[3] Cash Box called the song "pure rock complete with slide guitar and a bluesy melody.

It won an MTV Video Music Award in 1985, and inspired an episode of Miami Vice, in which Frey guest-starred.

The video is like a short movie, fitting the lyrics exactly and packs danger, suspense, and intrigue into a small segment of time.

Frey sees that his friend is dead and barely has time to react before he has to determine how to escape from the two men who are now chasing him in a car.

Knowing he has to lose them somehow, Frey pulls the car over once he is out of their sights, grabs a suitcase full of money, and runs.

Frey escapes to a gas station restroom, where he shaves and changes from his Hawaiian shirt and casual wear into a business suit.

The lyrics match the onscreen behavior, as it appears Frey really is answering questions—"They move it through Miami, sell it in LA..." The interrogation scenes of him and the woman are interwoven, and it is seen that time is passing as Frey goes from being in his suit and tie, to no suit jacket, no tie, and a partially unbuttoned shirt.

Nearly three weeks after the initial encounter, now thinking he is home-free, Frey drives down the highway but is pulled over by what appears to be a motorcycle policeman.

Frey reaches for his driver's license, but when he turns to the "policeman" to show it to him, he is staring into the laughing face of the pursuer whom he previously evaded... and down the barrel of his drawn gun.