The subject of the lyrics was the 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning professional photographer Kevin Carter who was awarded for his image The Vulture and the Little Girl, taken in what is now South Sudan.

[2] Carter was troubled by the balance of his professional responsibilities with moral considerations, leading to his suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 33.

[3] The jagged, descending chords of the verses lead into a lush extended middle section, including a trumpet solo played by Sean Moore, which further points to experimental songwriting while also linking back to the spiky music on the band's previous album, The Holy Bible.

"[4] Along with "Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier", it was one of two new tracks that he played on an acoustic guitar to the songs' lyricist, Richey Edwards, shortly before he disappeared.

The Butch Cassidy connection is also referenced in their song "Australia" (which is where the characters from the film say they will go next, directly before the 'Sepia' sequence), and the decision to record "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" for the War Child charity compilation The Help Album.