The lyrics are written from Degraw's point of view as he experiences frustration and misery as he has romantic feelings for an ex-partner. The song captures the idea of ​​hiding your vulnerability and unrelenting love for someone who has ended a relationship. Degraw said masking the feelings of someone who has moved on is not for reasons of pride or ego, but rather as a way to cope with the heartbreak and complexity of unrequited love. The song's harmony incorporates two minor chords, C minor and G minor, in the progression instead of the typical minor chord progression in romantic love songs. Degraw moved away from normality with the intention of stimulating a musical atmosphere of sorrow and pain instead of contentment to showcase his agonizing unrequited love. Additionally, the song applies a range of forte and piano dynamics and Degraw's vocal timbre is raw and unrefined. The polar dynamics of the song demonstrate Degraw's anguished love, as the loud dynamics represent his anger and the piano dynamics represent his suffering. The raw, raw vocal timbre was also manipulated by Degraw in order to acknowledge his inability to maintain composure and conceal his grief. Additionally, the song's lyrics include poetic techniques that showcase Degraw's confusing unrequited love. In the lyrics, Degraw metaphorically compares herself to a Boomerang since no matter how much her ex-partner pushes her love away, he always comes back to her. This metaphor was strategically chosen by him because it reveals a disconcerting response from the audience and allows them to identify with their unreturned feelings. The song Not Over You successfully conveys the depiction of unrequited love as distressing and confusing due to musical manipulation by Gavin Degraw.