Inside the song: THERE WAS A TIME

[rockNroses]

In my other post yesterday, I challenged the fans to make up their mind about the songs. And I want to practise what I preach and give (hopeully good) example of what I mean with giving my impression of the song ?There Was A Time?. In regards to my other post yesterday, I would appreciate this not being merged or deleted so we can have a new discussion quality with more substance among the fans. Thank you.

The party is over. Birds in the morning, ?broken glass and cigarettes??, a reflection about what went wrong, about disorientation and losing touch because of fears, doubts and living in denial and a fake world that you build around yourself to protect yourself from reality (?up and sitting pretty on a pedestral of fear?) and the lack of trust, all the could have beens if only there was faith and trust and love. But the woman that cheated on him, in the end is her own victim because she is sleeping ?like an angel? (= innocent, not knowing, not meaning harm) ?in another WOMANS bed? (= the same will happen to her, she will be cheated on, she will reap what she sew).

As the protagoist of this morning after stumbles across the deserted battlefield of his house, his place to live, with all the memories, maybe searching for the coffee machine, his mind becomes clearer. Then realising it was ?the wrong time for anyone? and that he has ?got to see for myself?. And that is the turning point, the wake up call.

The rhythm guitar wakes him up where it plays the ?wrong? thing also, going hand in hand with the lyrics with a dissonant powerchord that contrasts all the beautiful but false (= synth strings, drum computer, child piano, fake birds etc.) harmonies until the sigh of relief (Robin? guitar break) leads onto the real thing, to the man being honest to himself, saying ?There was a time I would do anything for you? and the guitars (real instruments) taking over, getting more intense as the protagonist begins to realise he has learned a lesson but can?t help the other because everyone has got to see for oneself.

Now there?s real drums that play no more loop but something real, and no more birds and the strings (calm) lift off to the horizon and make room for the guitars (energy) to take over the ground. No more lyrics except the truth ?There was a time I would do anything for you? and that?s it. All is said and done and the truth becomes a mantra, a chant.

You have to love someone very much and at the same time give yourself up a lot do to ?anything? for her. Every man knows women are beautiful and healing power for the soul but sometimes they can be quite difficult too and even blind you with their beauty, both their body and their soul, when you don?t see the real person behind what you wish to see. Or maybe it was just ?the wrong time? then for both of you. Maybe you will even meet again and things will work out, but this is not the time. I think every man knows what I mean.

After the beautiful Buckethead climax with the amazing tapping (= all is said and done musically at this part and the same can be said about the relationsship that is reflected in this song) the song ends on the same drum lick as Metallica?s ?Sad But True?. I?m not sure if that was intended but that is one hell of a statement too. Because the bottom line of this songs reads ?sad but true?. But it also says things are not so fucked up because in the end you will see and live with more wisdom so life will be better for you, even when the party is over. You can start a new party, but first you have to clean up the place a bit. That?s what the song does. The first (fake) half is a mess, but then the second (honest) half is so beautiful it hurts. But to get to that beauty, first you have to survive the mess to get there. You have to learn a lesson. You have to see for yourself.

The statement, the message of the song for me is actually how it is put together, the duality, the contrast between the controlled but fake "beauty" described in the first half and the wild, less structured but more naturally and honest beauty in the second half. Good and bad, right and wrong, night and day, guns and roses.

I have to say this is a fucking great piece of music and Axl sure is a brilliant lyricist, he has his own style and I love how he creates actual poetry with normal language. Also, I have to say my respect to Robin and Buckethead for the beautiful guitar solos. Robin is the right guitar player for Guns N? Roses because he brings in the same vunerability on the guitar that Axl brings in with his lyrics and vocals. It?s not about perfection, it?s about expression. Buckethead is a genius in a different way. I do not mean his speed and skill. I think he could acutally tell some life stories like Axl too, something to relate to, but he is not as good with words and instead just puts his poetry and emotion all into the guitar playing. I think his perfection is a statement that maybe he is very faulted and weak as a human being (like all of us) but he is learning too and he makes up for imperfection with his guitaring as Axl makes up for imperfection with lyrics and song craft, both inspire. Really, the song is so good it hurts.
 
