 In Womack's estimation, the songs represent two important elements of the human life cycle that are "philosophical opposites".Echoing this point, music critic Tim Riley writes that, just as "embracing life means accepting death", the fourteen tracks "link a disillusioned view of the modern world ... with a belief in metaphysical transcendence".Philo finds the Beatles' "countercultural engagement" evident on even the songs that present as standard pop.