It was his signature hit and also his biggest, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1963 and remaining on the chart for 14 weeks.

[2] The start of the Rufus Thomas version quotes the first 14 notes of the Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

This version is noted for Rufus whistling and calling out for his dog, to go walking with him.

Unlike most Stones' recordings, the song features harmony vocals on the chorus solely by Brian Jones (most early Stones songs feature Jones and Bill Wyman on backing vocals, with Keith Richards replacing the two not long after), which makes their recording of the song unique in their catalogue.

Many other artists have recorded the song, including Aerosmith, Johnny Rivers, John Cale, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Roger Daltrey, Green Day, Hans Theessink, the Flamin' Groovies, The Kingsmen, The Sonics, The Lincolns, Ace Cannon, Jackie Shane, The Trashmen, Luv'd Ones, Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass, and Ratt.