The original artist’s lyrics incorporate a wide range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. ​Like many songs written by this artist in the 1965-1966 period, this song featured a surreal playful lyric set to an electric blues accompaniment. The words affectionately ridicule a presumed “fashion victim”.

With a​ ​pop art​ collage of musical styles, oblique and​ ​ironic​ lyrics, and postmodern​ arrangements incorporating​ ​samples​,​ ​drum machines​, live instrumentation and sound effects, the cover artist has been hailed by critics and the public throughout his musical career as being among the most idiosyncratically creative musicians of 1990s and 2000.

The 5 O’Clock Shadow is presented by Flying Dog Brewery.