The song was described in a press release as being an "ode to the messy, complicated, yet ultimately exhilarating rites of passage we all traverse while growing up", with Ruel saying "The idea of the underline at the end of the title was to try to explain that everyone has a different experience growing up.

Everyone has ups and downs, but because it's never just one thing, I couldn't just give it one word and wanted to leave it open for interpretation.

[6] An official live video, directed by Grey Ghost, produced by Jessica Galea and filmed at Filmworx in Melbourne was premiered on 9 December 2021.

[7] Al Newstead from ABC said "The track has the old-school soul of the 19-year-old's golden voice but the production is dreamier, with echoing drums and shimmering guitars providing a melancholy fringe.

It all builds to an enrapturing chorus that captures the dizzying experience of youth: falling in and out of love and emotional yo-yo'ing between profound reflection and partying:"[3] ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.