It was released on October 31, 1984, by the Sire label as the album's lead single.
Steinberg said that the song was inspired by his personal experiences of romance.
Musically, "Like a Virgin" is a dance-oriented song, composed of two hooks.
Madonna's voice is heard in a high register while a continuous arrangement of drums are heard along the bass-line.
The lyrics of the song are ambiguous and consist of hidden innuendo, interpreted in different ways.