In their interview with Zane Lowe for Beats1 Radio, Sam explained that this song was written after being “dumped over the phone”. They were at home with a friend and their sister who supported them through the heartache:
And we put it on the back burner, I can think about being dumped tomorrow
The song reflects this, with upbeat rhythm and energetic background chorus, a positive lyric telling of sadness, but also determination and resilience — a departure from the passive, sad songs that characterised Sam’s previous album, In the Lonely Hour.
Sam has said that they intended more variety and depth in this album — “Up till now all I’d written were songs about love and being sad.” Both this song and “Too Good at Goodbyes” represent a desire to toughen themselves, even if this wasn’t their true nature.