[2] Yankovic opted to use Craigslist as an example of something big in both the popular culture and his own life, and spent time exploring its listings to compose the lyrics.

[2] The song was released shortly after the closure of the Michael John Anderson (Craigslist Killer) case, a factor Yankovic considered "unfortunate timing".

The intro guitar and organ riffs are similar to "Soul Kitchen" and "When the Music's Over", while the verses are reminiscent of "Twentieth Century Fox", "Hello, I Love You" and a short section of scat singing as in "Roadhouse Blues".

[1][5] Marc Hirsh of NPR noted that the composition and performance of "Craigslist" are evidence that Yankovic is a "Stealth Pop Musicologist", able to deconstruct a genre of work and recreate it into something new without being unrecognizable.

[2] Yankovic dressed as Morrison, having to lose some weight to look like the singer at age 24, and performed in front of a green screen to allow effects to be added afterward.