1. Loneliness and Loss: The narrator feels isolated during the holidays, a time typically associated with togetherness. Phrases like "I’m alone this December" and "Nothing under the tree that I wished for" emphasize the absence of a loved one. Christmas, a season of warmth and connection, becomes a reminder of emptiness in the narrator's life.

2. Regret and Longing: The narrator is consumed by thoughts of what they once had, asking if they have "lost you." The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing for the past, wishing for the relationship to return to what it was before, highlighted in the lines, "I want you to come back to me / And be like before."

3. Heartbreak and Hope: The chorus underscores the narrator's heartache—"Nothing will ever fill the hole / My heart will be here under the tree." Despite the sadness, there’s a glimmer of hope that the lost connection might somehow return, suggesting a lingering emotional attachment.

Key Terms:

• "Under the tree" symbolizes both the literal absence of gifts and the metaphorical emptiness the narrator feels. It is a space once filled with joy, now left barren.
• "Hearth light" and "fire" evoke warmth, symbolizing the comfort and connection the narrator once felt, which has now faded. These images reflect the emotional warmth lost with the departure of the loved one.

Notable Lines:

• "You were the hearth light, my fire, that died" — This line metaphorically links the person to a source of warmth and security that has now been extinguished, further emphasizing the loss.
• "We’re just strangers who walk by" — The transformation from intimacy to alienation is stark, representing the emotional distance that has grown between the narrator and the former lover.

Overall Message:

The song is a poignant reflection on the pain of unrequited love, the ache of losing someone close, and the longing to return to a time when things were better. Set in the holiday season, a time for togetherness, this makes the loss even more pronounced. The narrator's heartache is wrapped in a layer of nostalgia, wondering if there’s any chance of rekindling what was lost. Ultimately, “Under the Tree” conveys the vulnerability of a broken heart, unsure if the love will ever be rekindled, but still holding space for that possibility.