It became the best-selling digital single of 2008 in Japan and won three trophies at the 23rd Japan Gold Disc Awards.
The track reached the top forty in most countries, while peaking inside the top ten in Czech Republic, Netherlands, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.
In the United States, the song did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100, but became Madonna's seventh consecutive number-one song on the Hot Dance Airplay chart, the most for any artist.
The song has been performed by Madonna in the promotional tour for the Hard Candy album and the 2008-09 Sticky & Sweet Tour, during the gypsy segment of the show.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph Madonna further explained her inspiration behind the song and stated that 'Miles Away' is a song most people who work can relate to.