Foo Fighters had previously contributed a cover of Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" to the compilation album, Songs in the Key of X: Music From and Inspired by the X-Files.

The song, along with the rest of The Colour and the Shape album was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band series of video games on November 13, 2008.

The soundtrack/single version was performed by the full band, including then-recent additions Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl, with guest backing vocals from Shudder to Think's Craig Wedren.

The song's music video features a nattily-attired Grohl interacting with a woman (played by Spanish actress Arly Jover) in what appears to be an asylum or prison, where the two are separated by plate-glass windows.

Before Rolston's involvement in the video, The X-Files star David Duchovny had expressed an interest in directing it, but was quick to admit his inexperience, saying "I wouldn't know what the hell I'm doing.