Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. His Witty Lyrics

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    Here is the thing about Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith. He is excellent with wordplay and sexual innuendo in his lyrics. He's forever pulling off "Mustang Sally" type lines. Mack Rice, the lyricist of "Mustang Sally," never says it outright, but we all know Sally is loose and likes to ride! This type of lyricism was necessary during the beginning stages of rock and roll. It was the 50s, after all. It was an uptight, moralistic decade. So, lyricists had to be creative with their message. Today, you can say anything, but back then, oh no!

    Take the lyrics in "Love In An Elevator," for instance. "Livin' it up when we're goin' down." Or, in "Walk This Way," from Toys in the Attic, "Singin' hey diddle diddle with your kitty in the middle." 

    Or the best one yet, "Lord of the Thighs" from Aerosmith's second album, my favorite, Get Your Wings."I am the lord of your thigh… igh… ighs…"

    Tyler learned well from the songwriters of the 1950s, keeping it clean and dirty at the same time. He has this lyrical art down. Not only is he a fantastic, witty lyricist, but he is one of the business's best showmen.

    I will admit that I have only listened to Aerosmith's first five albums. I was their biggest fan back then, and I am sure there are many more of these little gems in his later lyrics. I've only happened upon their later songs on the radio. "Love in an Elevator" was so witty I couldn't change the station! I can't lie; their older stuff was their best. I don't care if they were hits or not. Those older songs were hits to me.

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