Gilbert wrote “Tear It Down” during a time spent in solitude following the death of his wife Michiko Nogami. In post publication interviews, he was often vague in answering concrete questions about his work but did offer a theoretical and emotional approach to writing poetry. In an interview with Chard DeNiord in 2009, DeNiord asked Gilbert what instigated his passion for poetry and writing. Gilbert responded: “My mind was just so fixed on understanding. I had a huge appetite to understand” (Gilbert, Jack, and Chard DeNiord. “An Interview with Jack Gilbert, by Chard DeNiord.” The American Poetry Review, vol. 38, no. 1, 2009, pp. 26–29. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20684109. Accessed 23 June 2021.).

Gilbert’s self-proclaimed hunger to understand and find greater meaning in the world around him largely served as the inspiration behind poems like “Tear It Down.” His personal philosophy seemed to hold that notwithstanding the beauty and artistry behind poetry, a poem must move the reader and evoke an emotional response. His acceptance of the great joys and losses of his life also served as inspiration for his work. In the same interview mentioned above, Gilbert stated, “I like my memories of being hungry and lost. I relish all those things. The experience of being myself.