Over a piano-driven instrumental, Eminem says the song is intended for Hailie to listen to when he dies and remember his love for her,[2][3][4] before telling her to look after her siblings and uncle after his death.
[2][4] On October 3, 2024, a music video promoting Temporary was released on Eminem's official YouTube channel.
Steven J. Horowitz of Variety described the song as "Eminem at his best",[3] while Jordan Bassett of NME called it "a genuinely moving ode to his daughter, Hailie, which proves Marshall Mathers can say something that matters when he wants to.
"[7] Simon K. of Sputnikmusic named it as one of the particular songs from The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) whose "instrumentals retain issues I've had with Eminem's works for decades now".
[9] Paul Attard of Slant Magazine regarded the song to be among the album's "overblown ballads dedicated to his family".