Sword from the Stone

Last updated
"Sword from the Stone"
Single by Passenger
from the album Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted
Released8 January 2021
Length3:21
Label Black Crow
Songwriter(s) Mike Rosenberg
Producer(s)
Passenger singles chronology
"Remember to Forget"
(2020)
"Sword from the Stone"
(2021)

"Sword from the Stone" is a song by English singer-songwriter Passenger. The song was released as a digital download on 8 January 2021 by Black Crow as the sixth single from his twelfth studio album, Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted . A new version of the song was released on 15 January 2021 titled 'Gingerbread Mix'. [1]

Contents

Background

In an interview with the Official Charts Company regarding co-writing the song with Ed Sheeran, Passenger said, "When I wrote this song I sent it to him because I was excited about it. Within about seven minutes he had replied twice and then phoned me to tell me he thought it was something special. The pair decided Ed would create a 'poppier, punchier single mix of the song - something probably more viable for commercial radio. Ed’s so clever and he's got such a brilliant ear for that stuff. I love what he's done – the integrity and the soul of the song is still very much intact – he's just Sheeran-ised it. It's brilliant to be mates with something like that who can help in such a way." [2] In a statement, Passenger said, "Ed was really excited about the song when I played it to him and suggested that he produce a version that could potentially work as a radio single. It's not every day you have that kind of offer from a pop genius, and I'm so delighted with what he and Joe have come up with. It's been such a fun one to work on." [3] He also talked about sharing the song with his friends and family and said, "I genuinely think it's had the best reaction of any song I've ever written." [4]

Reception

The Independent criticized the song's lyrics for "primary school platitudes" such as "up and down like a yo-yo". [5]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Sword from the Stone" was first released onto YouTube on 8 January 2021. The video was directed by Raja Virdi. [6]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Sword from the Stone" (Gingerbread Mix)2:48
2."Sword from the Stone"3:21
3."Sword from the Stone" (Acoustic)3:33

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [7]

Charts

Chart (2021)Peak
position
Iceland (Plötutíðindi) [8] 22
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [9] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 70
UK Singles Downloads (OCC) [11] 30
US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) [12] 20
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [13] 10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Sheeran</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1991)

Edward Christopher Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently released the extended play No. 5 Collaborations Project. He signed with Asylum Records the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drunk (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2012 single by Ed Sheeran

"Drunk" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released as the fourth single lifted from the debut studio album + on 17 February 2012. The song was written by Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling and produced by Gosling. The single entered the UK Singles Chart at number 63. The week after, it climbed to number 29. Later on, it climbed to number 9, making it his fourth top ten single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2014 single by Ed Sheeran

"Sing" is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran. It was produced by Pharrell Williams, who also insisted on providing backing vocals. The song was released by Asylum Records UK on 7 April 2014 as the lead single from Sheeran's second studio album, × (2014). "Sing" became Sheeran's first UK number-one single and also topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Lawson (musician)</span> British singer-songwriter

Jamie Lawson is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was born and raised in St Budeaux, Plymouth, England. He was the first artist to be signed by Ed Sheeran's new record label, Gingerbread Man Records. Lawson is best known for his hit single, "Wasn't Expecting That", and his self-titled album which peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart in 2015.

<i>Jamie Lawson</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Jamie Lawson

Jamie Lawson is the fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson. It is also the first album to be released on Ed Sheeran's record label Gingerbread Man Records. On 17 July 2015, it was announced through Lawson's Twitter account that the self-titled album was available for pre-order on iTunes. The release of the album was pushed back by one week to 16 October 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shape of You</span> 2017 single by Ed Sheeran

"Shape of You" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 6 January 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album ÷ (2017), along with "Castle on the Hill". The dancehall and R&B-infused pop song was written by Sheeran, Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. Due to its interpolation of "No Scrubs" by TLC, Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs are also credited as writers. The song was produced by Sheeran and Mac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle on the Hill</span> 2017 single by Ed Sheeran

"Castle on the Hill" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 6 January 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album ÷ (2017), along with "Shape of You". "Castle on the Hill" was written and produced by Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco. The song refers to Framlingham Castle in Sheeran's home town of Framlingham in Suffolk, and reminisces tales of his upbringing in the town. The BBC states, "the song has been described as a love letter to Suffolk."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2017 song by Ed Sheeran

"Perfect" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from his third studio album, ÷ (2017). After the album's release, it charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart. On 21 August 2017, Billboard announced that "Perfect" would be the fourth single from the album. The song was serviced to pop radio on 26 September 2017 as the third single from the album in the United States. Originally peaking at number four in March 2017, the song re-entered the UK charts later that year. It eventually reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 2017. "Perfect" became the UK Christmas number-one song for 2017 and also peaked at number one in sixteen other countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.

