Parents need to know that Shel Silverstein has done a significant amount of work outside of his kid-oriented sphere, and this album includes previously recorded tracks with other artists, some containing mature material. For example, "Cover of the Rolling Stone" mentions taking "pills for thrills," and a lady named "Kocaine Kitty," while the track "Got Stoned and I Missed It" uses euphemisms for marijuana to describe situations the main character experiences as a result of his habit.
Positive messages:Songs with stories of a "freakers ball", revenge, plastic surgery, drug use.
Violence:One song features a boy who hunts his father.
Sex:Includes a "freak fest" where characters are described.
Language:One profanity (b-word) and derogatory slang for homosexuals.
I bought this disc while searching for something to listen to while traveling with my children (ages 11 and 6). It was sold in the Children's section at both Amazon* and Walmart* and while I recognized a couple of the songs, assumed it was "clean versions" appropriate for small children. Wow! Was I wrong? While the disc may have some songs and poetry that I enjoyed hearing, I would definitely NOT SUGGEST FOR CHILDREN because of the sexual content and drug references in the lyrics!