Posted by Emily Exton on 10/25/2012 at 2:58 PM News

The Popdust Files: ed sheeran, Little Things, one direction, Take Me Home, upcoming albums

By now you’ve heard that “Little Things” is the next single from One Direction’s upcoming album, Take Me Home. Brilliant! But with a music video reportedly in the bag, we can’t be blamed for wanting an early listen to the track in advance of November 13. We can only go crazy, crazy, crazy for so long.

Along with evidence of Louis being just smitten with the track, new details are beginning to emerge: “Little Things” was written by Ed Sheeran, who’s also responsible for the lovely closer “Moments” off Up All Night, and routinely gets a shout-out during 1D live shows. (Yes, he’s the “ginger boy” Harry speaks so fondly of.)

Sheeran told Capital FM about unearthing the vintage track—penned when he was just 17—for the group, ultimately fulfilling their quest to branch out on their second album. “I think they just wanted to try something different. I think they did the same formula with the last single—it sounded like a One Direction song—and now I think they want to switch it up a bit,” he explained. We agree, and we’re intrigued about what exactly that entails. You’ve already covered sexting, so that leaves off-track betting and souffle-baking? Just a shot in the dark.

To get your imagination going, 1D has started teasing the lyrics on Twitter:

#LittleThings ♫ Your hand fits in mine like it’s made just for me…

— One Direction (@onedirection) October 25, 2012

…But bear this in mind, it was meant to be…♫ Suggestions for the next line in #LittleThings ? 1DHQ x

— One Direction (@onedirection) October 25, 2012

But Ed does us one better and spills one of Harry’s lines, revealing a bit of the melody and composition in the process. “It’s got one of my favorite lines that I’ve ever written in a song,” he explained. “Harry says, ‘I know you never like the sound of your voice on tape and you never like to know how much you weigh and you still have to squeeze into your jeans but you’re perfect to me.’” A little bit of “What Makes You Beautiful” for the body-conscious young professional? Don’t screw this up, Hazza.

Like Bieber fans before us, you’re invited to complete the song in full. The closest version to the real thing will be rewarded with our complete respect and the shiniest tiara we can find. And if you’re somehow still late to the party and wondering who this ginger who seems to be spending a lot of time with 1D and Taylor Swift is, learn more about the English singer-songwriter and his stellar new album, +, here.