Written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne, the song forms the fourth and final track of the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite on side three of the original double album.

[13] The arrangement makes prominent use of a cowbell-like sound,[14] which is credited on the album, to percussionist Bev Bevan, as that of a fire extinguisher.

[citation needed] Describing the song for the BBC, Dominic King said: Lots of Gibb Brothers' vocal inflexions and Beatles' arrangement quotes (Penny Lane bell, Pepper panting, Abbey Road arpeggio guitars).

But this fabulous madness creates its own wonder – the bendy guitar solo, funky cello stop-chorus, and the most freakatastic vocoder since Sparky's Magic Piano.

[17] Music critic Nick DeRiso identified several references to Beatles' songs, including "Hello, Goodbye", "I Am the Walrus", "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "A Day in the Life.

[19] Cash Box said that the song "features a characteristically full sound and effective use of breaks" and that "fast pace, airy singing and strings provide musical dramatics.

"[20] Record World said that "this up-tempo tune guarantees Lynne's legend as both writer and producer and shows off ELO's unique sound.

"[23] Stereogum contributor Ryan Reed also rated it as ELO's 2nd best song, saying that although it was released on the album as part of "Concerto for a Rainy Day", it actually "functions best as a stand-alone art-pop epic, a sort of engorged 'Penny Lane' – built on stomping pianos, manic cowbell...and an octave-spanning choral vocal arrangement.

[25] The song has been used in the films Role Models, The Magic Roundabout (or Doogal in the USA), Wild Mussels, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, The Game Plan, Martian Child, The Invention of Lying, Megamind, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

[29] The song played as "completely different" characters and props, which included flying bicycles and a giant cannon populated the stage and set the mood for Monty Python's Eric Idle and his musical appearance during the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012.

[30] On October 23, 2021, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem of the Muppets released their cover for the Dear Earth special by YouTube and Google.