The song uses instruments and techniques such as cowbell loops, congas, bells, staccato guitar rhythms, and electronic blips.

The lyrics discuss a paranoid and alienated man who feels he is stressed by his urban surroundings.

These lyrics are of common theme for Talking Heads and categorize lead singer David Byrne's writing style.

[5] The music video for "Crosseyed and Painless", lasting 5:37, was directed by Toni Basil and by their own request did not feature the members of the band.

[7] The dancers engage in various dance mimes of hustling, knife crime, posing, body popping, solicitation and street fighting.