Lily Kershaw - Now & Then -

Lines like "we’ll never know if our love could have grown" highlight the tragedy of a love lost to circumstance or internal struggles, such as the subject being "scared and alone" or "longing to feel but nothing that's real".

Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering from "tremendous heartache" during the writing process.

While the album as a whole features "sleeker pop production" than her debut, "Now & Then" serves as a bridge back to her earlier, more intimate acoustic style. Lily Kershaw - Now & Then

Kershaw considers Arcadia a meant to be heard as a "journey and an infinite loop".

Kershaw’s voice is described as "angelic and otherworldly," providing a "brutally fragile performance" that carries the emotional weight of the lyrics. Lines like "we’ll never know if our love

Lily Kershaw’s is a poignant folk-pop ballad released in 2019 as a lead single from her sophomore album, Arcadia . Described by Kershaw as the most "stripped" and intimate track on the record, the song explores the irreconcilable rift between past affection and present reality. Thematic Core: Unfulfilled Potential

The lyrics contrast "the way I love you now" with "the way that I loved you then," suggesting that while love persists, its form has changed to the point of being unrecognizable. Kershaw considers Arcadia a meant to be heard

"Now & Then" is noted for its , intentionally designed to sound honest and visceral.