It was released through Artist Partner Group and Atlantic Records as a single on September 12, 2019.

[1] Puth produced the song with Louis Bell and Andrew Watt, and they wrote it alongside Ryan Tedder and Billy Walsh.

[2] Puth revealed the song's title and release date on September 4, 2019.

[3] "Mother" was written and produced by Puth, Andrew Watt, Louis Bell and Ryan Tedder.

[5] According to Puth, the song is about a relationship that is "secretly crumbling from the inside", and that he "sometimes disguise sad lyrical sentiments with happy music".