"They call Lenny Bruce a sick comic, and sick he is. Sick of all the pretentious phoniness of a generation that makes his vicious humor meaningful. He is a rebel, but not without a cause, for there are shirts that need un-stuffing, egos that need deflating. Sometimes you feel guilty laughing at some of Lenny's mordant jabs, but that disappears a second later when your inner voice tells you, with pleased surprise, 'But that's true'."[Herb Caen, 1959]

Lenny Bruce was notorious for using obscenities during performances. Although comedians today curse freely (even excessively), in the 1960's, Bruce's language led to several controversial arrests. Aside from the negative stigma associated with Bruce, he had many influential supporters including Woody Allen, Allen Ginsburg, and Bob Dylan, who wrote a tribute song in his defense.

is one of Bruce's most recognized and controversial works and features the comedian's signature delivery.