“Got to Find a Way” is an Aerosmith outtake from their 1987 sessions for Permanent Vacations. It’s also been referred to as “Mishugas” or “Mishegoss”, taken from the first verse. Mishegoss is a Yiddish word that implies craziness or idiosyncrasy.
While we are unsure of the writing credits, it feels like a Tyler/Perry collaboration in terms of the rhythmic vocal delivery with raunchy fun lyrics over a guitar riff orientated structure that evokes the traditional style of the Aerosmith compositions up to 1985’s “Done with Mirrors”. The lyrics talk about flirting with a girl playing hard to get.
One of the takes includes different whistle sounds in the chorus, and an extended outro where Joe riffs a raw piece of “The Movie”.
Another take includes two lines that Steven took inspiration from Santana’s song “She’s not there”.
Oh well no one told me about her,
She’s Not There, 1977, Santana
The way she lied,
Well no one told me about her,
How many people cried…
Carlos Santana sort of stole Black Magic Woman/She’s Not There. It was another 1970s Fleetwood Mac original that everyone associates as a Santana hit now. Aerosmith were very influenced by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac with Oh Well, Stop messing Around, Rattlesnake Shake, etc. Steven would later riff on those lines during shows, including the 7/12/1994 Tel Aviv, Israel, in the middle of Draw the Line.
It was possibly rejected because, while a cool grove, it still can’t be compared with any track that made the album. The lyrics feel unfinished as they are not telling a complete story and, at times, feel like a cool excuse for Tyler to use a couple of words in Yiddish and French. It would have made a great B-Side.
SOMEBODY CALL THE COPS
HOW COME YOU BUST MY CHOPS
YOU’RE PLAYIN’ MISHEGOSS ON ME
WHO YOU REMIND ME OF
AND WHERE YOUR HEAD I SHOVE
I KISS YOUR LOVE OF LOVE FOR FREE
SAY WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND
YA SAY YA WANNA GRIND
WE’LL DO IT ‘TIL I’M BLIND YA SEE
‘COZ I GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
yeah yeah goin’ to play
GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
BA’ YEAH
WHEN I SAY OO-LA-LA
YOU SAY EXCUSE MOI
LIKE YOU DONE SAY CHA-CHA TA ME
ha-ha
YOU SAY I THINK I’M CLASS
HOW COME YOU HOOK YOUR ASS
DON’T GIVE NO LIP AN’ SASS TA ME
BECAUSE GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
I GOT TO FIND A WAY
Yeah-ah yeah-yeah-yeah
GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY
GOT TO FIND A WAY…
The Back-Burner: Aerosmith Outtakes & Demos 
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