The song is heavily influenced by reggae music, the Stones being very big fans ever since their introduction to it during the recording sessions for 1973's Goats Head Soup in Jamaica.
While the influence is evident, Bill Janovitz notes in his review of the song that also incorporates "...a great R&B guitar lick from Keith Richards... and then cut to a disco feel for the chorus."
The song's lyrics deal with "...a lonely man looking for a mail-order bride," and a quite tongue-in-cheek in its approach to this subject, with Jagger invoking off-the-cuff rhymes and in an affected, drawn vocal performance: Oh, I think I had enough of your religion/it's tough, it's a state of mind/I don't need it!
With Jagger on lead vocals, Ronnie Wood performs electric slide guitar, including the song's solo.
Harmonica is performed by Sugar Blue, a contributor to songs from the Stones' previous album, Some Girls and their next, Tattoo You.