Adele’s ‘Easy on Me’: A Tearful Letter to Son Angelo About Her Divorce

When Adele dropped “Easy on Me” in October 2021, fans instantly realized they were hearing a mother’s raw confession to her nine‑year‑old son.

The ballad, co‑written with Grammy‑winner Greg Kurstin, served as the lead single for her fourth studio effort, 30. It wasn’t just another comeback track; it was a direct line to Angelo, the child who had been watching his parents’ marriage crumble in real time.

Background and the Road to “Easy on Me”

Adele and producer Greg Kurstin began crafting the song during a series of private studio sessions in Los Angeles after her divorce was finalized in March 2021. Their collaboration leaned heavily on piano‑driven arrangements, a hallmark of Adele’s earlier work, but the lyrical tone was unmistakably different – it was less about heartbreak and more about explanation.

The split with Simon Konecki had been publicly hinted at since a 2019 announcement, after eleven years of dating and a 2018 wedding. While the legal paperwork wrapped up in early 2021, Adele kept her personal life under a tight lid, letting only a few close friends hear the unfinished verses.

Lyrics That Speak to a Child

From the opening line, "There ain’t no gold in this river…," the song reads like a letter written on a piano bench. In the chorus, Adele sings, "Go easy on me, baby / I was still a child," a line that mirrors the vulnerability she’d felt as a mother navigating the same teenage turbulence her son would soon face.

She doesn’t shy away from admitting her own flaws. In the bridge she confesses, "I had good intentions / And the highest hopes / But I know right now / It probably doesn’t even show." Those words, delivered in her signature husky timbre, strike a chord with anyone who’s tried to balance personal growth against parental responsibility.

Later, the second verse paints a clearer picture of why the marriage unraveled: "There ain’t no room / For things to change / When we are both so deeply / Stuck in our ways." It’s a stark acknowledgement that love sometimes meets an immovable wall.

The Music Video and Visual Storytelling

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Xavier Dolan, the black‑and‑white video mirrors the aesthetic of her 2015 "Hello" clip, using stark contrast to mirror the emotional highs and lows. Within the first hour of its YouTube debut, the visual racked up nearly one million views, a testament to both Adele’s star power and the song’s resonance.

The video shows Adele perched at the edge of a river, a visual metaphor for the turbulent waters she described in the lyrics. A subtle nod to a bad cell‑phone signal appears, echoing a similar scene from "Hello" and reminding viewers that even fame can’t shield one from personal turmoil.

Critical Reception and Cultural Impact

Music critics from Pitchfork to the New York Times praised the track for its “unflinching honesty.” One reviewer noted that the song “redefines pop balladry by centering a child’s perspective—a move both daring and deeply humane.”

Industry analysts point out that the single vaulted to the top of the UK Singles Chart within its first week, marking Adele’s seventh number‑one in her home country. Streaming numbers surged past 500 million within six months, making it one of the most‑played releases of the year.

Beyond the charts, the track sparked conversations about how public figures discuss divorce with children. Parenting forums flooded with parents sharing excerpts of the song, using it as a template for their own difficult explanations.

What This Means for Adele and Her Family

In a 2021 interview with Vogue, Adele admitted she’d initially planned for the entire album to be a divorce diary, only to find other life chapters sneaking in. She said, “I assumed it would be about my divorce but it’s kind of not… Well, ‘Easy on Me’ obviously is.”

She also shared that Angelo asks “why can’t you still live together?”—a question she often can’t answer fully. The hope, she says, is that the album *30* will one day help him make sense of the upheaval.

For Simon Konecki, the song has been a public acknowledgment that the split was mutual, albeit painful. He has remained largely out of the spotlight, focusing on co‑parenting responsibilities.

Looking ahead, Adele has hinted at a possible tour in 2022, which could turn these intimate confessions into live moments of collective catharsis. Whether on stage or in a recording studio, she appears committed to using her platform to normalize vulnerability.

Key Facts

• Release date: 15 October 2021
• Songwriters: Adele, Greg Kurstin
• Producer: Greg Kurstin
• Music video director: Xavier Dolan
• Chart debut: #1 UK Singles Chart