Songfacts®:

• James Arthur has been open in the past about his struggles with mental issues. The singer has suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for a long time, but has found his own methods to survive. Here, he sings about finding a happy place where it's OK not to be OK.
  
  You ever start to freak out (Freak out)
  Come meet me at my treehouse
  We can forget the world, just you and me
  Aw yeah, it's alright, alright, alright now
  
  Arthur said: "'Treehouse' is a song about surrendering – going to a safe place, a sanctuary where you can get away from your troubles. The sentiment is 'it's okay not to be okay', just take a load off and go to your happy place."
• Arthur ends the first verse by encouraging people to find a refuge where they can just chill.
  
  Darling, you're way, way too hard on yourself
  I don't know why, why you don't ask for help
  
  He said: "The line 'I don't know why you don't ask for help' could be directed at me, but everyone feels life getting on top of them at times. That's the message I want to share. It's an inclusive song, not a personal one."
• Arthur has found his own methods over the years to overcome his mental issues. One of his personal "treehouses" is exercise. He told Radio.com:
  
  "A lot of the times when we feel a lot of things internally, we can't move, we're sort of rooted to the spot. We're scared to get up and move around. But at some point I discovered how profound the effects of exercise can be. Just going for a long walk and just moving around. Movement is medicine.
  
  I can't tell you how powerful it can be to do that. Just try to get yourself up out of your seat and get out and get some fresh air and walk. You'll sort through those irrational thoughts that you might have going on."
• The song has a retro hip-hop feel; it features guest verses by Californian rapper Ty Dolla $ign and British rising star Shotty Horroh. Each talk during their rhymes about what the titular treehouse means for them.
• Arthur wrote the song with:
  
  London-based singer-songwriter Andrew Jackson, whose other credits include Kygo's "Cruise."
  
  Californian producer Nic Nac, who has also worked with Chris Brown ("Loyal") and DJ Khaled ("I'm the One").
  
  DaviDor, who co-produced DJ Khaled's "No Brainer."
• The trippy animated video sees James Arthur, Ty Dolla $ign and Shotty Horroh in a floating, smoke-filled treehouse.