You’ve probably seen it. Maybe it popped up in your YouTube recommendations with a thumbnail of Ed Sheeran looking soulful, or perhaps a friend shared a "gospel version" of his music on Facebook. The song title is everywhere: Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul. It’s catchy. It’s moving. It’s got that signature acoustic strumming and a vocal that sounds exactly like the man who gave us Shape of You.
But here is the thing. It’s not real.
Honestly, the internet is getting weird. We are living in a time where a song can go viral, rack up millions of views, and even find its way into church playlists without the "artist" ever stepping foot in a recording studio. This track is the ultimate case study in how AI is blurring the lines between fan fiction and official discography. If you're looking for this song on Spotify or trying to find which album it belongs to, you're going to come up empty-handed.
Let’s talk about where this actually came from and why so many people fell for it.
The Mystery Behind Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul
The song didn't emerge from a secret recording session or a leaked studio demo. Instead, it surfaced primarily through YouTube channels like those run by producer Evan Tunes and various "Christian Music 2026" curators. These videos often feature high-fidelity audio that mimics Ed’s breathy delivery and rhythmic guitar work.
The lyrics usually go something like this: “Wandered lost in nights so black / Now I am sure, no turning back / Jesus, lift my soul so high...”
It sounds like a natural progression for him, right? Especially considering he’s explored themes of grief, hope, and community on albums like Subtract ($-$) and Autumn Variations. But the truth is much more digital. This track was created using sophisticated AI voice modeling—likely trained on thousands of hours of Ed’s actual vocal stems.
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It’s a deepfake. A very convincing one, but a deepfake nonetheless.
Why does it sound so authentic?
AI models have become terrifyingly good at capturing "vocal fry" and specific regional accents. In the case of Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul, the AI isn't just mimicking a generic voice; it’s mimicking the way Ed specifically slides into notes.
Fans are hungry for this kind of content. There has always been a segment of the audience that wants to hear secular artists lean into spiritual music. When you combine that desire with a technology that can pump out "new" songs in seconds, you get a viral hit that doesn't officially exist.
The Real Spiritual Side of Ed Sheeran
Just because Jesus Lift My Soul isn't an official release doesn't mean Ed is a stranger to faith-adjacent themes. He’s a songwriter who lives in the "everyday human" space. While he hasn't released a full-blown gospel album, his actual discography is peppered with moments of reflection that explain why fans were so ready to believe a gospel track was real.
Take a look at his 2025/2026 tour setlists. He's been performing songs like Celestial and Symmetry (from his latest project Play). These tracks deal with the "bigger than us" feelings that often overlap with religious experiences.
- The Stormzy Connection: Ed’s close friend and collaborator, Stormzy, is very open about his Christian faith. Ed performed with Stormzy at the Brit Awards in 2017 and has consistently supported Stormzy’s gospel-influenced tracks.
- Themes of Grief: On the album Subtract, Ed dealt with the death of his best friend Jamal Edwards and his wife’s health struggles. The raw, prayer-like quality of those songs is likely what paved the psychological way for people to accept an AI-generated worship song as "the real deal."
- The New Album "Play": Released in late 2025, his latest studio effort Play includes tracks like Heaven and The Vow. While these are largely romantic or introspective, the terminology keeps him in the conversation of artists who touch on the divine.
How to Spot "AI Slop" in Your Feed
It’s getting harder. Really.
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In the past, you could tell a fake song by the robotic glitches or the weird metallic sheen on the vocals. Today, the producers behind tracks like Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul are using professional-grade mixing tools to hide the AI fingerprints.
If you want to verify if a track is legit, look for these red flags:
- The Label Check: Does the song appear on the official "Ed Sheeran" YouTube channel or a channel with a blue checkmark? If it’s on a channel called "GospelVibes2026," it’s almost certainly AI.
- The Description Fine Print: Often, these creators put "AI" or "Fan Made" in the very bottom of the description to avoid legal takedowns while still harvesting clicks.
- The Metadata: Check Apple Music or Spotify. If the song isn't there, or if the "Artist" listed is something like "Evan Tunes ft. Ed Sheeran AI," it isn't an official release.
The Ethical Grey Area
Is it wrong to listen to it? That’s the big debate.
Some fans feel that if a song like Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul brings them peace or helps them through a hard day, the source doesn't matter. It’s like a digital hymn. Others, including many in the music industry, see it as theft. They argue that using a singer's voice without their permission to "perform" lyrics they never wrote is a violation of their identity.
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity actually weighed in on this recently, noting that while the technology is impressive, the "soul" of the artist is missing because the artist never actually experienced the emotions behind those specific words.
What's Next for Ed?
Ed Sheeran has been busy with his "Mathematics" and "Play" tours throughout 2025 and 2026. While he hasn't officially commented on the Jesus Lift My Soul trend specifically, he’s been vocal in the past about the weirdness of AI.
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His actual music continues to evolve. The Play album shows him experimenting with more live, organic sounds—perhaps a subconscious reaction to the digital fakery surrounding his brand.
If you genuinely love the vibe of the viral gospel track, you’ll probably find more satisfaction in his official acoustic deep cuts. Songs like Supermarket Flowers or Visiting Hours offer the genuine emotional weight that an AI prompt just can't quite replicate.
How to handle this as a fan:
- Don't pay for it: AI-generated tracks often pop up on "pirate" streaming accounts. Avoid giving them your money.
- Support the real artist: Stream the official Play album or the Tour Collection released in late 2024.
- Stay skeptical: If a "new song" sounds too good to be true and isn't announced on Ed’s Instagram or website, it’s probably a bot.
In a world where you can make a superstar say or sing anything, the most valuable thing we have is the truth. Ed Sheeran - Jesus Lift My Soul might be a beautiful "what if," but it isn't a piece of Ed's story. It's a piece of ours—a reflection of our own desire for more meaning in the music we consume.
The next time you hear those familiar chords, remember: the voice might be familiar, but the heart behind it is just a bunch of code.
Check the official tracklists on Ed’s website or your preferred verified streaming service to ensure you're supporting the actual songwriter. You can find his full verified discography on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music under his official profile. Stay informed about upcoming official releases by following his verified social media accounts, where he typically announces new projects months in advance.