The lyrics were written by Jean-Jacques Burnel and the music by Hugh Cornwell, although the song was credited to the band as a whole.
Initially, Burnel wanted to sing, but because his bass line was so frenetic, Cornwell agreed to perform the vocals.
Burnel's lyrics were inspired by Nostradamus' predictions that there would be a cataclysmic event at Toulouse, and he wrote the song as a “goodbye” to the town.
[4] The song begins with Dave Greenfield's signature organ effect, shifting up and down in tone until the drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards all eventually come in throughout the song.
The explosion sound effect at the end is meant to represent an atomic meltdown of the town.