Aerosmith – “Janie’s Got A Gun” Live
Steven Tyler Sends A Powerful Message Through His Music!
“Janie’s Got a Gun” was written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton and was released on November 8, 1989. The original name they used was Danny who was a close friend of Steven but they decided against it and went ahead with Janie instead.
- Number four in Billboard Hot 100
- Number two in the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart
On the album, “Janie’s Got a Gun” is preceded by a 10-second instrumental called “Water Song”, which features the work of instrumentalist Randy Raine-Reusch, who uses a glass harmonica, wind gong, and bullroarers to produce the special effects heard at the start of the song.
Steven Tyler said that it was basically about child abuse after he decided to take a stand on such social issue. It took about nine months to finish the words alone. Despite the dark nature of the lyrics, it had an upbeat almost lighthearted tone.
Tyler came up with the main riff of “Janie’s Got a Gun” using a low-tone setting on his keyboard. Hamilton then came up with the bassline. The guitars and drum parts were configured in later and Tyler wrote the lyrics. The guitar solo is played by Joe Perry and is accompanied by the main riff and rhythmic clapping.
It was such a powerful song that earned the band their first Grammy win.
