The EP is a folk album of what journalist David Nolan described as "polite, discreet adult offerings aimed at a grown-up audience," with "world-weary songs of mornings after, indecision and regret.

"[1] Songs I Wrote with Amy is the third of a series of five EPs in different genres that Ed Sheeran released independently in quick succession from 2009 to 2010.

[2] The previous EP, 2010's Loose Change, sold enough copies for Sheeran to afford to record a follow-up two months later.

"[4] The two songwriters kept in touch and continued to write together, and Sheeran wanted her to sing backing vocals on an EP of five of their collaborations.

[5] Biographer Sean Smith described lead track "Fall" as "a proper soppy love song," and Nolan compared "Where We Land" to Damien Rice.