The song is notable for showcasing singer Ian Gillan's full vocal range and the instrumental jam section between guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and organist Jon Lord.

Ian Gillan said that the organ riff in "Child in Time" is based on It's a Beautiful Day's 1969 song "Bombay Calling".

[3] It's a Beautiful Day in return borrowed Purple's "Wring That Neck" and turned it into "Don and Dewey" on their second album Marrying Maiden (1970).

Gillan had never heard the original song, and created lyrics about the Cold War to fit the music, later saying it "reflected the mood of the moment".

It was re-added to the setlist for the band's 2002 European tour, with its final appearance in Deep Purple's live set was at Kharkov's Opera Theatre's scene in March of that year.