Sheeran wrote "One" as the final song inspired by his former girlfriend, Alice, who was the subject of many tracks on his debut album, + .
Shot in black-and-white, the video uses long takes and wide shots of the cavernous, empty venue to highlight the song's themes of solitude and closure. Song Meaning and Context
The song describes the vivid realizations a person has while intoxicated—often described by fans as a "drunk epiphany"—about love and the fear of becoming strangers after a breakup. Related Work: "One Shot"
The official music video for "One" is a minimalist, black-and-white performance piece that captures the emotional weight of Ed Sheeran's farewell to a past relationship. Key Facts and Production
It is the only track on his second album, x (Multiply), that refers to that specific past relationship; the rest of the album focuses on moving on.
It was filmed in a completely empty Wembley Arena in London.
Fans often confuse this video with Sheeran's 2025 Netflix special, . While the 2014 music video is a simple performance, the Netflix special is an ambitious single continuous take through New York City, featuring hits like "Thinking Out Loud" and "Shape of You".
The video premiered on Sheeran's YouTube channel on May 2, 2014 .