The Back-Burner: Aerosmith Outtakes & Demos

“Tickle my Pickle” is a curious audio snippet that, along with “Little Grass Shack”, was a contender for inclusion in Aerosmith’s “Nine Lives” album as late as December 1996. This 29-second track showcases Tyler imitating a Scottish accent, with a few humming backing vocals accompanying the latter part of the verse:

We cross the sea, the rogues and I to see the ladies fair, and have our fair away with them and fool with their flexing hair…
Tickle my pickle, are you unaware? Under the kilt and under the hair, if you don’t tickle me in the regress, tickle your pickle and piss in your fears, aha… (laughs)

Steven Tyler 12/06/1996

Rather than being a traditional limerick, this piece is more accurately described as a rhymed verse due to its unique rhythm and rhyme scheme. As an audio insert, it serves a similar function to an in-joke between tracks, much like “Dulcimer Stomp”, “Hoodoo”, and “Water Song” in the album “Pump”. This quirky addition might have been a more fitting inclusion in the Ballard-produced version of “Nine Lives”, rather than the Caveman New York-produced one.

It seems Steven Tyler was using a blend of humor, metaphor, and risqué language to create an amusing image. “We cross the sea, the rogues and I to see the ladies fair, and have our fair away with them and fool with their flexing hair…” This line suggests that the singer and his companions (“the rogues”) are travelling (perhaps touring, in the context of a band) and encountering attractive women (“ladies fair”). “Have our fair away with them” is a somewhat cryptic phrase but could suggest that they’re spending time with these women and engaging in amorous or flirtatious activities (“fool with their flexing hair”).

“Tickle my pickle, are you unaware? Under the kilt and under the hair…” “Tickle my pickle” is a somewhat bawdy phrase that typically refers to a sexual act. The phrase “under the kilt and under the hair” could be referring to secrets or personal matters (kilts and hair are often used as metaphors for personal or private areas in a slightly cheeky way).

“If you don’t tickle me in the regress, tickle your pickle and piss in your fears…” This line is more obscure. “Tickle me in the regress” could be a sexual joke, referring to the other person scratching his/her privates (anus). “Tickle your pickle and piss in your fears” seems to combine a suggestion of self-sufficiency (if you won’t do this for me, do it for yourself) with an exhortation to face one’s fears in a very colloquial, casual way.

The cheeky and playful spirit of “Tickle My Pickle” offers an amusing glimpse into the band’s creative process during the creation of “Nine Lives”. Although it ultimately didn’t make the final cut, its existence is a testament to Aerosmith’s sense of humor and willingness to push boundaries.

(Photo is Alice Cooper in a kilt, with Steven’s 1996 face and pickle Rick)