Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love Lyrics Meaning

VERSE 1: I think this is him asking the girl he is in love with to give him some level of affection that he feels she isn't showing(maybe she's his ex or maybe they just have a broken relationship) To do so he references a past lover of his, who gave him that affection he craves. His evidence for her lack of affection being that she is never there. Maybe meaning she leaves before he wakes up (like a one night stand would) or just as a whole she is not there for him when he needs her. He then talks about how he's missed her and cried for her, while inferring they have talked about their problems prior to now as he tried to let go of their issues and possibly his feelings.

HOOK 1: This is again referencing a past promise he made to this girl, maybe saying that he would always fight for her. However, after all that's happened he only could feel courageous enough to talk to her after drinking enough that his life system, his very self, has "turned into alcohol" Then the final phrase of the hook is almost him discounting everything he's previously said in the song. Like he's fighting with himself over whether he needs the affection he craves or if he'd rather have her in anyway he can. Even just to hold.

CHORUS: This is him then asking her to make a decision. She either needs to try and fix whatever unhealthy relationship they have or leave him alone to "burn" her out of his system. Almost making her seem more like a drug than a person. He then continues to make suggestions as to how they could make their relationship better. Making hide and seek seem sort of symbolic, allowing them to truly find one another despite what they've previously kept hidden. Then in what almost appears to be a moment of weakness he confesses that she is all he wants. Just the "taste that her lips allow" This desire for her continues into the chanting of "My" and "Give me love" like he's pleading with her to give him what he so desperately needs.

VERSE 2: This time when he asks her to love him he clearly states that the love he wants from her is something the two of them have never experienced for one another(or quite possibly for anyone) before. Again he states that he wants more in their relationship than whatever they have. He then proceeds to state that some time has passed in their relationship, either meaning they've broken up a while back, or more likely that they have been together so long that they are past the "honeymoon phase" of their relationship. Despite the passing of time however, his love for her remains the same. He then concludes this verse by once again tacking on an inkling of doubt (both the existence of this doubt in the song and the placement are very well done as people are so rarely 100% sure of themselves on anything, and very often their doubts are sort of after thoughts they use to question what they think) This doubt being him wondering if it would be healthier for him to just let go of his feelings for her and move on.

HOOK 2: This hook begins with him once again being self assured, his doubts forgotten. The slight changes from the first hook make an impact as he switches from saying this is what he told her, to saying that she already knows he is going to do these things. Like their never was another option for him.