On YouTube, "HD/Lyrics" versions are highly praised by fans for preserving the warm, analog fidelity of the original recording while making the poetic lyrics—about the desire for isolation and peace—easy to follow. The "Vibe"

The song earned Nilsson the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male in 1970.

Reviewers often point out that while Fred Neil wrote the song, Nilsson "owned" it. The track is frequently cited as a masterpiece of "sunshine pop" with a darker, lonesome undercurrent.