"[4] The melody uses an unconventional style, but according to Guarisco the music "retains the emotional tone of the lyrics as it marries chant-like verses to a bridge built on ascending phrases that tug at the heart.

[5][3] San Francisco Examiner contributor Michael Goldberg notes that despite the emotional theme of the song, Ocasek's vocal tone is detached, "almost as if he's discussing a computer that doesn't work anymore.

[7] Guitarist Elliot Easton plays a guitar solo that "paid homage to King Crimson leader Robert Fripp.

"[9] Record World said that "a bass drone provides drama while percussion shakes create tension" and that it has a "catchy synthesizer melody line and punchy chorus hook.

"[10] AllMusic critic Donald Guarisco described the song as "a solid showcase for [a strong balance between forward-thinking sounds and classic pop songwriting], using a high-tech arrangement and new wave irony to breathe new life into the power ballad", going on to call it "a solid fusion of rock ballad bombast and new wave futurism that charted just outside the pop chart Top 40.

"[7] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Cars' 10th greatest song, praising Ric Ocasik's vocals and saying that "it sounds like something that could have been released on one of the band’s first two albums.