OVER THE CASTLE ON THE HILL

BY: ED SHEERAN Morgan Brown

Form Ed Sheeran's Castle On the Hill

Intro
captures some of the most
Verse 1
Pre-Chorus 1
memorable moments of
Chorus 1 Sheeran's childhood. By utilizing
Post-Chorus 1 popular form, Sheeran is able to
Verse 2 incorporate various energy level
Pre-Chorus 2 shifts throughout his song to
Chorus 2 assist in his musical storytelling.
Post-Chorus 2 Some of the most prominent
Bridge energy shifts can be found at the
Pre-Chorus 3 Verses, Pre-Choruses, Choruses,
Chorus 3 Post-Choruses, and the Bridge.
Outro
 Intro
*beginning
instrumental
introduction
*the fade-in effect of
the introduction
conveys a lower level of
energy
Chorus
*hoarse singing accompanies the
rise in energy
*prominent energizing drumset
*steady eighth note pulse from
the electric guitar
*can be represented with an
ascending trend in the energy
level before plateauing to
represent the main theme and to
emphasize the emotional nature
of the section
Pre-Chorus 2
*introduction of drum set fill
*more involved instrumental
parts (eighth note subdivision is
quite prominent)
*return of background vocables
*the entirety of the Pre-Chorus
can be represented with a
continuing ascending shift in the
energy level trend, continuing to
build anticipation to the Chorus
Bridge
*provides contrast with a
significant drop in
instrumentation (allowing for
commentary)
*steady bass drum pulse (similar
to a heartbeat) with subtle electric
guitar chord changes
*energy increases slightly with the
introduction of the "ooh" vocables
*slight steady increase in the
energy level trend
This song demonstrates a significant number of
energy shifts with a span of 4 minutes and 22 seconds,
emphasizing the importance of popular form in
conveying the message/story behind a song.
Verse 1 Pre-Chorus 1
*utilizes an energized pattern in
*the beginning of Verse 1 marks
the first ascending shift on the the drum set
energy level graph before *introduces background
plateauing vocables
*this shift is emphasized with *the entirety of the Pre-Chorus
the vocal entrance and the can be represented with a
continuation of the steady bass continuing ascending shift in the
drum pulse that accompanies energy level graph by creating a
the initial recollection of the sense of anticipation in the
overarching "story" of the song
song's "story"
Post-Chorus 1 Verse 2
*significant drop in *re-entrance of a single voice
instrumentation *return of the steady bass
drum pulse
(drops to Electric guitar and
the steady bass drum pulse) *the beginning of this Verse
*can be represented with a marks an ascending shift on
significant dip in the energy the energy level graph before
level, emphasizes the repeated plateauing, accompanying the
instrumental rendition of the progression of the song's
electric guitar's melodic hook "story"
Chorus 2 Post-Chorus 2
*hoarse/passionate singing *repetition of the song title
*greater emphasis on the at various tempos and
driving eighth note rhythmic patterns
subdivisions
*increased volume (more
*volume gradually increases
amplified vocal projection)
*can be represented with an
ascending trend in the energy *can be represented with a
level before plateauing, slight increase in the
portraying the emotional energy level before
intensity of the piece plateauing
Pre-Chorus 3 Chorus 3 Outro
*re-entrance of the single *introduced with drumset *most instrumentation
kickstart
vocal line (distant and/or dropped
*most passionate singing in the
contemplative because it entire song (portraying the *guitar fadeout to nothing
resembles talking to oneself) emotion-packed nature of the *can be represented with a
*piano/synth Chorus) sudden decrease in the
accompaniment *the volume and energy level
energy level trend followed
*one of the lowest energy continually increase with the
reintroduction of the steady by a continual decrease
levels in the whole song, yet
bass drum pulse, electric guitar, with the guitar fadeout
still anticipates the Chorus synth, and vocables
So what?