It was written, produced, and performed primarily by siblings Tyler and Maggie Heath, with the exception of "Danse Macabre", which was composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1874.

The mixing and mastering was done by Charlie Kramsky, with extra vocals being recorded by members of the ensemble that tours with the duo, including Matthew Hagerman and Joey Chance.

[1][4][5] It also draws inspiration from The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, with the descriptions of literature, language, and music being an influence on the way the album was written.

The imagery of bitter water serves as a metaphor for the pain that lingers in love that should not be, whether due to betrayal, loss, or an impossible situation.

While The Oh Hellos are not strictly a Christian band, their music often reflects their faith, and Soldier, Poet, King serves as a creative and poetic interpretation of biblical prophecy, blending apocalyptic imagery with folk storytelling.

[9] Neil Z. Yeung gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, saying that "These songs are heavy on the drama, but the conviction with which the band delivers each one borders on glorious rapture."