The title track's lyrical content is said by Brett Anderson to have political meaning, regarding his disgust towards the treatment of refugees.

Nick Cowen of Drowned in Sound rated it 8 out of 10, saying: "'Refugees' showcases all the dilettante-like swagger the pair's former band exhibited on its more upbeat numbers.

"[3] John Murphy of musicOMH felt that "Anderson sounds more inspired than he has done in years and the song itself boasts a gloriously epic feel, worthy of the first Suede album.

"[4] British charts commentator James Masterton agreed, calling it "a near perfect recreation of the vibe and the inspiration of the first Suede album."

"[5] Kevin Courtney of The Irish Times wrote: "Big, open-armed guitars and us-against-the-world lyrics make this a neat bookend to 'So Young'".