<P> Sheeran credited "Photograph" as the first record "properly" completed for his second studio album . According to him, he had "probably" recorded 60 to 70 versions of the song; these varied from live to that with piano accompaniment . Aside from the earlier versions he made with McDaid, Sheeran had recordings with songwriter - producer, Jake Gosling, who produced much of Sheeran's debut album, and producer, Rick Rubin, who was involved in other tracks from the follow - up album . However, Sheeran thought these versions "never fit" and he eventually solicited help from producer, Jeff Bhasker . This particular collaboration generated a version that Bhasker continued to enhance for several months . Emile Haynie was credited on the album's liner notes for his additional production . On 24 January 2015, Sheeran recalled the backstory of "Photograph" for the VH1 Storytellers . </P> <P> An acoustic pop ballad, "Photograph" derives its music from an acoustic guitar, piano, strings, organ, electric and bass guitar, and programmed drums . The melody builds up with the guitar strums and piano keys; the drums, strings, organ etc. then follow . It has a tempo of 108 beats per minute and the originally published key is in E major . "Photograph" features a chord progression that is common in popular music . </P> <P> The lyrics to the song chronicle a long - distance relationship . It contains detailed imagery such as the protagonist remembering his girlfriend kissing him "under the lamppost, back on 6th street", and keeping a picture of him "in the pocket of (her) ripped jeans". These lyrics were inspired by Sheeran's own experience on a long - distance relationship . He dated Nina Nesbitt, a Scottish singer / songwriter, for more than a year . While on this relationship, Sheeran spent five months away from Nesbitt: three months while on a concert tour with Snow Patrol and further two months on his own tour . At his concert in Kansas City on 29 June 2017, Sheeran noted that he wrote the song Photograph at Kansas City's Intercontinental Hotel during a previous tour . </P> <P> In February 2013, Sheeran played a demo version of "Photograph" to a German radio station . This performance was not recorded in film or audio, and was the only play Sheeran made prior to the song's release as part of an album . Sheeran favoured the song as one of the best in the album and claimed: "I think (" Photograph ") will be the one that will change my, kind of, career path ." He also asserted that "Photograph" would serve as the "collateral" song that could "sell (the album)" even if the rest of the tracks would not prove appealing . </P>

What does the song photograph by ed sheeran mean
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