The song was inspired by Lou Barlow's breakup with his then girlfriend, Kathleen Billus.

Portland Mercury considered the song "one of the most brutal and poignant portraits of a breakup ever conceived.

[5] Pitchfork called it "preternaturally melodic, verging on sing-song...and stacked with plangent guitar clang, flag-waving choruses, and 16-wheeler loads of romantic baggage.

"[6] In a "Song of the Day" review, NPR wrote that it "conveys a knotty bundle of conflicting emotions.

UK CD and 12" Single (RUG4) The versions of "Emma Get Wild" and "Flood" are different from those which appear on Bubble & Scrape.