Break out those tissues. This new song is a tearjerker. Today (June 16) Ed Sheeran is continuing his journey of open, honest music for his new album x with the release of "Afire Love." In the piano-driven ballad, the English singer-songwriter heartbreakingly opens up about his grandfather's battle with Alzheimer's disease and its rippling effect on his family and grandmother.

"My father told me, 'Son, it's not his fault he doesn't know your face' / You're not the only one," Sheeran sings in the bridge before delving into his grandparents' deep love in the chorus, which has since been obscured by the tragedy of memory loss.

Set to a smooth, grooving beat that somehow just emphasizes the song's lyrical heaviness, "Afire Love" also touches on the flip side of a tragic death: that family's will come together in the end, sometimes reuniting after years of feuds or fights.

It's the type of honest, heartbreaking song that Sheeran so excels at, even if it does make you want to crawl in a hole and sob for a few days. At least it is effective.

Listen to Ed Sheeran's "Afire Love" below, via his Twitter:

"Afire Love" is available for digital download now for fans who have preordered x on iTunes.

"Afire Love" is the fourth song released from Sheeran's upcoming album x. He's previously released the lead single "Sing" and two other tracks, "One" and "Don't."

Sheeran has announced that he will be releasing one new song every day this week leading up to the release of x, which will drop on June 23 internationally.

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