"Following" is a song by American pop band The Bangles. The acoustic ballad carries vocals by Michael Steele, who composed the song. In 1987 Following was the fifth and final single released off their album Different Light (1986).

"Following" is one of two songs on Different Light on which Michael Steele sang lead vocals, the other one being a cover of Big Star's "September Gurls". The song was written solely by Steele, her first original composition released with the Bangles.

Musically, "Following" is radically different from the rest of Bangles' material, being a folksy acoustic ballad featuring minimal instrumentation. Its lead instrument is an acoustic guitar, played by Steele. "Following" also features hovering, atmospheric keyboard sounds. In this context this arrangement renders it similar in style to Suzanne Vega's "Night Vision" from her album Solitude Standing (also released in 1987), giving both semi-acoustic songs a somewhat haunting feeling. The musical input from the other three Bangles members on the song appears to be minimal or nonexistent.

Lyrically, the song deals with the subject of jealousy, paranoia and obsession that follows the breakup of a relationship. Sung in first person, the narrator starts with the accusations of stalking by the ex-lover. The gender of the ex-lover is not explicitly stated, although ambiguities in the lyrics suggest that the narrator may be referring to a female ex-lover (or a situation involving another, similar type of love triangle). As the song progresses, it is revealed both the narrator and the ex-lover accuse each other of obsessive behavior and paranoia. Steele half sings, half talks the lyrics, taking an approach similar to folk singer Bob Dylan or rock/jazz artist Rickie Lee Jones. Steele has indicated that Following was derived from personal experience, stating in a 2003 internet chat: "Yeah, it was about my high school sweetheart."

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