Dobbyn wrote the song in Sydney, with the opening harmonic progression coming about from playing with a newly bought guitar.

[4] In 2001, Loyal was voted the third-best New Zealand song of the 20th century by APRA, and featured on the related Nature's Best CD.

It was used in 2002 as the official song for the defending New Zealand team in the 2003 America's Cup yachting competition.

[5] There was some public unhappiness about the song's association with the campaign (especially given the team's subsequent loss).

[6] Dobbyn has noted the adoption of "Loyal" into the wider New Zealand psyche: It's now got a life of its own.