When discussing the gap between Picking Up the Pieces and Freewheelin' Woman, Jewel confessed that "I've always taken a lot of years between records when I feel like I need time to psychologically adjust or to creatively reload.

Speaking to American Songwriter, she stated that she was inspired to write the track because she was moved by the stories of the individuals featured in the film and related those to her own experiences of being homeless when she was eighteen.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jewel expressed that the song was written about her experiences with anxiety and the crucial role that perception plays in processing your emotions, explaining that, "I learned that if I was headed into a panic attack, I could hack my way into a dilated state by focusing very hard on a different feeling.

Alongside this announcement, she previewed the album's lead single, "Dancing Slow", which features American rock band Train, whom she would be supporting on their AM Gold Tour between June and August 2022.

[8] In a statement about the track, Jewel explained that "Dancing Slow" is "ultimately about the ebb and flow of life and cherishing those moments of certainty that are shared when you're with a trusted companion.

[9] The final pre-release track from the album, "Long Way 'Round", was shared in March 2022, with Jewel describing it as "a song about overcoming something difficult, even if it requires getting lost or taking the longer way around.