The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 29, 1980 and remained at that position for two weeks.

It was Holmes' biggest Adult Contemporary hit, peaking at number four in both the United States and Canada.

[2] Holmes had always expected "Him" to be the lead-off single to Partners in Crime, but after record executives heard the album, they concluded that "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)", a song Holmes composed mainly as album filler and never expected to be a single, would be a major hit.

[3] The song is sung from the point of view of a man who, when he discovers a pack of cigarettes that do not belong to him, suspects that the woman in his life is cheating on him.

"[citation needed] The midsection of this song features the melodic wordless sunshine pop chorale singing over the instrumental break that is reminiscent of The Beach Boys and The Association during the first half of the 3rd verse before jumping into "If she wants him, she can have him" in the second half.