The song was initially inspired by Steve Reich's album Music for 18 Musicians. Reich studied at Juilliard and experimented with electronic textures that Gabriel wanted to try in a rock format. The song features guest musicians; Robert Fripp (guitar), Phil Collins (drums) and Kate Bush backing vocals.

Prior to the song being recorded for Peter Gabriel's 1980 album, it was performed live under the working title "I don't know how to stop". Later live performances, such as on Plays Live, were slower and more subdued than the studio recording.

A music video of the song was made and broadcast in 1980. The video features Gabriel with his hands either in his pockets or on his knees, as he swivels left and right - all the while staring intently into the camera. Lights flicker on and off. Near the end, Gabriel grabs his head and neck and swings his head back and forth, repeatedly singing "no self control". The xylophone solo plays. The video begins to get "trippy", showing rainbow diffraction like patterns on the screen, and Gabriel's head blurs making it appear in multiple places across the screen. The video ends and fades to black as the song concludes with its last words: "I don't know how to stop".

The video is 3:56 long, and appeared on the BBC's Top of the Pops 1980.

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