The song begins with electronic drums and a guitar riff, soon joined by Ocasek's lead vocals and synthesizers by keyboardist Greg Hawkes. Despite the up-tempo-sounding title, "Good Times Roll" is a mid-tempo song, with a beat described as "languid," "psychedelic" and "creepy." The lyrics are similarly described as "withering" and Ocasek's vocal style as "clinical." The song notably features the lyric "Let them brush your rock 'n' roll hair"; when asked if the line was a throwaway, Ocasek replied, "Not in my opinion. It's like 'let them do whatever they want to do.