The Question features original songs written by the Barra MacNeils, joined by two of the younger aspiring MacNeil brothers—Boyd on fiddle and Ryan on Irish pipes. It also includes previously recorded pieces. One single, Bruce Cockburn's "Goin Down the Road," was originally a title song for a 1970s film. "We were approached by Cockburn's publishers," said Stewart, "and we agreed to do it if Bruce would sing a verse." Cockburn eventually sent his contribution from Toronto. "Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghainn," a traditional tune on The Question is "a world beat Celtic vision that melds Irish, Scottish and Turkish sounds into one," Stewart explained on the band's website. Lucy MacNeil's voice is featured on the album in a remake of "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan," originally made famous by Marianne Faithfull and used as a part of fellow Cape Breton singer Rita MacNeil's early live repertoire. "Myopic," the first single off The Question, was introduced by Stewart at a sold-out concert in Ottawa as "a song of great social significance, especially for those who wear glasses," according to the Ottawa Citizen. The inspiration for the song came from Stewart's pre-recording jitters: "I've worn glasses since grade four and I'm sure people can relate to that … not being able to see the big picture." Lynn Saxberg called the song "a cross between the vocals of Men Without Hats and the organic instruments of Spirit of the West," in the Ottawa Citizen.