The track is primarily built on delicate fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar. Some critics noted atmospheric additions, such as a rich, husky organ or accordion, which add a "melancholic autumn" feel.
Lily Kershaw’s is a poignant folk-pop ballad released in 2019 as a lead single from her sophomore album, Arcadia . Described by Kershaw as the most "stripped" and intimate track on the record, the song explores the irreconcilable rift between past affection and present reality. Thematic Core: Unfulfilled Potential Lily Kershaw - Now & Then
Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering from "tremendous heartache" during the writing process. The track is primarily built on delicate fingerpicking
Kershaw considers Arcadia a meant to be heard as a "journey and an infinite loop". Described by Kershaw as the most "stripped" and
The lyrics contrast "the way I love you now" with "the way that I loved you then," suggesting that while love persists, its form has changed to the point of being unrecognizable.