"Barcelona" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was included on the deluxe edition of his third studio album ÷ (2017) and is the thirteenth track. It was written by Amy Wadge, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny McDaid and it was produced by Sheeran and Blanco. After the album's release, it charted at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello My Love</span> 2019 single by Westlife

"Hello My Love" is a song by Irish pop vocal band Westlife. It was released on 10 January 2019 as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, Spectrum, and is their first single to be released under Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records. It is also their first official single in eight years since the release of their last single, "Lighthouse", in 2011. The song is written by Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac. As of 30 November 2021, this is their eighth biggest single of all-time in the United Kingdom with 54.5 million streams in the country alone as of 30 November 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Care (Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber song)</span> 2019 single by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber

"I Don't Care" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on May 10, 2019, through Asylum, Atlantic Records and Def Jam Recordings as the lead single from the former's compilation album, No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). Sheeran previewed the song on his Instagram on May 5, 2019, and Bieber shared another part of the song the following day, before both artists announced the full title and release date on May 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Me</span> 2019 single by Ed Sheeran featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock

"Cross Me" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring American rappers Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock. It released on 24 May 2019 through Atlantic Records as the second single from the former's compilation album, No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antisocial (Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott song)</span> 2019 single by Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott

"Antisocial" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and American rapper and singer Travis Scott. It was released on 12 July 2019 through Asylum and Atlantic Records, along with "South of the Border", as the sixth and seventh singles respectively from Sheeran's compilation album, No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blow (Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars song)</span> 2019 single by Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars

"Blow" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and American singer-songwriters Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars. It was released on 5 July 2019 through Asylum and Atlantic Records, along with "Best Part of Me", as the fourth and fifth singles respectively from his compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). "Blow" was co-written by Sheeran, Stapleton, Mars, Brody Brown, Frank Rogers, J.T. Cure, Bard McNamee and Gregory McKee. Mars produced the song and played all the instruments except the bass. "Blow" is a rock, blues rock and hard rock song. Lyrically it is about a lover who leaving someone spurned crazy; it is mixed with gun references and sexual innuendo.

<i>Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted</i> 2021 studio album by Passenger

Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted is the twelfth studio album by English singer-songwriter Passenger. Recording started in 2019 and the album released on 8 January 2021 by Black Crow Records. All profits from the album go to Ecologi and Eden Reforestation Project, a nonprofit organization that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation. A tree will be planted for every physical copy of the album sold via the Passenger store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visiting Hours (song)</span> 2021 promotional single by Ed Sheeran

"Visiting Hours" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 19 August 2021 as the promotional single from his fourth studio album, =, the same day he announced the album. The song was produced by Sheeran and Johnny McDaid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbreak Anthem</span> 2021 single by Galantis, David Guetta and Little Mix

"Heartbreak Anthem" is a song by Swedish electronic music duo Galantis, French DJ and music producer David Guetta and British girl group Little Mix. It was released on 20 May 2021 through Atlantic Records and appears on Little Mix's greatest hits album Between Us (2021). An EDM and pop song with dance-pop influences, it was co-written by Guetta, Galantis member Christian Karlsson, alongside Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Habits (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2021 single by Ed Sheeran

"Bad Habits" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 25 June 2021, through Asylum and Atlantic Records, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, = ("Equals"). The song marked his first solo release from an album in over four years. A limited edition CD and cassette single were also released. The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who compared its sound and style to the works of the Weeknd, as well as Bronski Beat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psycho (Maisie Peters song)</span> 2021 single by Maisie Peters

"Psycho" is a song by British singer-songwriter Maisie Peters, released on 2 July 2021 through Gingerbread Man Records as the second single from her debut studio album You Signed Up for This.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivers (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2021 single by Ed Sheeran

"Shivers" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released through Asylum Records and Atlantic Records on 10 September 2021 as the second single from his fifth studio album, = (2021). "Shivers" entered atop the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, dethroning Sheeran's previous single "Bad Habits" after eleven consecutive weeks at the summit in both countries. The song also topped the charts in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. "Sword from the Stone (Gingerbread Mix) - Single by Passenger". Apple Music . Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. "Passenger talks chart battle for Number 1 album: "Life feels ridiculous"". Official Charts Company . 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. "Listen to Ed Sheeran's remix of Passenger's 'Sword From The Stone'". NME . 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. "Passenger Taps Ed Sheeran for New Mix of 'Sword From the Stone'". Rolling Stone . 14 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. "Album reviews: Passenger – Songs for the Drunk and Broken-Hearted, and Viagra Boys – Welfare Jazz" . The Independent. 7 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. "Passenger | Sword From The Stone (Official)". YouTube . Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. "Credits / Sword from the Stone / Passenger – TIDAL". Tidal . Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  8. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  9. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. "Passenger – Sword From The Stone". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  11. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. "Passenger Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  13. "Passenger Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2021.