Ed Sheeran strums guitar, sings 'Thinking Out Loud' in court during copyright trial

Recording artist Ed Sheeran leaves New York Federal Court on Wednesday. Ed Sheeran played the chord progression to his hit song 'Thinking Out Loud' and sang a few of the words on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court. – Photo: AP

Ed Sheeran played the chord progression to his hit song Thinking Out Loud and sang a few of the words on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on Thursday during a trial over whether he copied Marvin Gaye's classic Let's Get it On.

Testifying as the first witness in his own defense, the British singer-songwriter described his process for writing the song about everlasting love in 2014, shortly after he began a new romantic relationship and after his grandfather died.