Armatrading wrote "Willow" while staying in . After leaving a venue she described as "horrible," she returned to her hotel room during a storm. Seeing a willow tree outside her window, she felt a sense of literal and metaphorical displacement and wrote the song as a "love song for the tree," which she viewed as the only constant in her life at that moment. Lyrical Themes and Analysis

Critics and fans alike praise the song's "quiet resilience" and "plaintive" delivery, noting how its gentle tone perfectly matches its offer of unconditional support. Production and Reception

The song is noted for its , specifically the willow tree as a symbol of strength, protection, and flexibility . Unlike traditional literary uses of the willow to signify mourning, Armatrading reimagines it as a source of comfort.