"[6] AllMusic said that the song "allows Cindy Wilson a unique opportunity to croon a broad, expressive melodic line.

"[7] In the 2023 book The Story of the B-52s, Scott Creney and Brigette Herron wrote: "A processed swooshing guitar swells up at the beginning of each verse, and the mix is littered with electronic popping sounds.

The unnatural compression on Keith's drums and the layers of Cindy's voice over the outro conspire to create an otherworldly ambience.

Hot Dance Club Play chart along with album track "Party Out of Bounds" and prior single "Private Idaho", reaching number five (chart rules at the time allowed multiple album tracks to occupy the same position together).

[11] The main melody of "Give Me Back My Man" was incorporated into the "Weird Al" Yankovic song "Mr. Popeil" from the studio album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D (1984), along with female backing vocals that imitate some of the mannerisms of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.