Halsey portrays herself as a strong-willed, independent woman in the media. She is also open about her vulnerabilities, and here she talks about her contrasting feelings regarding her attachment to others.

I don't need anyone
I just need everyone and then some

The song is an appeal to her lover to bear with the complexities of her personality.

The titular "Clementine" does not appear in the lyrics, but it is believed to be a reference to Kate Winslet's character in the 2004 movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In the film, Clementine Kruczynsk is an unrestrained free spirit whose reckless behavior exhibits traits of borderline personality disorder.

Halsey revealed to Rolling Stone that Winslet's character was a major influence on her in her pre-teen years: "It was really exciting for me to see a woman on film who was proud and liberated in her own weirdness and in her own non-polite, non-political, non-conformative, inconvenient self."

Halsey wrote "Clementine" with John Cunningham, who also produced the track. The LA-based songwriter and producer first made his name with his beat making for his friend XXXTentacion ( "Sad!," "Train Food").

The video shows Halsey and her younger brother Sevian Frangipane dancing through the viewing gallery of a lit aquarium wearing matching white jumpsuits with a clementine patch. The clip was co-directed and choreographed by Dani Vitale.

The visual was released on September 29, 2019, which was Halsey's 25th birthday. "Exactly 25 years ago to this moment I was born," the singer tweeted. "I wanted to celebrate today by sharing a new song called 'Clementine' and a cute lil video for it that I made with my brother Sevian."