There Was A Time - discussion thread

[Lord Kayoss]

I wasn't too high on the track when I first heard it via the '06 leaks, but it has grown on me a little since then.  I like the final version much better.

[The Catcher]

I don't see a thread for this song, and I would like one since in my opinion this is one of the strongest tracks on the album, I wonder why more people don't mention it. Anyway, Jarmo if you want to make a thread for this song yourself then go ahead, all I want is a discussion about this song What do you guys think of the arrangements, everything?

P.S. I finally bought the record today and it fucking rocks more than anything I've ever heard, including the old GN'R albums!!!

[Alfie Bones]

I think it's an injustice to all of the albums to say one is better than the other, short of which Illusion you prefer (I'm more a fan of the first, myself.)

But TWAT is definitely one of the stronger tracks on the album.

[mcmurray]

Axl's vocals are killer!  I love what they did to this song since the leaked version.

Makes the wait worth it.

The late, minute-plus, solo is fucking phenominal.

You should look into Bucketheads solo work.  Minute-plus, fucking phenominal solos are the mans' specialty.

[randy marsh]

Didn't really need those silly Shackler's Revenge-style deep vocals in the background of the 'it was the wrong time for you, it was the wrong time for me' bit. Another example of Axl fiddling for the sake of fiddling. Other than that, it remains one of the highlights of the album 

i love that demon voice

Me too  Took some listenings before I even noticed it.

hahah I probably wouldn't have noticed this at all if i didn't read the booklet  and I also agree with you The Illusionist about the chorus 

[damnthehaters]

Anybody else think this is the Estranged song on Chinese?  Very similar ending in my opinion.  Starts off rather slow, ends with a bang.

[Howard2k]

Not big on the addition of the deep "long time" vocals.

But still, stunning track.   I've always thought that this one was a masterpiece and still do.  Amazing work.  From the leaks, I anticipated that this would be my favourite track off the album and I think that still stands.   Stunning.  Truly monumental. 

[dariano]

This  song speaks for itself...it's a megatrack, polished to perfectio, Bucketheads solos sound surreal, this song has so much going on,  the lyrics are in you heart, the piano, the guitars, I would have to agree with an earlier post that the end really catches me, "didn't want to know it now, I don't want to know it all"...if I had to rate this from 1-10, this song gets a 10, but so does the whole fuckin album!

[SirTed]

Great, Great song.

It's funny though, not my favorite on the album despite the fact that I think it has Axl's strongest vocals and by far the best Guitar solo. huh.

But a great song!

[ShotgunBlues1978]

TWAT was the first new Guns song I'd heard in the demo form

I still remember listening to it for the first time and getting a chill down my spine.  The vocal melodies, the lyrics, the guitars, the arrangements, it was awesome

Buckethead's solo on this song is one of my all time favorites

[Lady Livin]

Listening to this track in the car, which can be powerful because you're in such a confined space, gave me the same goosebumps I get after hearing November Rain in it. 

[MR. GNR]

can anybody recognize where where axl's guitar work is on the track? is it the only guitar behind the vocals in the verse.

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

In my top 5 off CD.

Its just so insanely good and HUGE...  and impeccably arranged and produced - which had to be a monster task to accomplish. 

modified to add:  there's so much in this song to love but I gotta point out just how much I love the soaring"I would do anything for you....... " vocal part at the end 

[Lady Livin]

I keep getting goosebumps. It never fails. 

[Lady Livin]

Anybody else think this is the Estranged song on Chinese?  Very similar ending in my opinion.  Starts off rather slow, ends with a bang.

That's so funny because I said the exact same thing to my fiance. It's this album's "Estranged," if there were such.

[Howard2k]

This song is awesome, it really is.


And that guitar work at the end...   That's the sound of  someone ripping off Slash's head and shitting down his throat.   No disrespect to Slash, his solo on NR is spectacular.   But credit where it's due, the ending of this song if just absolutely phenomenal.  Spectacular. 

[Doc Emmett Brown]

so...some time ago, Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison played this song on Camp Freddy radio and talked about getting goosebumps when Axl starts singing, and gave it a positive review.  At the end they get a caller who says he really likes the song and claims it's about Stephanie.  Dave doesn't sound convinced and just replies is that who it's about?

Now that I can finally read the lyrics:

To stimulate a cause
For the betterment of evils
And your ways around the laws  (harsh!...)
That keep you up and sitting pretty   (love the way he enunciates that last word)
On a pedestal or bed
And now you're sleeping like an angel
Never mind who just gave you head ....   unless Stephanie grew a magic penis, it ain't  about her.

And his sharp dig at insincere causes made me smile too.  It kinda reminded of Portia de Rossi's character on Arrested Development and her meaningless fundraisers for the betterment of evils.  Classic. 

[GNR4L]

Didn't really need those silly Shackler's Revenge-style deep vocals in the background of the 'it was the wrong time for you, it was the wrong time for me' bit. Another example of Axl fiddling for the sake of fiddling. Other than that, it remains one of the highlights of the album 

i love that demon voice 

Me too  Took some listenings before I even noticed it.

Yeah at first I thought it was my cell phone going off    Then I realized that it was Axl's Demon voice, with a quick listen.

[Thorned Rose]

This song is cool, but I think it is a little overproduced and the chorus doesn't flow very well, one of the lesser songs for me.

It is still a good song and all, but not one of my favs... I skip it sometimes

[Lady Livin]

Never mind who just gave you head[/i] ....   unless Stephanie grew a magic penis, it ain't  about her.

If you don't smell like a can of sardines, women can receive head just as well.