Frontman Fran Healy wrote the song during recording sessions for the band's previous album, The Man Who (1999), coming up with the title by looking at British audio engineer Mike Hedges' flower garden.

[1] Healy had previous written songs alone in his room, but one day, he sat at Hedges' piano and composed the opening riff.

After they returned inebriated and went to sleep, Healy heard what he thought was someone choking on vomit, and he ran around the chateau searching for whoever was making this noise.

Perturbed by this incident, Healy returned to his room, wrote the song's lyrics on the back of an envelope in 10 minutes, and cried when he recited them.

In an interview for Rate Your Music, Healy explained, "I met McCartney whilst recording a television programme and I played him an unfinished track from the new album.

During live performances of the song, it is typically dedicated to members of the band or stage crew who have reached a significant moment in a relationship.