Perry, was born to the children of Portuguese and Italian immigrants. His grandfather changed the family's name from Pereira to Perry upon arriving in America. He has a younger sister, Ann-Marie.
Joe Perry joined Aerosmith at its formation in 1969. While initially dismissed as Rolling Stones knock-offs, the band came into its own during the mid-1970s with a string of hit records. Chief among these successes were Toys in the Attic in 1975 and Rocks in 1976, thanks largely to the prevenlance of free-form, album-oriented FM radio. The group also managed hit singles on the AM dial with songs like "Dream On", "Same Old Song and Dance", "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way".
During this time, Perry and Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler became known as the "Toxic Twins", for their notorious hard-partying and drug use.
Following Rocks, the group began to stumble - drug use escalated and the creative-process became hampered by strained relationships within the band. They managed another hit record in 1977 with Draw the Line, but by all accounts this is where things started to unravel; while recording their next album (Night in the Ruts), Perry and Tyler had a spat that resulted in Perry finally leaving the band.
By the end of the year, Perry had formed his own band - The Joe Perry Project. Their debut record, Let the Music Do the Talking, reached #47 on the Billboard album charts, selling 250,000 copies domestically. While sales and reviews were respectable, the group mainly thrived as a live act. It managed to do so even after its sophomore effort, I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again, went largely ignored.
In the end, the Project never solidified a line-up; all three studio releases would feature a different lead vocalist, and the entire roster was replaced before their final effort (1983's Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker.) Even a brief stint with then-former Aerosmith rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford failed to ignite things again, and the group found themselves with minimal label support by 1984.
In 1984, manager Tim Collins worked to get Perry back in contact with his former bandmates in Aerosmith. He was eventually invited to re-join the group, which he did - along with the also-estranged Brad Whitford. This restored the band's classic line-up, and resulted in a lucrative 'reunion' tour.
Perry and Tyler collaborated with Run-DMC in a remake of their 1975 hit "Walk This Way", which brought their band renewed mainstream attention.
After completing drug rehabilitation, Aerosmith went on to collaborate with various big-name songwriters and producers to launch their true comeback. Another string of successful albums (most notably the triple-platinum Pump in 1989) and many hit singles followed. Perry and Tyler resumed their tight friendship, again co-writing songs and performing very close together on stage.
In 1998, Perry helped conceive the group's first number one single, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", with pop songwriter Diane Warren. It appeared on the soundtrack to the hit film Armageddon.
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Joe Perry Lyrics
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Give me something real
Give me something honest
That you don't have to steal
Coming down easy
Coming down slow
It makes the tuning
Just looking through your future
Just looking through your past
I don't think this feeling
Was really built to last
My mouth is selfish
My heart is dull
Coming down easy
Coming down slow
[Chorus]
We've still got a long way to go
We've still got a long way to go
Sometimes I feel like
I'm dryin' the whole world
Sometimes I'm so lost
I wish I didn't feel
[Chorus]
Ooh yeah!
Give me something life
Give me something real
Give me something honest
That you don't have to steal
We've still got a long way to go
We've still got a long way to go, yeah!
We've still got a long way to go
We've still got a long way to go
We've still got a long way to go
C'mon Jo'
Hey!
The lyrics of Joe Perry's song "We've Got a Long Way to Go" talk about the desire for something authentic and real in life, something that is not fake or stolen. The first verse talks about the need for something honest, and the second verse suggests that the feeling the singer has is not meant to last. The chorus repeats the phrase "We've still got a long way to go," which implies that the journey to find what is real and honest is ongoing and never-ending. The bridge talks about feeling lost and alone, with the singer stating that they feel like they are trying to save the whole world. The final repetition of the chorus suggests that despite the challenges and the feeling of being lost, the journey continues.
The song is a reflection of Joe Perry's personal journey and struggles to find authenticity and meaning in his life. It is also a commentary on society's obsession with materialism and superficiality, and the longing for something more profound and truthful. The song features Perry's signature guitar style, which is heavily influenced by blues and rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me something life
I want something that makes me feel alive
Give me something real
I want something authentic and genuine
Give me something honest
I want something truthful and sincere
That you don't have to steal
I want something that is rightfully mine or freely given
Coming down easy
Feeling at ease and relaxed
Coming down slow
Taking things one step at a time, without rushing
It makes the tuning
This calmness helps me get in tune with myself and my surroundings
Like engines in the snow
Like the sound of engines muffled by snow, everything becomes quieter and clearer
Just looking through your future
Thinking about what is yet to come
Just looking through your past
Reflecting on your memories and experiences
I don't think this feeling
I don't believe this current state of mind or emotion
Was really built to last
Will likely be temporary and won't endure over time
My mouth is selfish
I sometimes only think of myself and what I want to say
My heart is dull
I may not feel things as strongly as I used to, and I have become numb to some emotions
We've still got a long way to go
We have not achieved what we want, and there is still much to do
Sometimes I feel like I'm dryin' the whole world
Sometimes I feel like my efforts to improve things are not enough, and the world is too big for me to make a difference
Sometimes I'm so lost
I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing
I wish I didn't feel
Sometimes I wish I could turn off my emotions and not feel anything
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind