Ed Sheeran Covers Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’

Just days after performing at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran played a secret show for Free Radio in which he covered 'Chasing Cars' by his former tourmates Snow Patrol.

The original recording of 'Chasing Cars' was sparse and delicate, but Sheeran simplified that formula even more, offering only his voice and a barely-audible acoustic guitar. Sheeran almost sounded like Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody when he sang the familiar hook, "If I lay here / If I just lay here / Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

The Free Radio gig was reportedly in front of an intimate crowd of only 250, making the ballad even more powerful. Not a sound was heard from the audience until the 21-year-old finished the song.

Sheeran regularly drops covers into his live shows. At the Olympics, he performed Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' with PF drummer Nick Mason. He will also be featured on Taylor Swift's next album 'Red' and begins a VH1-sponsored tour in the States on Sept. 8 to promote his debut album, '+.'