"Lonely" was the last single released by Jonghyun during his lifetime and experienced a surge in popularity following his death by suicide on December 18, 2017, reaching number one on Gaon Digital Chart.
[1] Unlike his other releases, which present an "idealized" version of himself, the songs on the Story Op albums are intended to showcase a side of Jonghyun that is "more ordinary and human".
The music video, which was filmed in Los Angeles, depicts Jonghyun alone on the beach and in a large house, conveying feelings of emptiness.
It has been described as "a heartbreaking, piano-guided midtempo ballad that reflects on the feelings of things never getting better amid a sense of immense loneliness.
[10] The lyrical content drew increased attention following Jonghyun's suicide, and was re-examined by fans and journalists for signs of loneliness and depression.