Guns N’ Roses

Released: September 17, 1991

Songwriter: Axl Rose

Producer: Guns N’ Roses Mike Clink

[Verse 1]
We all come in from the cold, we come down from the wire
An' everybody warms themselves to a different fire
An' sometimes we get burned, you'd think sometime we'd learn
The one you love is the one that should take you higher
You ain't got no one, you better go back out and find her

[Verse 2]
Just like children hidin' in a closet, can't tell what's goin' on outside
Sometimes, we're so far off the beaten track, we get taken for a ride
By a parlor trick, or some words of wit, a hidden hand up a sleeve
To think the one you love could hurt you now is a little hard to believe
But everybody, darlin', sometimes bites the hand that feeds

[Verse 3]
When I look around an' everybody always brings me down
Well, is it them or me? Well, I just can't see but there ain't no peace to found
But if someone really cared, well, they'd take the time to spare
A moment to try and understand another one's despair
Remember, in this game we call life, that no one said it's fair

[Chorus]
Breakdown (Let me hear it now)
Breakdown (Let me hear it now, yeah)
Breakdown (Let me hear it now)

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 4]
I've come to know the cold, I think of it as home
When there ain't enough of me to go around, I'd rather be left alone
But if I call you out of habit, I'm out of love and I gotta have it
Would you give it to me if I fit your needs? Like when we both knew we had it
Now, the damage's done and we're back out on the run
Funny how everything was roses when we held on to the guns
Just because you're winnin' don't mean you're the lucky one

[Chorus]
Breakdown (Let me hear it now)
Breakdown (Yeah)
Breakdown (Let me hear it now)

[Guitar Solo]
There goes the Challenger, bein' chased by the blue, blue meanies on wheels
The vicious traffic squad cars are after our lone driver
The last American hero, the-the electric sintar
The demi-god, the super driver of the golden west
Two nasty Nazi cars are close behind the beautiful, lone driver
The police cars are getting closer, closer
Closer to our soul hero in his soul mobile
Yeah, baby, they about to strike
They gonna get him, smash, rape
The last beautiful free soul on this planet

[Outro]
But it is written
If the evil spirit arms the tiger with claws
Brahman provided wings for the dove
Thus spake the super guru
D'you hear that?

Guns N' Roses was the most dangerous band in the world in the late 80s and early 90s. Led by singer Axl Rose and stylish guitarist Slash, they mixed the passion of blues, the heaviness of rock, and the attitude of punk, bringing forth a breath of fresh air to a music scene dominated by cheesy hair metal bands.

Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, is the best selling debut of all-time. They outsold a headlining Aerosmith on their first major tour, released two double albums (Use Your Illusion I & II) simultaneously, and soon would play to audiences in excesses of 20,000 people.

However, cracks started forming in the band, as classic era drummer Steven Adler was fired from the band before the “Use Your Illusion” releases and founding rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin left abruptly during the ensuing tour. They were replaced by Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke, respectively, with keyboardist Dizzy Reed joining the band and expanding the group’s sound.

more tracks from the album

Use Your Illusion II

From the album

Use Your Illusion II (1991)

Guns N’ Roses popular songs

BreakdownGuns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses

Use Your Illusion II