The track was included on Sivan's fifth EP, In a Dream (2020), as a 51-second interlude, before being released in full on 9 July 2021.

[3] In reviewing the EP in August 2020, Stephen Daw of Billboard said "This stripped-down, '70s-rock ballad is a welcome new sound in Sivan's repertoire.

"Could Cry" shows Sivan exploring the wreckage of a broken relationship, wondering how he's going to move forward.

[2] Upon release Sivan said "I wrote this song crying in my kitchen just as life started to fall apart a bit.

"[5][6] The music video was directed by Sivan and Jesse Gohier-Fleet and released on 8 July 2021.