November rain meaning

“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses is one of the most well-known rock ballads of the ’90s, combining melancholic lyrics, orchestral arrangements, and classic guitar solos.

The lyrics, full of longing and reflections on love and loss, resonate within me. Compared to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe”, which offered a message about friendship and female empowerment, “November Rain” dives into emotional complexity , showcasing the musical diversity of the decade, where different styles coexisted and influenced each other.

Impact and legacy of November Rain

Released by Guns N’ Roses in 1991, November Rain has cemented itself as a timeless anthem that has influenced rock music and pop culture .

“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

“Stairway to Heaven” is a classic song that builds from a soft beginning to a powerful crescendo, much like the orchestral journey in “November Rain.” The lyrics explore life’s mysteries and the pursuit of meaning, making it a thematic match.

Related: “Stairway to Heaven” Song Meaning

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You think: impassioned vocals, one of the longest songs to hit the charts – and the most ambitious moment in Guns N’ Roses’ career. Unlike other great songs of the decade, such as Nirvana ’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit ”, which captured the spirit of grunge and youthful rebellion, or TLC’s “Waterfalls”, which tackled social and personal issues, “ November Rain ” is distinguished by its dramatic approach and musical sophistication.

The combination of Axl Rose’s powerful voice and the emotive orchestral arrangements brings me deep nostalgia and melancholy . In short, you think: arguably the best rock ballad in history.

Though it took until September 1991 for the song to be released, on Use Your Illusion I, “November Rain” had by that point been in Axl Rose’s arsenal for almost a decade.

Seeming more like a short movie than it did a music promo, the video was conceived as the middle part of a trilogy bookended by the videos for “Don’t Cry” and “Estranged.” Starring supermodel and Axl’s then-girlfriend, Stephanie Seymour, it followed on from where “Don’t Cry” left off: Seymour had saved Axl from suicide, and now the two were getting married.

Taking in the couple’s doomed wedding (with Slash’s guitar solo performed outside a church in the New Mexico desert), the band hanging at the Rainbow Bar And Grill on LA’s Sunset Strip, and a live performance of the song at The Ritz in New York, the video took for its inspiration a short story, “Without You,” written by journalist and author of the short-story collection The Language Of Fear, Del James.

With a budget totaling around $1 million, the “November Rain” video ranks among the most expensive music promos ever made.

While it might not have had the same career-boosting impact of the “Welcome To The Jungle” video, at the time of its release, “November Rain” quickly became MTV’s most-requested video of all time – and, on 14 July, officially hit one billion views on YouTube. For rock lovers and new listeners alike, uncovering the meaning behind each verse will enrich the listening experience and celebrate the greatness of the 90s.

Built on just piano and vocals, the demo is entirely recognizable as the “November Rain” that the world would come to know, from the stately piano intro to the gear-shifting outro – just without the strings or Slash’s coruscating guitar solo. Apparently, tentative versions of this incarnation were performed at early GNR gigs. It’s a song that reminds me of the beauty and pain of relationships, and that despite adversity, there is always room for hope .

The 1986 Sound City demo version of this arrangement is driven by fingerpicked guitar and gentle percussion, while Axl finds his way around the song, sometimes repeating the “I just keep on walking” refrain. On February 18, 1992, “November Rain” was released as the album’s third and final single. Without a doubt, an anthem of an extraordinary time.

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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, ooh yeah
Love is always comin', love is always goin'
No one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walkin' 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?
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, 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?
Oh, oh, oh
Sometimes I need some time on my own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, 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