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Don't is a song by Ed Sheeran and appears as the fourth track on his second studio album, X. Written by Sheeran and Benjamin Levin and produced by Rick Rubin and Levin, the song interpolations "Don't Mess with My Man" by Lucy Pearl, under his production moniker Benny Blanco, "Don't" was initially planned as the lead single for the album but was passed over in favour of "Sing". The song was instead released to iTunes on 13 June 2014 as the second "instant grat" promotional single from x. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 19. "Don't" officially impacted US contemporary hit radio on 15 July 2014 as the album's second official single.


Background[]

"Don't" is a song about a girlfriend who cheated on him with a close friend, has been linked to several of Sheeran's fellow singers, including Ellie Goulding and Taylor Swift, but Sheeran has said it is "100 percent not about Taylor", but that he has played her the song, and she "never want[s] to piss [him] off that much". It started off "as a riff on his phone". "Don't" was planned to be released as the first single from the album, but it was decided that the chorus, especially the line "Don't f- with my love," was not suitable for a first single. The song was recorded first with Benny Blanco, then again with Rick Rubin, and the two producers came together to produce the final cut. The song almost didn't make it onto the album, as Sheeran felt it was "a bit personal," but was urged by those who had heard the demo to release it, as it was "an alright song... so it ended up on the record".

In 2015, Ellie Goulding released "On My Mind" for her third studio album, Delirium. The song was described by many critics as an answer song to "Don't", an allegation Goulding had denied.

Release[]

"Don't" was planned to be released as the first single from the album, but it was decided that the chorus, especially the line "Don't f- with my love," was not suitable for a first single. However, prior to the release of x, all swearing was cut from the album. Sheeran debuted a snippet of the song in a commercial for Beats by Dr. Dre in May 2014. On 13 June 2014, "Don't" was made available to customers who pre-ordered x as the second "instant grat" promotional single, following "One", and an official audio stream was released on Sheeran's YouTube page.

Critical Reception[]

In a Billboard track-by-track review, writer Jason Lipshutz stated: "Positioned on X right after "Sing," "Don't" shows that Sheeran is not afraid to be dangerous, or even explicit, on his sophomore set. There's some Jason Mraz-y rapping as Sheeran details a relationship that deteriorates due to touring and mistrust, as he seethes, 'I never saw him as a threat/Until you disappeared with him to have sex, of course.'" [1]

Music Video[]

An accompanying music video was released on YouTube on 4 August 2014. The video was directed by Emil Nava and follows a dancer (Philiph Cheebeb) going from poverty to wealth.

Tracklisting[]

Digital download – single

  1. "Don't" - 3:39

Digital download – extended play

  1. "Don't" (Rick Ross Remix) - 4:17
  2. "Be My Husband" (Live from Glastonbury) - 7:50
  3. "Everything You Are" - 3:58

Lyrics[]


Ah-la-la-la-la
Ah-la-la-la-la

I met this girl late last year
She said don't you worry if I disappear
I told her I'm not really looking for another mistake
I called an old friend thinking that the trouble would wait
But then I jump right in

A week later return
I reckon she was only looking for a lover to burn
But I gave her my time for two or three nights
Then I put it on pause until the moment was right

I went away for months until our till crossed again
She told me I was never looking for a friend
Maybe you could swing by my room around 10

Baby bring a lemon and a bottle of gin
We'll be in between the sheets until the late AM
Baby if you wanted me then you should've just said
She's singing

Ah-la-la-la-la
Don't with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my arm
I don't wanna know that babe
Ah-la-la-la-la

Don’t with my love
I told her she knows
Take aim and reload
I don't wanna know that babe
Ah-la-la-la-la

For a couple weeks I
Only want to see her
We drink away the days with a take away pizza
Before a text message was the only way to reach her
Now she's staying at my place and loves the way I treat her

Singing out Aretha
All over the track like a feature
Never want to sleep I guess that I don't want to either
But me and her we make money the same way
Four cities, two planes the same day

Those shows have never been what it's about
But maybe we'll go together and just figure it out
I'd rather put on a film with you and sit on the couch
But we should get on a plane
Or we'll be missing it now
Wish I'd have written it down
The way that things played out
When she was kissing him
How? I was confused about
She should figure it out while I'm sat here singing

Ah-la-la-la-la
Don't with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my arm
I don't wanna know that babe
Ah-la-la-la-la

Don't with my love
I told her she knows
Take aim and reload
I don't wanna know that babe
Ah-la-la-la-la

(Knock knock knock) on my hotel door
I don't even know if she knows what for
She was crying on my shoulder
I already told ya
Trust and respect is what we do this for

I never intended to be next
But you didn't need to take him to bed that's all

And I never saw him as a threat
Until you disappeared with him to have sex of course
It's not like we were both on tour
We were staying on the same hotel floor
And I wasn't looking for a promise or commitment
But it was never just fun and I thought you were different

This is not the way you realize what you wanted
It's a bit too much, too late if I'm honest

All this time God knows I'm singing

Ah-la-la-la-la
Don’t with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my arm
I don't wanna know that babe

Ah-la-la-la-la
Don't with my love
I told her she knows
Take aim and reload
I don't wanna know that babe
Ah-la-la-la-la

Live Performances[]

Sheeran performed the song live for the first time on Saturday Night Live on April 12, 2014 along with Sing. He also performed a mash-up with his other song The A Team at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on May 1, 2014.

Remixes[]

Charts[]

"Don't" peaked at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it became Sheeran's first top 10 single. It also made the top 10 in eight other countries.

Chart (2014)   Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 43
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 11
Denmark (Tracklisten) 8
France (SNEP) 41
Ireland (IRMA) 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 6
Scotland (Official Charts Company) 15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 8
US Billboard Hot 100 13
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 28
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 8

Trivia[]

  • "Don't" contains interpolations of "Don't Mess with My Man" by Lucy Pearl.
  • The song was featured in an advert for the latest Beats by Dre headphones, the Solo II.

Videos[]



References[]

  1. billboard.com - X Album Track-by-Track Review
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