Uncle Salty

Album: Toys In The Attic (1975)
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Songfacts®:

  • Far less condemning than Aerosmith's other child abuse song, Janie's Got A Gun, "Uncle Salty" was written by the group's bass player Tom Hamilton and lead singer Steven Tyler. In the Aerosmith biography Walk The Way, Tyler explains it was "just a fantasy I had of being a madame, the boss of a bordello: work with the girls, hire and fire, keep things running. Salty worked in a home for lost children and had his way with this little girl. That's what it's about. I'm the little girl, the orphaned boy. I put myself in that place. I'm Uncle Salty too."
  • Tom Hamilton, the band's bassist, plays rhythm guitar on this song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Randy - Colerain Twp., OH

Comments: 7

  • Mikey from UtahOK, I've read Steven's quote about the song, but it doesn't fit the lyrics. At All.

    I've also seen one or two that reference the type of events that Susie from Riverside is saying. There is nothing in the song reminiscent of someone abusing children at an orphanage, but it is EXACTLY a story of someone struggling to avoid the path her addicted mother went through, eventually turning tricks for drug money. I'm confused as to why Steven, of all people, would say something completely different, that doesn't match the lyrics. I mean, as the saying goes, cocaine is a helluva drug, but still...
  • Dan Boyce from ThailandI don't believe for a moment that explanation above by Steven. I'm more inclined to believe what I read long ago that Tyler's uncle once worked at the Morton Salt factory in Chicago. As a child, Tyler referred to him as Uncle Salty (his name was Roger). Uncle Salty would tell young Steven tales of his (Roger's) mother's sister (Roger's aunt) who was abused as a child. However due to technology being what it is today, he may want to protect Aunt Salty from the questions and media.
  • Glenn Taylor from RichmondI always felt the lyrics were sad and when no one came, she killed herself from the anguish. It's a sunny day also meant she knew there was a good life out there for her, but couldn't leave. Uncle Salty was no doubt the evil pimp. The fact that he was a child molester on top of it kind of made him disgusting. I also picked up a port of call, dock workers, ship mate vibe. I don't know why, that's just what I always "felt" from the music. Upbeat but sad, disturbing.
  • Don from Willoughby, OhDo you notice how much Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman, sounds like Uncle Salty?
    Shania released it in March 1999 as the seventh single from Twain's album Come On Over. It was written by Mutt Lange and Twain.
  • Susie from Riverside, CaActually, I know what the song is about. It's about a chick (me) in the mid 70's. She was telling Steven one afternoon about her abusive childhood and how she came to be living in La Jolla with a drug dealer, who Steven was visiting at the time, after she had been a dancer in San Diego. She told Steven her story and he wrote it down that very day. "It's a Sunny Day outside My Window" is a direct quote by me about the fact we never went outside, despite the glorious California weather. It was written down during Aerosmith's first California tour where they played the Whiskey A Go Go as well as San Diego. It is one of Steven's very best songs.
  • Robert from Waltham, MaTheir producer along with outside collaborators wrote some great stuff for the band back then.
  • Barry from Greenville, NcThe juxtaposition of optimism ("it's a sunny day outside my window") with the painful loneliness and neglect of Baby ("when she cried at night no one came . . went insane") makes this quite an interesting song. Perhaps a precursor to "Janie's Got A Gun."
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