Who Wrote 'Love Yourself' for Justin Bieber? Songwriters, Meanings, and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets

Get a complete overview about Who Wrote 'Love Yourself' for Justin Bieber? Songwriters, Meanings, and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets.

The official credits on the Def Jam Recordings release cite three individuals: Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin, and Justin Bieber. Each brought a distinct element to the finished record.

Sheeran provided the skeletal architecture: the descending chord sequence, the conversational verse cadence, and the infectious, syncopated pre-chorus. His fingerprint remains unmistakable across the entire composition, most notably in the narrative phrasing ("I didn't wanna write a song / 'Cause I didn't want anyone thinkin' I still care"). Sheeran also recorded background harmonies that sit squarely behind Bieber's lead throughout the chorus.

Benny Blanco functioned as both co-writer and sole producer. Blanco resisted the temptation to build the song into a typical mid-tempo pop-rock anthem. He stripped the track down to its barest essentials, stripping out snares, kicks, and synth pads.

Bieber adapted the track's point of view to match his personal vocal tone. He smoothed out the harsher edges of Sheeran’s British acoustic delivery, bringing an R&B-influenced softness to the verses that made the underlying cruelty of the lyrics hit harder.