Sometimes I pick up the guitar and the fingers just start doing something. Simply sliding between two chords conjured the verse melody for this song. I find my roots in British folk coming through more these days, and nature has been a recurring theme since I began writing songs at age 15. These two elements combine in “Now More Than Ever Before.” I started thinking about how the natural world is important to us for so many reasons, especially now: biodiversity and life cycles, physical and mental well-being, etc. In the verses I recall memories of British plants and animals. When I write I sometimes like to work with a certain set of criteria or weave in a repeating characteristic. In this case it's the unusual three-syllable names that begin each verse: sycamore, daffodil, tortoiseshell, nightingale. Song structure is AABABCAB (A=verse, B=chorus, C=bridge). There's a saying in songwriting circles: “Don't bore us, get to the chorus.” I agree with that to a certain extent, but there's also something to be said for delayed gratification, and the song's vibe needs to be considered also. Sometimes I like to establish the song/story a bit before the first chorus, hence back-to-back verses to begin this one.