Group guitarist Robby Krieger wrote the tune, which was first released in March 1969 as a single, as well as on the band's fourth album, The Soft Parade, later in July.

[5] On the other hand, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek interpreted the song as just being about "love and sex",[5] while music journalist Gillian G. Gaar described the lyrics as being simply "romantic".

[4][6] This musical presence have been the subject of many characterizations, with Eduardo Rivadavia defining it as "chamber rock" while Rolling Stone India critic Narendra Kusnur suggesting it could also be considered to be "baroque pop.

[11] Cash Box described "Wishful Sinful" as being "softer, a good deal sweeter and far less controversial" than previous Doors' singles, stating that the song "spotlights Jim Morrison's vocal and a brilliant arrangement.

"[14] AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger described the song along with "Tell All the People" as an "uncharacteristically wistful" tune that was "not all that good, and not sung very convincingly by [Jim] Morrison.