It was the band's highest charting hit in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
The track was included on their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love.
Released as a single and as a 12" remix, it went to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart as well as the Canadian Singles Chart.
The lyrics of the song, as well as others on The Lexicon of Love, were inspired by a break-up lead singer Martin Fry had experienced. In the second verse, during the phrase "When your girl has left you out on the pavement", the "Goodbye" background vocal is spoken by the actual woman in the relationship who had jilted him.
Canada (Music Canada) Gold certification with 50,000 sales.