We’ve all had those moments where you pick up the phone to call someone, only to remember halfway through dialing that they aren’t there anymore. It’s a gut punch. Ed Sheeran captured that exact, breath-stealing realization in his 2021 track "Visiting Hours." Honestly, it’s not just another radio hit; it’s basically a raw, open wound set to a melody.
When the visiting hours ed sheeran lyrics first hit the airwaves, people weren’t just listening—they were sobbing. The song debuted at a time when the world was already collective-shrugging through a lot of grief, but for Ed, this was deeply, painfully personal. He wrote it for his mentor and "father figure," the legendary Australian music mogul Michael Gudinski, who passed away unexpectedly in March 2021.
If you’ve ever lost a "north star" person in your life, these lyrics probably feel like they were stolen right out of your own head.
The Story Behind the Lyrics
Grief is weird. It makes you want to do impossible things, like negotiate with the universe for five more minutes. Ed found himself stuck in a two-week mandatory COVID-19 quarantine in Australia just so he could attend Michael’s memorial. Think about that: two weeks alone in a house with nothing but a guitar and a massive hole in your life.
That’s where "Visiting Hours" was born.
He finished the song just days before performing it at the Rod Laver Arena. When he stood on that stage, he actually broke down. You can hear it in the live recordings—that crack in his voice isn’t a "pop star" move; it’s a guy trying to stay upright while saying goodbye to the man who helped build his career.
Breaking Down the First Verse
The opening lines are the ones that usually start the waterworks:
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I wish that heaven had visiting hours
So I could just show up and bring good news
That she’s getting older and I wish that you’d met her
The "she" he’s talking about is his daughter, Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. She was born in August 2020. Because of the pandemic and the distance between the UK and Australia, Michael never got to meet her.
It’s such a specific type of pain, isn't it? Knowing that the person who shaped you won't get to see the person you are now shaping. Ed is basically telling Michael, "Hey, I’m doing this dad thing now, and I’m using the tools you gave me."
Why the Advice Verse Hits So Hard
There’s a section in the song where Ed gets incredibly vulnerable about his own insecurities. He sings:
I’d tell you that I’m scared of turning out a failure
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It’s wild to think of a global superstar like Ed Sheeran being afraid of "failing," but that’s the beauty of Michael’s influence. He wasn't just a business partner; he was the guy Ed went to when the world got too loud.
The line "the answer's in the love that we create" is actually a bit of a mantra. It’s a reminder that at the end of the day, the platinum records and the stadium tours don't matter as much as the humans we leave behind.
The Musical Secret Sauce
Musically, the song is stripped back. No heavy synths. No "Shape of You" dance beats. It’s a piano-led ballad that lets the lyrics do the heavy lifting. But if you listen closely to the studio version on the album = (Equals), you’ll hear some familiar voices in the background.
Ed reached out to Kylie Minogue and Jimmy Barnes—two of Michael Gudinski's closest friends and icons of Australian music—to provide backing vocals. It makes the song feel less like a solo performance and more like a communal wake. It’s like they’re all standing in a circle, singing Michael home.
Dealing With the "Long Goodbye"
A lot of people compare this song to "Supermarket Flowers," which Ed wrote about his grandmother. While that song was about the immediate cleanup of a life—the boxes, the memories, the physical space—visiting hours ed sheeran lyrics focus on the ongoing conversation.
It’s about the "after." The part where you have to figure out how to be a person without their advice.
The bridge is particularly heavy:
I will close the door, but I will open up my heart
And everyone I love will know exactly who you are
That’s the core of legacy. You don't just "get over" loss; you carry the person. You talk about them until they become a legend to your kids who never met them. You drink their favorite wine (Ed mentions this in the chorus). You keep their seat warm.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
Some people think it’s just a "sad song for funerals." Honestly? I think it’s a song about life.
Ed has mentioned in interviews that singing it doesn't always make him sad anymore. Now, it makes him feel connected. It’s become a bridge for fans to share their own stories. If you look at the YouTube comments or TikToks using this sound, it’s a digital graveyard of beautiful memories. People aren't just saying "I love Ed"; they're saying "I miss my mom," or "I wish my grandpa could see my new house."
The song turned a private grief into a public space where it’s okay to not be okay.
How to Process Loss Through the Lyrics
If you're currently in the thick of it, "Visiting Hours" can be a bit of a double-edged sword. It’s cathartic, but it can also be a lot to handle. Here’s how to actually use the song’s message to move forward:
- Write the "Visiting Hours" Letter: If you could have one hour with the person you lost, what "good news" would you bring? Write it down. Tell them about the new job, the new kid, or even just the fact that you finally learned how to make their favorite recipe.
- Identify Your Mentors: Ed emphasizes that Michael was his "north star." Who is that for you? If they are still around, call them. If they aren't, who are you being that person for?
- Create Your Own "Answer": Michael’s advice was that the answer is in the love we create. Focus on the relationships you have right now. Use the song as a reminder to not leave things unsaid.
The reality is that heaven doesn't have visiting hours. We don't get the five minutes back. But we do get to decide how we live out the lessons they taught us. Ed decided to do it through a song that has now comforted millions. You might do it by just being a little more like the person you lost.
The song ends with "So much has changed since you’ve been away." And it’s true. The world keeps spinning, kids keep growing, and life keeps happening. But as the lyrics suggest, as long as we keep opening our hearts, they’re never really fully gone.
If you want to dive deeper into the technical side of the song, look up the live performance from the Michael Gudinski State Memorial. It’s raw, it’s unpolished, and it’s the most honest version of the track you’ll ever hear. Grab a tissue first. Seriously.