“Cherry Pie” is a 1990 hit by American glam metal band Warrant, released as the lead single from their second album of the same name. The track was written by frontman Jani Lane in approximately 15 minutes on the back of a pizza box after Columbia Records executives requested a new, catchy rock anthem to boost the album’s marketability.
Key background details include:
- Label Pressure: The album was already completed when label president Don Ienner demanded an additional single, citing the success of Aerosmith’s “Love in an Elevator” and Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” as inspiration for the desired sound.
- Chart Success: The song became Warrant’s signature hit, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
- Misleading Title: Despite its title and sexual innuendo-laden lyrics, the song was intended as a clever double entendre to bypass radio censorship, with Lane later noting he had fun writing it despite the resulting typecasting.
- Personnel: The guitar solo was performed by C.C. DeVille of Poison as a favor to Lane, and the iconic music video featured model Bobbie Brown, who later married Lane.
- Original Concept: Prior to this last-minute addition, the album was titled Uncle Tom’s Cabin, named after a track that served as the intended lead single.
[Intro]
Dirty, rotten, filthy, stinking
[Chorus]
She’s my cherry pie
Cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise
Tastes so good, make a grown man cry
Sweet cherry pie
Wow! Heh-heh
[Verse 1]
Well, swingin’ on the front porch, swingin’ on the lawn
Swingin’ where we want ’cause there ain’t nobody home
Swingin’ to the left and swingin’ to the right
Think about baseball, I’ll swing all night, yeah
Yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
Swingin’ in the living room, swingin’ in the kitchen
Most folks don’t ’cause they’re too busy bitchin’
Swingin’ in there ’cause she wanted me to feed her
So I mixed up the batter and she licked the beater
[Pre-Chorus]
I scream, you scream, we all scream for her
Don’t even try ’cause you can’t ignore her
[Chorus]
She’s my cherry pie
Cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise
Tastes so good, make a grown man cry
Sweet cherry pie (Oh, yeah)
She’s my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face, ten miles wide
Looks so good, bring a tear to your eye
Sweet cherry pie
[Verse 3]
Swingin’ to the drums, swingin’ to guitar
Swingin’ to the bass in the back of my car
Ain’t got money, ain’t got no gas
But we’ll get where we’re goin’ if we swing real fast
[Pre-Chorus]
I scream, you scream, we all scream for her
Don’t even try ’cause you can’t ignore her
[Chorus]
She’s my cherry pie
Cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise
Tastes so good, make a grown man cry
Sweet cherry pie (Oh, yeah)
She’s my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face, ten miles wide
Looks so good, bring a tear to your eye
Sweet cherry pie, yeah, pie
[Bridge]
(Swing it!)
All night long
(Swing it!)
Hey, hey! Ow!
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Like a trained professional
[Verse 4]
Swingin’ in the bathroom, swingin’ on the floor
Swingin’ so hard, forgot to lock the door
In walked her daddy, standin’ six foot four
Said, “You ain’t gonna swing with my daughter no more”
[Chorus]
She’s my cherry pie
Cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise
Tastes so good, make a grown man cry
Sweet cherry pie (Oh, yeah)
She’s my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face, ten miles wide
Looks so good, bring a tear to your eye
Sweet cherry pie
Sweet cherry pie, yeah
Huh!
[Outro]
Swing it!
