Don't Damn Me

When I first heard this song, my head almost exploded. The great guitar riff, combined with the meaning of the lyrics, the excessive head banging, and even the power of Axl's singing(that guy can sing a whole song without taking a breath) almost did me in. Axl is saying in this song to not criticize him, or anyone, for their beliefs, "Don't damn me when I speak a piece of mind." He states that everyone is just as bad, "We judge a book by it's cover and read what we want, between selected lines." Live your life, believe what you want to believe, but don't chastise people for what they believe, and realize that you aren't always right and that everyone has their flaws. And I love the way Axl adds a little attitude, as he does in so many of his songs, by saying "So I send this song to the offended."

People criticise GnR for songs like Civil War, saying that they contribute to things like social unrest. This is their response. "Sometimes I wanna kill Sometimes I wanna die Sometimes I wanna destroy Sometimes I wanna cry Sometimes I could get even Sometimes I could give up Sometimes I could give Sometimes I never give a fuck" That's one of the best descriptions of human psychology ever written. No one has a static personality, and things affect people in unexpected ways.

To me, this song is a reaction to the reaction of One In A Million; "My words may disturb but at least it's a reaction".

Also, the "Sometimes I wanna kill Sometimes I wanna die Sometimes I wanna destroy Sometimes I wanna cry Sometimes I could get even Sometimes I could give up Sometimes I could give Sometimes I never give a fuck" is the most perfect way I've ever seen of describing life.

The song is about the fact that people criticize them for being vulgar and crude, but they being more honest and inspirational than all the crap on the radios.

My interpretation, lyric by lyric-

"Don't damn me When I speak a piece of my mind 'Cause silence isn't golden When I'm holding it inside" -They're saying not to get mad at them when they say what they think, because it's worse for them to hold it inside that to put it on vinyl. "'Cause I've been where I have been An I've seen what I have seen I put the pen to the paper 'Cause it's all a part of me" -This stanza justifies their language because it's all honest and true, and it explains that they're musicians; it's only natural for them to write music from their experiences. "Be it a song or a casual conversation To hold my tongue speaks of quiet reservations" -These words explain that not saying what you truly want to in a song is the same as not honestly answering a question in a casual conversation. "Your words once heard they can place you in a faction My words may disturb But at least there's a reaction" -Here they're saying that although their words have segregated them from parts of the musical (and world) community, their music is still better because, although it can be crude and disturbing, it's still getting a reaction- until pop music. "Sometimes I wanna kill Sometimes I wanna die Sometimes I wanna destroy Sometimes I wanna cry Sometimes I could get even Sometimes I could give up Sometimes I could give Sometimes I never give a fuck" -Here they're (read: Axl's) saying how they feel about the music press and the music in general. "It's only for a while I hope you understand I never wanted this to happen Didn't want to be a man" -I, personally, think that this is really Axl talking here. If you take this stanza away from the rest, you start to think that he's really talking about his behavior and attitude. He's trying to say the he never really anticipated that the band would get this big, and he never anticipated that he'd have to act grown-up to follow his dreams. He's also saying the band is "only for a while", and that he hopes the fans understand if they break up. "So I hid inside my world I took what I could find I cried when I was lonely I fell down when I was blind" -Here they're trying to say that they turned to drugs ("my world", "what I could find") to feel better and deal with things. However, they just cried and fell down (broke away). "But don't damn me when I speak a piece of my mind 'Cause silence isn't golden when I'm holding it inside 'Cause I've been where I have been An I've seen what I have seen I put the pen to the paper 'Cause it's all a part of me" -See the top for the explanation. "How can I ever satisfy you An how can I ever make you see That deep inside we're all somebody An it don't matter who you wanna be" -Here they're asking how they can ever make people understand to stop criticizing them just because they're big and famous, and they're trying to explain that they're still real people, no matter how big they are. "But now I gotta smile I hope you comprehend For this man can say it happened 'Cause this child has been condemned" -Axl is saying that a lot of his words are twisted into their happy, partying, drinking, debauchery side. He's also trying to say not to always believe what you read about Gn'R, because the journalist can say anything with the general support of the public. For reference, the "child has been condemned" line is referencing the fact that the tabloids gain the support of parents who don't want their kids listening to Gn'R. "So I stepped into your world I kicked you in the mind An I'm the only witness to the nature of my crime" -They're saying here they aren't being extremely innovative, just making their world (life, stories) public. "But look at what we've done to the innocent and young Whoa listen to who's talking 'cause we're not the only ones" -Here they're saying that other bands who want the same attention that Gn'R gets try to gain public support by talking about how crude GnR is. However, they fight back in this stanza by making a point that at one time, Gn'R probably did drugs with the other band. "The trash collected by the eyes and dumped into the brain Said it tears into our conscious thoughts you tell me who's to blame" -Here they're saying that even though people supposedly reject this information, their still convincing fans bit by bit to turn to more popular music. "I know you don't wanna hear me crying An I know you don't wanna hear me deny That your satisfaction lies in your illusions But your delusions are yours an not mine" -Here Axl is apologizing for his rants, but he's trying to say that he only does it because the only completely true audience can be found at a concert. "We take for granted we know the whole story We judge a book by its cover and read what we want Between selected lines" -Here they're pretty much saying that no matter what, we'll always believe things selectively. A major bash at religion, if you ask me. "Don't hail me An don't idolize the ink Or I've failed in my attentions can you find the missing link" -Here they're trying to say not to take things to seriously or live your life to the lyrics, because you'll just end up dead and/or seriously messed up. "Your only validation is in living your own life Vicarious existence is a fucking waste of time" -I think this line explains itself. They pretty much said that following everyone else isn't making a point of yourself, and that it's a waste of time to live your life to other's expectations or fears. "So I send this song to the offended I said what I meant and I've never pretended As so many others do intending just to please If I damned your point of view could you turn the other cheek" -Here they're saying that they've meant every word they've said, and that they stand by it. They're also saying that if they made you angry, you have the choice to throw the record away and turn the other cheek. "Don't damn me when I speak a piece a mind 'Cause silence isn't golden when I'm holding it inside I've been where I have been An I've seen what I have seen Put the pen to the paper 'Cause it's all a part of me Don't damn me I said don't damn me I said don't hail me Don't damn me" -Refer to very top for the interpretation of this lyric.

Of course, this is just what I think they mean.

Thanks!

Great song. I love it, it just...shows you that people need to be more considerate of other people, and we could do without critizizing people becuase of beliefs.

awesome song writer. I love it! This song is so true

I think this has some of the best lyrics ever to a song. Although, the lyrics to the song "Locomotive" also are very good. Axl is one of the best writers ever. No question about it.

This song just fucking rocks!

To me its:

"Let me say what i want WHENEVER THE FUCK I WANT TO! I dont have to keep silent for you, ill speak my mind and kick your fucking ass while im at it!"

As you said, this song to me means that you shouldn't judge someone for what he says even though it may contradict with your own belives.

"We take for granted we know the whole story We judge a book by its cover and read what we want Between selected lines" Those lines are telling us that what we belive might be based on something we don't fully know about, such as based on what the media tells us or wants us to belive.

"Your only validation is in living your own life Vicarious existence is a fucking waste of time"

This part is also golden. It explains itself, we shouldn't live our life by pleasing others, rather do what pleases us.

A quote from the song "But look at what we've done to the innocent and young Whoa listen to who's talking 'cause we're not the only ones The trash collected by the eyes and dumped into the brain Said it tears into our conscious thoughts you tell me who's to blame" is very important because it seems like hes saying that modern society blames his kind for the problems of the young