The single's B-side "Flesh and Blood" (which also appeared as one of the four bonus tracks on the cassette and CD versions of "Cupid & Psyche 85") was the same musical backing of "The Word Girl" but with a new lyric written and sung by militant south London reggae MC Ranking Ann (real name Ann Swinton). Green explained that the idea was to present the alternative female view of the male construct of 'girl': "Having heard Ann's two albums, I thought she'd like the sentiments of the song rather than approve of the rhythmics. I knew she was stroppy, but it's positive. She saw she'd be giving her counsel to a completely different audience – teenagers. Which I think is "great". It complements what we've done on the other side." The single's sleeve reinforced the point being made in the lyrics: fragments of the label of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" single and a section of "Écrits" by French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan with the word "chain" prominent in both, superimposed on a picture of Shirley MacLaine from the film "My Geisha" dressed as a bride and wearing an expression of resignation on her face.