Last Child by Aerosmith

Album: Rocks (1976)

Charted: 21

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

A swaggering, blues-fused tune, this was written by Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Brad Whitford. The lyrics contain many clever double-entendre lyrics from Tyler, and he breaks new ground by rhyming "Tallahassee" with "Sassafrasse."

The song was a modest hit, but it quickly became a live favorite and has stayed in Aerosmith's setlists throughout their run. In concert, it is often a showcase song for Whitford.
In the Aerosmith biography Walk This Way, Brad Whitford explained how this song came together: "After rehearsal one day, I played this riff and Steven yells, 'I love it!' and stared playing drums; he plays very different from Joey (Kramer) with a more jazzy approach, fun to work with. Joe (Perry) threw in a couple of chord changes, a D chord to an A, and then spiced up the chord a little."
This was one of the first songs written for Aerosmith's fourth album, Rocks. They hit it big with their previous album Toys in the Attic and the re-release of "Dream On," so they suddenly found themselves with a big budget and lots of record company support. The album was recorded in a mobile studio at a warehouse outside of Boston that they called "The Wherehouse." With plenty of money, there was also plenty of drugs, but Aerosmith were still very functional addicts at the time and remained creative and productive in making the album, something that didn't happen on their next effort, Draw the Line.
The banjo on this track was played by Paul Prestopino, a multi-instrumentalist who had played with the folk group The Weavers. Aerosmith's producer Jack Douglas overdubbed Prestopino's part after the band recorded the song.
The lyrics are based on the life of the band at the time, and all the time they spent on the road. Part of it deals with the time on tour just before the band would come home ("Home sweet home..."). Some members of the band and crew had wives and girlfriends, so when a tour was coming to a close, they would refrain from sex (except oral) as a courtesy - they didn't want to bring a social disease home with them.
This song was used in the video game Guitar Hero 2, under the "Return of the Shred" section. To unlock it, play that section and do the encore on any difficulty above medium. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Matt - Labrador City, Canada

Comments: 20

Rhonda Branch from Grandridge FlI grew up around Tallahassee so me and my friends loved the mention of it in the song.
Bob from Jackson, MichiganWas kind of singing that last part of the tune to myself when my bud asked, what does he say?. I said.......I was the last child, just a punk in the street. He said, I didn't know it was 'punk in the street'. Oh man, what a great song!
Mark from Raleigh, NcActually the "Last Child" solo is played by Brad on the album. You can tell its him. Its well known that
Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter played on some of their earlier stuff like "Train Kept a Rollin", but Whitford is the guy on "Last Child".
Rockheadz from Scarsdale, NyExcusez-moi. Not to take away from Brad's playing but let me assure you. He did not, I repeat, did not play the solo on the original album. That's a studio cat. But it's good, isn't it?
Randy C. from Yonkers, NyLove the solo in this one. Does anyone care to know who the hire gun was that wrote the lick? Can you say hush money?
Chris from Missoula, MtThis song has a killer groove, not unlike the groove to Bowie's FAME. Check it out.
Fame came out in '75 so maybe subconsciously the Aerosmith lads borrowed the riff...or maybe not. That riff has been around for years.
GReat song, none-the-less.
Homer from Springfield, KyThis is a great song. I really should put it on my iPod. It's mostly known to me and my dad as the song that rhymes talahasse and sassafrasse.
Alan from Rock!!!!!!!!!!!, Txtis song is beast but needs a real music video
Olala from Eskilstuna, SwedenThe guitars are cool in this one but the snare drums that are stereo paned are really cool too. Check it out!
Joe from Chicago, IlWhat do you mean, not a hit. This chart position was better than some great ones - Piano Man, Close The Door, and Aerosmith's own Sweet Emotion.
Scott from Boston, MaJoe Perry and Brad Whitford are great, but they're definitely not the best duo ever. Duane Allman and Dickey Betts are miles ahed of any other duo. I'd also put each Rolling Stones duo ahead of them (Brian Jones/Keith Richards, Mick Taylor/Richards and Ron Wood/Richards) and any Eagles duo/trio ahead of them especially the Joe Walsh, Don Felder, Glenn Frey combo.
Tj from South Jersey, NjBrad and Joe were like Oxygen and Hydrogen. When separated they had unique elemental qualities but were invisible. Together, they became something greater than the sum of the parts. This is prbably THE greatest guitar duo of all time.
Greg from New York, Nythis song i cool, especialy the solo
Nick from Paramus, NjI like the dual-guitar soloing in the song "Heart's Done Time"
Robert Lewe from Elkin, NcEver since I first saw Aerosmith (1975, I was 10), I have noticed that there has been a conscious effort (even by the band themselves) to foster the notion that Joe is THE lead guitarist. The bottom line - They are both great, and Brad's more traditional, precise playing meshes great with Joe's wilder, more spontaneous and quirky playing. Cheers,
Robert Lewe from Elkin, NcActually, even though it is"commonly" believed that Joe Perry is the Lead guitar player and Brad Whitford the Rhythm guitar player, if you analyze their songs and/or have ever seen them live, you would come to realize that Aerosmith really has TWO Lead guitar players. Quite a few Aerosmith solos (including many very well-known ones - Dream On, Nobody's Fault, Last Child, etc) have been played by Brad Whitford.
Robert Lewe from Elkin, NcActually, to be precise, Brad plays part of the solos in Dream On
Frank from Morenci , AzAlways liked Last Child...i was a teenager when I got the "Rocks" album. I recently told some young guy Rocks and toys in the Attic are my favorite Aerosmith Albums.

He alerted me those were early releases..man i'm old
Ben from Nyc, Msyeah, but whitford plays lead on this song
Chris from Copenhagen, DenmarkBrad Whitford is the rhythm gutarist of Aerosmith, not lead. Lead guitar is Joe Perry. Both are great players by the way.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Justify My LoveMadonna

Madonna's "Justify My Love" was co-written by Lenny Kravitz.

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" is a very inspiring song, but it's really about heartbreak: David Coverdale wrote it when his first marriage was falling apart.

This LoveMaroon 5

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 made it obvious who their song "This Love" was about when he named the album "Songs About Jane."

UnbelievableEMF

The EMF song "Unbelievable" samples the raunchy comic Andrew Dice Clay saying, "What the f--k was that!"

"Come Dancing" by The Kinks was inspired by the older sister of Ray Davies, who would make guys take her out dancing and spend their money on her, only to send them home frustrated with just a peck on the cheek.

DynamiteTaio Cruz

Taio Cruz throws his hands up "sometimes" in "Dynamite" because the song was originally written about surrender.