Songfacts®:

• Singer-guitarist Samuel Fry told Billboard magazine about this song. "When we write a new track we often give it a working title which is generally something ridiculous," he explained. "Whilst writing 'It's What Happens Next That Matters Most' it was called 'Ant March ' because... it sounded like Ants marching? The real title is about looking forward in the face of adversity. And the lyrics deal with both hope and despair."
• Fry explained how producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths) created the song's unique sound. "Stephen Street suggested using a very natural low-fi mic for the intro to create the impression of isolation which is in the lyrics, and this provided more impact when the full band come in and take the song in a different direction," he said. "The arrangement is a good example of all four of us contributing in different ways to give the song a lot of character."