[3][4] Scott began writing the song on a plane flight from New York to London, at the end of the Waterboys' North American tour in November 1985.

"[7] On its release as a single, Music & Media considered the song to be a "spirited recording of Dylanesque folk", with "effective use of mandolin and fiddle" and "straightforward production".

[10] Jerry Smith of Music Week praised it as "rousing anthem" and added, "With its duelling fiddles and mandolins it should lead everyone frantically jigging into the New Year.

"[11] In a review of the 1991 reissue, Terry Staunton of New Musical Express considered the song to be superior to the "most overrated" "The Whole of the Moon" and praised it for "show[ing] just what Scott is capable of with a bit of effort and intelligence".

[13] In a review of Fisherman's Blues, Spin commented on the song: "Scott strums his acoustic guitar as if every chord's a mile, while bandmates Steve Wickham and Anthony Thistlethwaite hasten his speed.