How many times did they play this song live? At the concert where I was they did not play this song. I only know they played it in New York and Madrid, New York had fire but Madrid had the best sound and vocals. The studio recording combines both and is my favourite version so far. I once wrote to Richard and expressed my appreciation for this song. He seemed to be very proud of it. He said he likes this song a lot. But you know what he also said? He said ?wait til you hear the rest of the album?. So I guess they must have even better songs than that. I would not worry about the album or when it comes out. I would enjoy this great music as much as I can.

This is how I see and understand the song. I don't say this is how the band meant it, I could be totally wrong with my impression, but that's how I see it. How about you? Enough time has passed to connect and flow with the music, just let it sink in and see what happens. I believe most people here did not even sratch the surface of the new material. It is ok and important to just rock out and have a good time energy blast and all. But sometimes it is worth to look beyond that. Some lyrics and art, how a song is put together, that can be energy blast too. And the insight you get answers a lot of questions about the band and maybe for some also about yourself.

Sorry for so much writing again but I am not a man of small-talk.

[andy1981]

I agree with your thought process, and man thats pretty deep.
I also apllaud you with your knowledge and enthusiasim for Guns n Roses.
Also your language is very good, for English not being your first.

But

your writing reminds me of a story about the Don Mclean song, American Pie.

Story goes, a fan and writer decided to disect the song American Pie, writing about the thought processes, the charactors and the images that the song produced. This guy wrote a 6 page document detailling the the song and breaking it down piece by piece. Then he mailled it to Don Mclean to let him know that his song American Pie was so special to him and that he "got it" on every level.
Don Mclean said that the song was just made up out of thin air in the recording studio and that he didn't give a rats ass about all the emotional stuff, its just a song he gets up on stage and sings, nothing more, nothing less

not to be an asshole, but maybe your looking too deep into something thats just not there. Its just a record. If it strikes you in a certain way then fair play to you as all music is a personal thing

We're all waiting for CD but its not the holy grail of my life

theres other more important things going on

thanks for contributing to my day though

[rockNroses]

Thank you for your reply. I think know what you mean. But don't worry I have normal life, not think about Guns N' Roses all day, I'm curing the flu at the moment lying in bed so I have much time now to write down some thoughts.

But these thoughts I have always with music, not just GN'R it means a lot me but it's not most important for me, just completing, you know?

I think American Pie is about Buddy Holly plane crash and coming of age, the end of youth and the plane crash being the metaphor of the end of Don's youth and innocence, also describing the end of the cultures and societies innocence in the 60's. The song is brilliant but way too constructed to be made out of thin air. I think Don Mc Lean was just sick of people over analyzing his art that's all.

But then does not an artist lose control the minute he lets go of the work?

He can not control what happens in the mind of the audience. Good and right things can happen but also wrong impressions. No control, but you have to let go to make the good stuff happen.

[andy1981]

But then does not an artist lose control the minute he lets go of the work?

He can not control what happens in the mind of the audience. Good and right things can happen but also wrong impressions. No control, but you have to let go to make the good stuff happen.

exactly! any song by any artist can mean anything to anybody, whether it reminds them of something special in their life or the lyrics actually mean something to them. Music is such a personal thing, a song which means the world to one person may just be background noise to another.

I think you have fairly analized the song its self and thats great.

good luck with the flu

[gunns1]

I think everyones interpretations of the song are completely different to everyone elses,
and when Someone analyzes the song, as what has been done here,
people automatically respond with ,"yeh that makes sense/reasonable " etc...

Thats why Some artists never tell their fans the meaning/where the song originated from,
as it kinda kills the song in a way, as they have emotions/feelings attached to different aspects of the song,

But I think some people are to analytical, and should just look at something and take it for what it is,
not trying to find a 3rd dimension to it, or see if theirs some "hidden meaning about a loved one/ex band members/drug parties,
whatever"

Back to the beer

[horsey]

no you are not a man of small talk at all.i thought it was beautiful what you wrote.it brought it more clearer to me.very good points.

[Manners]

Has anybody considered that this song is about Slash?

Maybe I am reading too much into it but the lyrics to me dont seem to be about Stephanie rather that he is talking about a male.

I think that Axl is singing about Slash and saying that he gave everything he had to GNR and Slash was on a magical mystery tour of playing with other artists such as Michael Jackson and the like, and that he was so out of it on drugs that he cant remember what Axl actually did for him.

