“Save Myself” is a song by the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was added to the deluxe edition of his third studio album, ÷ (2017), and serves as the final track.
The song encourages us to consider our own well-being. It reminds us that to effectively care for others, we need to take care of ourselves first. Prioritizing self-care puts us in a better position to support the people we care about.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
Table of Contents
“Save Myself” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I gave all my oxygen to people that could breathe
I gave away my money and now we don’t even speak
I drove miles and miles, but would you do the same for me?
Oh, honestly?
Offered off my shoulder just for you to cry upon
Gave you constant shelter and a bed to keep you warm
They gave me the heartache and, in return, I gave a song
It goes on and on
In Verse 1, Ed Sheeran talks about how he devoted his time and energy to people who didn’t necessarily appreciate it. He metaphorically describes giving away his “oxygen” to those who were already capable of “breathing.”
In the line “I gave away my money and now we don’t even speak,” he also mentions giving away his money, which caused a breakdown in communication with those people. This shows that his generosity might not have been appreciated or returned by them, leading to him feeling disappointed or distant.
Sheeran reflects on the efforts he’s made for someone else, symbolized by driving long distances (“I drove miles and miles”), and then pondering whether the other person would be willing to make similar sacrifices for him.
The singer offers support and comfort to someone who needed it, as he sings, “Offered off my shoulder just for you to cry upon, Gave you constant shelter and a bed to keep you warm,” He provided a shoulder for the person to cry on and offered a place to stay.
Despite his efforts to help, he received heartache or pain from the other person, as expressed in the line, “They gave me the heartache and, in return, I gave a song.”
[Chorus]
Life can get you down so I just numb the way it feels
I drown it with a drink and out-of-date prescription pills
And all the ones that love me, they just left me on the shelf
No farewell
So before I save someone else, I’ve got to save myself
In the chorus, Ed Sheeran reflects on the struggles he faces in life and how he copes with them. He acknowledges that life can sometimes be difficult and overwhelming, causing him to feel down or distressed. To deal with these feelings, Sheeran admits to using unhealthy coping mechanisms such as numbing his emotions with alcohol and prescription pills.
The line “Life can get you down so I just numb the way it feels” suggests that Sheeran turns to substances to alleviate his emotional pain or distress.
Sheeran also mentions feeling abandoned by those who once loved him, as evident in the line “And all the ones that love me, they just left me on the shelf.” This could refer to friends or loved ones who have distanced themselves from him, leaving him feeling isolated or neglected.
[Verse 2]
I gave you all my energy and I took away your pain
‘Cause human beings are destined to radiate or drain
What line do we stand upon? ‘Cause from here, it looks the same
And only scars remain
In Verse 2, Ed Sheeran describes giving his energy to someone else in an attempt to alleviate their pain. However, in doing so, he realizes that human interactions can either uplift or drain people. He sings, “I gave you all my energy and I took away your pain, ‘Cause human beings are destined to radiate or drain.”
In the line “What line do we stand upon? ‘Cause from here, it looks the same” he questions where people draw the line between helping others and preserving their own well-being, as the situation appears ambiguous or blurred from his perspective.
Despite his efforts to help others, Sheeran acknowledges that he is not immune to the pain and suffering caused by his selfless acts, lamenting the ’emotional scars’ left behind.
[Bridge]
But if I don’t, then I’ll go back
To where I’m rescuing a stranger just because they needed saving just like that
Oh, I’m here again
Between the devil and the danger, but I guess it’s just my nature
My dad was wrong ’cause I’m not like my mum
‘Cause she’d just smile and I’m complaining in a song
But it helps
So before I save someone else, I’ve got to save myself
In the bridge, Ed Sheeran reflects on his tendency to prioritize others over himself, even at the expense of his own well-being. He describes a pattern of rescuing strangers simply because they need saving, as he sings, “But if I don’t, then I’ll go back, To where I’m rescuing a stranger just because they needed saving just like that.”
The line “Oh, I’m here again, Between the devil and the danger” captures Sheeran’s recurring struggle between the temptation to help others and the potential dangers or negative consequences. He acknowledges the inherent risks involved in constantly putting others’ needs before his own, yet he finds himself drawn back into this cycle time and again.
The bridge also contains a personal revelation as Sheeran contrasts himself with his parents. He acknowledges that he’s different from his mother, who would “just smile” in difficult situations, whereas he finds solace in expressing his emotions through music, as evident in the line “And I’m complaining in a song, But it helps.”
[Outro]
And before I blame someone else, I’ve got to save myself
And before I love someone else, I’ve got to love myself
In the outro, Ed Sheeran reiterates the idea that before he can blame, love, or save someone else, he must first focus on saving himself.
The line “And before I blame someone else, I’ve got to save myself” suggests Sheeran’s recognition that pointing fingers or placing blame on others is futile if he hasn’t taken care of his own well-being first. This reflects a sense of personal responsibility and accountability for his own happiness and fulfillment.
Similarly, the line “And before I love someone else, I’ve got to love myself” underscores the importance of self-love and acceptance in forming healthy relationships with others. Sheeran acknowledges that he must cultivate a strong sense of self-worth and self-respect before he can fully give and receive love from others.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Save Myself”
“Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran explores the challenges of giving too much of oneself to others while neglecting personal needs. The song reflects on experiences of feeling drained and unappreciated in relationships, as well as the emotional toll of trying to save others without first saving oneself.
In the lyrics, Sheeran describes how hard it can be to draw a line between support others while taking care of our own needs, as expressed in the line “What line do we stand upon? ‘Cause from here, it looks the same.”
He reflects on his own tendencies towards self-sacrifice and the need to find a balance between altruism and self-care. He acknowledges, “But if I don’t, then I’ll go back, To where I’m rescuing a stranger just because they needed saving just like that.”
Sheeran warns that if we give too much of ourselves to helping other people, we might only end up feeling used and abandoned, as he sings, “Gave you constant shelter and a bed to keep you warm, They gave me the heartache and, in return, I gave a song.”
In the end, “Save Myself” reflects Sheeran’s realization that before he can effectively help or save others, he must prioritize his own well-being and happiness.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.