Lines like "we’ll never know if our love could have grown" highlight the tragedy of a love lost to circumstance or internal struggles, such as the subject being "scared and alone" or "longing to feel but nothing that's real".
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 - Now & Then
Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering from "tremendous heartache" during the writing process. Lines like "we’ll never know if our love
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. Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering
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
Kershaw’s voice is described as "angelic and otherworldly," providing a "brutally fragile performance" that carries the emotional weight of the lyrics.
While the album as a whole features "sleeker pop production" than her debut, "Now & Then" serves as a bridge back to her earlier, more intimate acoustic style.