Ed Sheeran’s song “Old Phone” was inspired by turning on a phone he hadn’t used since 2015, revealing old messages and photos from friends, family, and his late friend Jamal Edwards.
This emotional experience of revisiting the past inspired the song and led him to share over 200 images on an Instagram account called @teddysoldphone.
The track is part of his upcoming album “Play,” releasing in September 2025, and encourages listeners to reflect on their own memories and connections.
Old Phone Lyrics Ed Sheeran
I found my old phone today
In a box that I had hidden away
Nostalgia tryin’ to lead me astray
Maybe I’ll unwrite some wrongs
I charged the battery again
Combinations ’cause my passcode had changed
Opened up and saw familiar names
Now I wonder where they’ve gone
Conversations with my dead friends
Messages from all my exes
I kinda think that this was best left
In the past, where it belongs
I feel an overwhelming sadness
Of all the friends I do not have left
Seeing how my family has fractured
Growin’ up and movin’ on
I found my old phone today
Arguments that I tried to keep at bay
The ones who loved me, I just pushed them away
Couldn’t tell the difference from the leeches
My closed hand still holds some mates
But if I’m open, it gets smaller day by day
I can’t tell if it is pleasure or pain
Trying to keep within my remain
Conversations with my dead friends
Messages from all my exes
I kinda think that this was best left
There, in the past, where it belongs
I feel an overwhelming sadness
Of all the friends I do not have left
Seeing how my family has fractured
Growin’ up and movin’ on
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
I found my old phone today
So full of love, yet so full of hate
I put it back inside there from whence it came
Nothing good will come from regretting
Conversations with my dead friends
Messages from all my exes
I kinda think that this was best left
There, in the past, where it belongs
I feel an overwhelming sadness
Of all the friends I do not have left
Seeing how my family has fractured
Growin’ up and movin’ on
I found my old phone today
