The song serves as an expression of remorse and a pledge from Eminem to his daughters, acknowledging the difficulties they faced due to his fame and their family circumstances.

[1] The song begins with Eminem encouraging his daughters to "straighten up" and "stiffen up that upper lip," as he attempts to comfort them and provide an explanation for their circumstances.

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne wrote: "Again he addresses a song to his daughter (Mockingbird) and explains how he's working hard at being a good father.

"[5] Steve Jones of USA Today was positive: "The affectionate Mockingbird talks directly to his 9-year-old daughter, Hailie Jade, and 8-year-old niece, Alaina, trying to explain Kim's troubles with the law and his constant travel.

Club was a bit positive: "On 'Mockingbird,' Eminem lets his hatred of his ex-wife lie dormant just long enough to provide his daughter with a haunting account of how parents sometimes just can't make it work, no matter how much both parties want to.

Normally, much of Eminem's lure as a rapper is in the speed and authority of his rapid-fire delivery, but he raps here with the gentleness of a man with his arms around his daughter: 'I know it's confusing to you/ Daddy's always on the move/ Mama's always on the news.

[13] Rapper Baby Keem's song "Apologize" from his 2019 mixtape Die for My Bitch samples his unique, but well-known flow, using a similar melodic tone as Eminem's "Mockingbird".

Rapper Lil Nas X in his pre-chis 2021 album Montero samples "Mockingbird" for the chorus of "Don't Want It"; being similar in word pattern and lyrics.

[15] In 2023, after the song garnered massive interest on social networking site TikTok, "Mockingbird" reached 1 billion streams on Spotify[16] and placed on numerous music charts worldwide.