“Eyes Closed” is a heartfelt track that describes the emotions Ed faced when he lost an important person in his life. The song is dedicated to his close friend, Jamal, who sadly died from a sudden heart attack in February 2022.

Although it was dedicated to Jamal, Ed also dedicates the track to anyone that has lost a close friend or a loved one, asserting that the song now belongs to them. The lyrics reflect on the fact that no matter what he does, everything reminds him of the things they did together, and that dancing with his eyes closed allows him to reminisce and get through the pain.

On March 24th, 2023, the track was released as the lead single for Sheeran’s sixth studio album, - (Subtract).