FORMER One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has paid a heartfelt tribute to tragic bandmate Liam Payne with a song on his new album.

sings about loss on the track Dark to Light — and asks if he could have done more to help someone in need.

Liam Payne with his arm around Louis Tomlinson, who holds a Brit Award.Louis Tomlinson has paid a heartfelt tribute to tragic bandmate Liam Payne with a song on his new albumCredit: PA Louis Tomlinson attending Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2025.Lyrics by Louis include: ‘It’s over before it ends. No phoenix in the flames. There’s only empty photographs’Credit: Getty

The title is thought to be a subtle reference to a chest ­tattoo got in 2023 which read “here dark meets light”.

Lyrics by Louis, 34, include: “It’s over before it ends. No phoenix in the flames. There’s only empty photographs.

“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?

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

The Sun understands Liam’s family were made aware of the track’s existence and the content of the lyrics prior to today’s release of the album — titled How Did I Get Here?

Despite clashing during their time in Louis and Liam had grown close in his final years.

And they even appeared together on telly on

after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He had been open about struggling with addiction to drink and .

Talking to MTV Brazil recently about Dark to Light Louis 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.”

And he went on: “The album reflects my past few years and my attempt to maintain a positive outlook despite everything.”

LYRICS OF DARK TO LIGHT TRACK ON NEW ALBUM

It’s over before it ends. No phoenix in the flames. There’s only empty photographs.

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?

And I can’t carry this weight for long.

But I’m not over it already.