Louis Tomlinson has crafted a deeply moving tribute to his late One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, in a heartfelt song featured on his latest album. The poignant track reflects on the tragic passing of Liam, who died at just 31 years old in October 2024, following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The song, titled “Dark To Light,” is part of Tomlinson’s eagerly awaited album, “How Did I Get Here?” Through its emotive lyrics, Louis grapples with feelings of helplessness and questions whether he could have done more to support someone in need.

In an early glimpse of the song’s lyrics, the 34-year-old artist sings with raw emotion: “It’s over before it ends. No phoenix in the flames. There’s only empty photographs.”

He continues with a heartfelt plea: “Is there anything that I can do? I wish you could see how you look in my eyes, one more time. Would it make a difference? Would it make you smile? Could it bring you from dark to light?”

The song concludes with an acknowledgment of the enduring weight of grief, as Louis admits, “And I can’t carry this weight for long. But I’m not over it already.”

‘And I can’t carry this weight for long. But I’m not over it already.’

Louis Tomlinson has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne in a poignant song on his new album (pictured in 2015)

In his new song Dark To Light, from his highly-anticipated record How Did I Get Here? Louis’s heartbreaking lyrics explore if he could have done more to help someone in need 

Liam tragically died aged just 31 in October 2024, after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina (pictured in 2018)

The Sun reports that the track’s title is thought to be a subtle reference to a tattoo Liam got in 2023, which read ‘here dark meets light’. 

The publication added that Liam’s family were made aware of the track’s lyrics before it was released on Friday.

Speaking about the track, Louis recently said: ‘That’s one I don’t want to go into like proper, proper detail about really, but it definitely came from a very sentimental and heartfelt place. But also sonically the album really needed a song like that.

‘The album reflects my past few years and my attempt to maintain a positive outlook despite everything.’

He previously opened up about the moment he was told of Liam’s death during a podcast appearance on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary Of A CEO.

Louis said: ‘I was in the car in LA and I just dropped my son Freddie off for school and I was just pulling up back home. 

‘I actually found out through Niall, and he told me and yeah, he said something like, “Lads have you seen the news?” and I think I knew what he meant.  

So far, Louis, whose 2022 album Faith In The Future secured number one in the UK, has released three singles for his new album How Did I Get Here?, titled Imposter, Palaces and Lemonade. 

The track’s title Dark To Light is thought to be a subtle reference to a tattoo Liam got in 2023, which read ‘here dark meets light’ (seen together in 2015)

In his new song Dark To Light from the upcoming record How Did I Get Here? the lyrics explore if he could have done more to help someone in need

Lemonade managed to crack the top 30 in the UK singles chart after being released in September but follow-up single Palaces failed to make a splash. 

Louis officially released his album on Friday, the same day Harry, 31, released his new single, Aperture. 

Meanwhile, One Direction fans have claimed that Louis ‘threw shade’ at Harry Styles earlier this week as the former bandmates released new music on the same day. 

Three-time Grammy Award winner Harry has already gained huge attention online after revealing his new album Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally and single. 

The As It Was hitmaker is bound to shoot to number one in the charts which is unfortunate for Louis, who will be hoping for a number one single and album as well.

Taking to X ahead of the release, Louis appears to be aware of the conundrum and asked his 28.8million X followers for their ‘help cutting through the noise’. 

He penned: ‘Going to need your help over the next few days to cut through the noise. Time to give this record the moment it deserves!’

Fans quickly took to the comments to ask the Lemonade singer if he is ‘throwing shade’ at his former bandmate Harry. 

They wrote: ‘”cut through the noise” why do I feel like this is harry shade?; Is he trying to shade… Harry?; Oh Harry Styles when I catch you’.

Louis hasn’t responded to accusations of making a dig at the Watermelon Sugar singer but did post a ‘thank you’ to those who had supported him.

He penned: ‘Let me take this moment to say thank you to every single person that has supported me over the years. You are throughout this record and everything I do. 

‘This album would never have sounded the way it does without all the power and confidence you lot have given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! How did I get here?’

It has been a busy week for Directioners as Harry and Louis prepare to drop new music, Zayn Malik kicked off his Las Vegas residency and Niall teased a new single, Drive Safe

The Daily Mail contacted Louis’s representatives for comment.

It has been a busy week for Directioners as Harry and Louis prepare to drop new music, Zayn Malik kicked off his Las Vegas residency and Niall Horan teased a new single, Drive Safe, with singer Myles Smith.

Louis showed his support to Niall on Instagram, writing, ‘Love this!’ under the announcement post.

Harry has previously released three solo albums, Harry Styles (2017), Fine Line (2019) and Harry’s House (2022). 

The British star has gone on to win three Grammy Awards, one for his single Watermelon Sugar and two for his album Harry’s House. 

Harry and Louis’s relationship has been complicated over the years, with plenty of rumours that they had fallen out in 2015 when One Direction split.

The pair denied the speculation, with their bandmate Niall calling them all ‘brothers’, which they have all reiterated at various times in the decade since.