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All Music | Guns N' Roses - November Rain



"November Rain" is a song by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Written by the band's lead vocalist Axl Rose, it was released as a single in 1992 from their third studio album, Use Your Illusion I (1991).


Slash states in his autobiography that an 18-minute version of "November Rain" was recorded at a session with guitarist Manny Charlton (of rock band Nazareth) in 1986, before the recording sessions for Appetite for Destruction began.





According to a story Axl Rose told an audience during the 2006 leg of the Chinese Democracy Tour, none of the other band members had wanted to partake in the production of this song (or the other notable ballad "Estranged"). Slash and McKagan were particularly opposed to the drift to symphonic ballads, and felt their choice of more direct rock songs were being overlooked by Rose. However, Rose talked them into it over discussions at Can-Am Studios (where some of the album was recorded and mixed). Claims of such harsh musical differences were specifically disputed by Slash in his autobiography.


Slash has said that the solo he played in the album version of the song (it is unclear which) was the same solo he improvised upon hearing it for the first time.



Lyrics


When I look into your eyes

I can see a love restrained

But darlin' when I hold you

Don't you know I feel the same


Nothin' lasts forever

And we both know hearts can change

And it's hard to hold a candle

In the cold November rain


We've been through this such a long long time

Just tryin' to kill the pain, oo yeah

But love is always coming and love is always going

And no one's really sure who's lettin' go today

Walking away


If we could take the time

To lay it on the line

I could rest my head

Just knowin' that you were mine

All mine

So if you want to love me

Then darlin' don't refrain

Or I'll just end up walkin'

In the cold November rain


Do you need some time on your own

Do you need some time all alone

Everybody needs some time

On their own

Don't you know you need some time all alone


I know it's hard to keep an open heart

When even friends seem out to harm you

But if you could heal a broken heart

Wouldn't time be out to charm you


Sometimes I need some time

On my own

Sometimes I need some time all alone

Everybody needs some time

On their own

Don't you know you need some time all alone


And when your fears subside

And shadows still remain, oh yeah

I know that you can love me

When there's no one left to blame

So never mind the darkness

We still can find a way

'Cause nothin' lasts forever

Even cold November rain


Don't ya think that you need somebody

Don't ya think that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody

You're not the only one

You're not the only one


Don't ya think that you need somebody

Don't ya think that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody

You're not the only one

You're not the only one


Don't ya think that you need somebody

Don't ya think that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody

You're not the only one

You're not the only one


Don't ya think that you need somebody

Don't ya think that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody



Songwriters: Saul Hudson / Izzy Stradlin / Duff McKagan / Darren A Reed / Matt Sorum / W. Axl Rose

November Rain lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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