The song was co-written and co-produced by five-time Grammy-winner Finneas O'Connell,[2] and also features an uncredited lyrical contribution from his sister, Billie Eilish.

[6] "Moral of the Story" is in 44 common time, in the key of B-flat major, with a moderate tempo of 120 beats per minute.

In 2018, Ashe wrote "Moral of the Story" after filing for divorce, in an attempt to try and make sense of why the relationship failed.

"Moral of the Story" was described by Gregory Castel of Earmilk as a "sobering love ballad with attention-grabbing lyrics" which Ashe has written with "captivating satire and vulnerability".

[10] The song's music video, which has gained over 36 million views on YouTube,[11] was released with the single and was noted to have a Walter Wick-inspired aesthetic.