Written by Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber, the song tells the story of a motorcycle rider and his long-suffering girlfriend Mary Lou. In the song she pleads with him not to ride one night, "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve" she tells him, but he ignores her and "hit a screamin' Diesel that was California bound." Featuring a catchy tune and the chorus of "He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots, and a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back" the song was the first big hit for the Cheers. In 1956 French Chanteuse Edith Piaf recorded a version of the song in French titled 'L' Homme à la Moto', it was one of her biggest selling singles. In 1994 Chris Spedding performed a new version of the song. It has also been recorded by Joan Morris and William Bolcom, and has become a staple of their concert repertoire.

The song was also recorded with different lyrics by Bert Convy retitled as "Chicken", about kids who play chicken in their cars.