[1] The song was written in 1984, inspired by a television documentary on apartheid in South Africa seen by Siffre in which white soldiers were filmed shooting at black civilians in the street.

[2] He told the BBC's Soul Music programme in 2014 that the song was also influenced by his experience as a homosexual child, adolescent, and adult.

[3] Siffre originally intended to give the song to another artist to sing, but could find no one suitable and was persuaded to release it himself.

[2] The song has remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre's lyrics and poetry.

[citation needed] Pop Idol contestant Rik Waller reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart with his cover version in July 2002.