The case was settled out of court after Elastica agreed to co-credit the Stranglers as writers on all future releases of the song.

Elastica agreed to pay Complete Music 40 per cent of the royalties from the album, and the Stranglers were also given a co-writing credit on the song.

"[8] Another member of the Stranglers, Jet Black, even thanked Elastica in Melody Maker for bringing attention to his old band.

[12] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the song "rework[ed] the Stranglers' "No More Heroes" into a more universal anthem that loses none of its punkiness".

[6] In his review of the single, Jack Rabid wrote that "Waking Up" is a "great song" that "sounds like Wire covering the Stranglers, with a sharp female singer.