Released as the second single from their 2010 album The Beginning , the track was initially conceived as a "homage to the ladies".

: Because it was filmed so close to the disaster, critics noted the video’s depiction of isolation in a bustling city felt even more melancholy and poignant after the tragedy.

: Taboo described the lyrics as a representation of the loneliness experienced while on tour, capturing the constant yearning for a loved one back home.

: Group members will.i.am and apl.de.ap wanted a departure from the high-energy "The Time (Dirty Bit)" by offering a slower, more emotional tempo.

The song became legendary because of its music video, which was filmed in Tokyo just the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.