One Direction's Niall Horan surprises with first solo single 'This Town': Listen

Thursday (Sept. 29), One Direction's Niall Horan surprised fans with the release of his debut solo single "This Town." The track bares strong similarities to a 1D acoustic ballad -- minus the four-part harmonies, of course.

The song, which Greg Kurstin (Sia, Adele) produced, centers on a girl and finds Horan coping with jealousy. Horan, Jamie Scott, Mike Needle and Daniel Bryer all share songwriting credits.

In addition to the track's release, Horan also announced he has signed with Capitol Records USA. In a press release, he thanked the One Direction fans for their continued love and support, and said he is looking forward to embarking on the next part of his journey with them along for the ride.

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Aside from solo material, Horan may be headed for a collaboration with Shawn Mendes as well. Mendes confirmed on The Late Late Show on Wednesday (Sept. 28) that he and Horan are working up some new material together. He said while the two are rarely in the same city, let alone the same country at the same time, "When I get a second I want to write with him a bunch."

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But until their collaboration comes to fruition, check out Horan's stripped-down performance of "This Town" for a new "1 Mic 1 Take" video below.

Read the lyrics to "This Town" below.

Waking up to kiss you and nobody's there

The smell of your perfume still stuck in the air

It's Hard

Yesterday I thought I saw your shadow running round

It's funny how things never change in this old town

So far from the stars

And I want to tell you everything

The words I never got to say the first time around

And I remember everything

From when we were the children playing in this fairground

Wish I was there with you now

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you

Drive highways and byways to be there with you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

I saw that you moved on with someone new

In the pub that we met he's got his arms around you

It's so hard

So Hard

And I want to tell you everything

The words I never got to say the first time around

And I remember everything

From when we were the children playing in this fairground

Wish I was there with you now

Cos if the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you

Drive highways and byways to be there with you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

You still make me nervous when you walk in the room

Them butterflies they come alive when I'm next to you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

And I know that it's wrong

That I can't move on

But there's something about you

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you

Drive highways and byways to be there with you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

You still make me nervous when you walk in the room

Them butterflies they come alive when I'm next to you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

Everything comes back to you