The song is a slow bittersweet ballad that has been interpreted as a final comment on the Anita Pallenberg romance that began in 1967 and ended in 1979 when Richards met his future wife model Patti Hansen.
Richards had "cleaned up" after his 1977 Toronto heroin bust and wanted to take more responsibility back from Jagger.
Saxophonist Bobby Keys said of the song, "It had a little bit of sentimental input there about his feelings for Mick at the time.
In the song, Richards bemoans a relationship he's in with harsh lyrics: Well if you call this a life, Why must I spend mine with you?
An early take with an unfinished vocal track has recently surfaced on bootleg, and an embryonic instrumental from the Some Girls sessions, called "Train Song" is reported to exist.