Don’t ask me how or why, but Matt and I got into an indepth discussion via IM today about sassafras, and Aerosmith’s usage of the word. The one that everyone knows is from Love in an Elevator (and does anyone else find it odd that Steven Tyler wants you to kiss his deciduous tree?), but I’m positive I’ve heard him use the words “sexy ass” in an uncut or live version. Maybe trees are more radio friendly than sexy asses, who knows.
I was insistent that this wasn’t Mr. Tyler’s only usage of the seemingly non-sensical word, and Matt challenged me to find another example. Please find the following lyrics from one of their older songs, Last Child :
“Take me back to a south Tallahassee
Down cross the bridge to my sweet sassafrassy”
Also a note of interest, Green Day has a song entitled Sassafras Roots, however the word “sassafras” is never uttered throughout the entire song.
And speaking of sassafras, I had forgotten how ridiculous the video for Love in an Elevator is (I think my favorite part is the dancing chicks that turn into mannequins):
Tags: 70s music, 80s music, 90s music, aerosmith, green day, johnny gill, last child, love in an elevator, radio friendly, sassafras, sassafras roots, stephen tyler
Jamie, you accepted the challenge with grace and fortitude. Alas, there ARE other songs that elude to sassafras.
Don’t you mean “allude” to sassafras? Invest in a dictionary you wanker.
oops, I sure do.
By the way, that Johnny Gill video is TERRIBLE. Thank you so much for linking to that so it’s burned in my brain now.