The song was a standout track on Blondie’s 1978 breakthrough album, Parallel Lines . Despite its upbeat, aggressive energy, lead singer Debbie Harry wrote the lyrics based on a disturbing personal experience:
Lines like "I’ll follow your bus downtown" and "stand over by the wall / where I can see it all" take on a much more literal and chilling meaning when viewed through this lens. Why the 2001 Remaster Matters One Way Or Another (Remastered2001)
The remaster brings Nigel Harrison's driving bass and Clem Burke's frantic drumming to the forefront, emphasizing the "rock workout" energy the song is known for. The song was a standout track on Blondie’s