The song was written by Ezra, Fred Gibson and Joel Pott and produced by Cam Blackwood.

It was released as a digital download on 18 May 2018, as the third single from Ezra's second studio album, Staying at Tamara's.

"Shotgun" is originally in the key of F major, with a tempo of 116 beats per minute and a chord progression of F–B♭–Dm–C.

[7] A lyric video, which has Ezra performing the song in multiple locations, was first released on YouTube on 18 May 2018 and has over 300 million views as of March 2022.

[8] The official music video was also released on YouTube on 14 June 2018 and has over 70 million views as of March 2022.