I think that the solo's are deliberately Slashesque in order to make a point here. Anyone agree?

[JMack]

Well it's all open to interpretation.  It's possible.

[CheapJon]

Has anybody considered that this song is about Slash?

Maybe I am reading too much into it but the lyrics to me dont seem to be about Stephanie rather that he is talking about a male.

I think that Axl is singing about Slash and saying that he gave everything he had to GNR and Slash was on a magical mystery tour of playing with other artists such as Michael Jackson and the like, and that he was so out of it on drugs that he cant remember what Axl actually did for him.

I think that the solo's are deliberately Slashesque in order to make a point here. Anyone agree?

yeah all songs that axl has wrote since 1991 is about slash or stephanie

[Ines_rocks!]

Has anybody considered that this song is about Slash?

Maybe I am reading too much into it but the lyrics to me dont seem to be about Stephanie rather that he is talking about a male.

I think that Axl is singing about Slash and saying that he gave everything he had to GNR and Slash was on a magical mystery tour of playing with other artists such as Michael Jackson and the like, and that he was so out of it on drugs that he cant remember what Axl actually did for him.

I think that the solo's are deliberately Slashesque in order to make a point here. Anyone agree?

yeah all songs that axl has wrote since 1991 is about slash or stephanie

all songs?? 

[rockNroses]

yeah all songs that axl has wrote since 1991 is about slash or stephanie

You are cynical, but you are right. That's what I mean. That's what I criticise and what leads nowhere. Some people are stuck in a certain way of thinking they can't see reality. Has nothing to do with "living in the past", had to do with thinking outside the box.

[CSS]

all songs??

He was probably being sarcastic.

And I don't think that any song is written about Slash or any member, but maybe the influence was there.

[estebanf]

Robin is the right guitar player for Guns N? Roses because he brings in the same vunerability on the guitar that Axl brings in with his lyrics and vocals. It?s not about perfection, it?s about expression.

Brilliant. I agree with you 100% 

[horsey]

rock N roses'
you have a very good insight to g n' r.and i think we need more of you around here.possitive other then negative veiw points.this could be very good.i feel like a student learning.

[Natasha23]

Axl did say in an interview several years ago that much of the album was about Stephanie and their break-up, and that he hoped one day Dylan (Stephanie's son) would listen to it if he "wanted to know the truth."  T.W.A.T. just seems too personal to be about Slash. 

[rockNroses]

Axl did say in an interview several years ago that much of the album was about Stephanie and their break-up, and that he hoped one day Dylan (Stephanie's son) would listen to it if he "wanted to know the truth."? T.W.A.T. just seems too personal to be about Slash.?

Axl private life is not my business but sure affects his work as an artist.

I think the truth to anything is undeniable regardless what side you are on, as there is only one truth. I think the songs are at least to some part about that very one undeniable truth, something everyone must discover and will discover eventually.

You can see the progression of Axl as a writer if you compare One In A Million and Madagascar both written by the same person at different point in life, different stages of progression. Both songs are about isolation. One was a young man in trying to find and establish a place for him in the world by biting around like a beaten dog trying to get away into isolation to be safe, secretly inside himself kowing only he himself can find peace inside. The other is a man in Madagadcar who has learned that hate does not get you nowhere in life and that you have to reach out and not to hide because isolation is against nature, but sometimes can help you see things from a distance. But you must flow with nature and the one truth, no need to fight, rather accept and find your place in the big puzzle, so you can make it work better. I think that is a great progression.

[horsey]

yes in life you are told
''that's what they want you to belive''
in order to fit in life ,one must have a sorta trust.this axl did not get growing up.so he felt isolated in growing.then he found ways to stop the feelings (rage,and fear,sense of well being )so this he felt after years of suffering (drugs ,alcohol ).that he didn't want to live a way afterall.that he needed to find the real man within himself.and thus over a period of time he found.making him feel more complete within himself.

my opinion that's all.

[Axl Z]

sometimes i like to stay in bed in the morning and put my alarm on snooze for as long as i can. i'm always late for work and think "there was a time i could have got up on time" stupid but there you go.

[slashsbaconpit]

Yeah. I like the part with the guitar and the singing.

[MYWIFEMYLIFE]

i believe this song is about himself no matter "she" references.

i also believe 14 years wuz bout izzy and axl