Ernie Parson’s punchy, strong bass line anchors the track and propels everything forward. The groove is confident, steady, and deep, and Miklos Frisz's contributions are expressive funk guitar, with sharp jazz-rock touches to enhance the arrangement. Lawrence White’s vocal performance is full of range and control, and he turns the song into a spoken story.
The tone is humorous and reflective, informed by literary and cultural voices from Bukowski to Warren Zevon to Hunter S. Thompson. “Dirty Old Sam” is remarkable for its character and creative risk. The Beat Generation is very directional and has a clear artistic vision. The track hints at even deeper work ahead for listeners and modern audiences.