Written by group members Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere, it was released as the band's third single in 1966 and reached the top 20 in the United States.

[3] In the book Pioneers of Rock and Roll, author Harry Sumrall wrote that the song represented the apex of the band's sound and complimented guitarist Gene Cornish's "slashing chords".

[4] AllMusic's Matthew Greenwald called it "a classic garage rocker with a punkish energy [that] showcased the band's live chops to a great effect, as well as Felix Cavaliere's awesome soul-inflected vocals.

[13][14] In 1966, the N' Betweens, who later became the British rock band Slade, covered the song, which was released as their debut single on Columbia.

Bob Kuban & The In-Men recorded a cover as “You Better Run - You Better Hide,” on the Musicland USA label in 1967.