[1] According to author Barney Hoskyns, Robertson originally intended it to be sung by Richard Manuel but it became clear that the song was better suited to Danko's "nervous, tremulous voice.
[7] Author Barney Hoskyns acknowledges speculation that the song is about Dylan, but states that it is actually about Robertson's experience of his own stage fright at the Band's first live show the prior year.
[1] Tense lyrics about paying a price to be able to "sing like a bird" and a surprising shift to the unrelated key of F sharp major increase the tension of the bridge, which leads into Garth Hudson's organ solo.
[1] Minturn praises Hudson's sixteen bar solo for using rhythm, pace, rest and pitch to "work together to hold back, to balance or to tip forward at just the right time.
[9] Critic Mark Kemp called it a "highlight" of the album, further noting that it reveals "a growing sense of anxiety and cynicism" by the band.