You may not be a fan of the American band Guns N’ Roses, but you probably know a few of their songs well. Among their most popular tracks is November Rain with its incredible guitar solos, piercing vocals, amazing synth orchestra and spectacular video clip.
Let’s remember how one of the brightest masterpieces of rock music was born.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song November Rain
Guitarist Tracey Guns of LA Guns recalled that the history of the composition “November Rain” began in the early eighties:
When we were working on that LA Guns EP around 1983, he played November Rain on piano. Already then. It was the only thing Axl could play, but it was her. He kept saying: “Someday this song will become really cool.” And I said, “She’s already cool. But, you know, she’s not ready yet.” And every time we were in a hotel or somewhere where there was a piano, he tried to play this music. And I said: “When will you finish it?”. And he answered, “I don’t know what to do with her.”
November Rain was conceived as part of a long musical composition, which also included the songs Don’t Cry and Estranged. The author took the main idea from the story “Without You” (Without You) from the collection “The Language of Fear” by Del James.
Interestingly, drummer Matt Sorum used the same drum pattern on all of these tracks, inspired by Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, which he talked about in an interview with SongFacts.com. Later he was often criticized for this, but he argued that this move was intentional and necessary to unite the works.
Recording and release
Slash’s autobiography states that they recorded an 18-minute version of the song in 1986 with guitarist Manny Charlton of Nasareth. This happened before the start of studio work on the album Appetite for Destruction.
The original studio version of the song was about twenty-five minutes long, but it was later cut to 8:59. It was released as a single in February 1992 with Sweet Child o’ Mine on the back. The track peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number four on the UK chart.
November Rain became the longest song ever to reach the top ten of the charts. It also contains the longest guitar solo in the Top 10.
Clip November Rain
Director Andy Morahan shot a spectacular video clip for November Rain. Surely you have seen this video with the wedding of the characters Stephanie Seymour and Axl Rose, which ended with the funeral of the main character.
The clip was awarded the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography and received heavy rotation on MTV, so the $1.5 million spent on it was not wasted.
Interesting Facts
- On YouTube, the clip for November Rain has the most views of any video not made in the twenty-first century.
- The cake in the video is knocked off the table by Riki Rachmann from the hit show Headbangers Ball. He was a friend of Rose.
- Rain November featured Shannon Hoon, who also helped Guns N’ Roses create Don’t Cry.
November Rain 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
But lovers always come and always lovers go
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 walking
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
x 3
Don’t ya think you need somebody
Don’t ya think you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think you need somebody
Don’t ya think you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
November Rain Lyrics Alternative
When I look into your eyes
I see tamed love
But darling when I hold you
I feel the same way
Nothing lasts forever
And we both know that hearts
fickle
And it’s hard to keep the candle flame
Under the cold November rain
We’re done with it a long time ago
Just trying to numb the pain
But lovers always appear
and disappear
And you can’t say for sure who
letting go today
And who is leaving
If we could take a break
To put everything in its place
I could relax
Knowing that you belong to me
Only me
If you want to love me
Darling, don’t hold back
Or will it all end with me leaving
Under the cold November rain
Do you need to be alone with yourself?
Do you need to be alone?
Everyone needs to be sometimes
Alone with myself
Can’t you see that you
need to be alone?
I know it’s hard to open your soul
When even your friends seem to try to hurt you
But if you could heal
broken heart,
Won’t time charm you
Sometimes I need to be
alone with myself
Sometimes I need to be
lonely
Everyone needs to be sometimes
Alone with myself
Can’t you see that you
need to be alone?
And when your fears subside
Shadows will still remain
I will know that we can love me
When there’s no one else to blame
So ignore the darkness
We can still find a way
‘Cause nothing lasts forever
Even the cold November rain
3 times:
You don’t think that you
is someone needed?
You don’t think that you
is someone needed?
Everyone needs someone
You are not alone in this
You are not alone in this
You don’t think that you
is someone needed?
You don’t think that you
is someone needed?
Everyone needs someone
Song quote
We went into massive video production and by the time of “November Rain” we had gone too far, too carried away. It ended up being a great video, but that’s when I realized things were getting out of hand.
Slash, Q, 2004
