The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person who finds that drinking red wine is the only way to forget his woes.

"[3] Cash Box called it a "softie featuring a melancholy tale by a figure drowning his sorrow" with "dramatic vocal performance in a neatly styled arrangement.

According to UB40 member Astro, the group's former vocalist and trumpet player, the band was only familiar with Tony Tribe's version and did not realize that the writer and original singer was Neil Diamond.

"[8] UB40's version features a lighter, reggae-style flavor compared to that of Diamond's somber, acoustic ballad.

[11] In September 2014, the Official Charts Company announced that sales in the UK had reached one million.

[12] In 2023, it was included on the Official Charts Company's list of the UK's best-selling singles of all time at number 134.