This song is about Axl Rose reflecting on his childhood, up-bringing and home town: Lafayette, Indiana. At the age of 16, Axl (then William Bruce Bailey) was made homeless by his parents as he refused to cut his hair. The line, "Just an urchin livin' under the street, I'm a hard case that's tough to beat, I'm your charity case so buy me somethin' to eat- I'll pay you at another time. Take it to the end of the line" refers to the time he spent on the streets, with no money or food. The line "Ragz to richez or so they say, ya gotta-keep pushin' for the fortune and fame. It's all a gamble when it's just a game, ya treat it like a capital crime. Evrybody's doin' their time" refers to the conversations he'd had with his parents about his dreams and ambitions of moving to LA and becoming a rock star, they were unsupportive and told him 'horror stories' about what happened to people in LA. This is also the meaning behind the line "Strapped in the chair of the city's gas chamber, why I'm here I can't quite remember. The surgeon general says it's hazardous to breathe, I'd have another cigarette but I can't see. Tell me who ya gonna believe"- his 'father' (he later discovered that Bailey wasn't his real father) discouraged him from moving and tried to convince him that he'd never succeed. The phrase "Paradise City" is in refference to his home town Lafayette, Indiana- he's reflecting on its beauty.
@BethLovesGNR Getting back to the actual meaning of the song, BethLovesGNR, I agree with your interpretation of the first 3 verses, but you didn't give your opinion on the last verse: (Captain America's been torn apart
Now he's a court jester with a broken heart
He said—
Turn me around and take me back to the start
I must be losin' my mind—"Are you blind?"
I've seen it all a million times)
@BethLovesGNR Getting back to the actual meaning of the song, BethLovesGNR, I agree with your interpretation of the first 3 verses, but you didn't give your opinion on the last verse: (Captain America's been torn apart
Now he's a court jester with a broken heart
He said—
Turn me around and take me back to the start
I must be losin' my mind—"Are you blind?"
I've seen it all a million times)
I think at that time he meant that America was no longer what it was, that it went from super powerful and admirable to ridicuous and...
I think at that time he meant that America was no longer what it was, that it went from super powerful and admirable to ridicuous and pathetic, as from being an awesome superhero and turning into a buffoon that just entertains the royal family. Being that us Americans just being pathetic and ridiculous to those in power, be it the President or Corporations or the Banks. Then when he asks to be taken back to the start I think he's actually saying LET'S go back to the start, are we stupid and blind, haven't we seen enough? we've seen it all a million times and we are still the sheeple of this system that pushes us into living on the streets, into living from charity, into backstabbing anyone in order to get ahead, and if we cross the lines is gives us, it just gasses us.
This song is about Axl Rose reflecting on his childhood, up-bringing and home town: Lafayette, Indiana. At the age of 16, Axl (then William Bruce Bailey) was made homeless by his parents as he refused to cut his hair. The line, "Just an urchin livin' under the street, I'm a hard case that's tough to beat, I'm your charity case so buy me somethin' to eat- I'll pay you at another time. Take it to the end of the line" refers to the time he spent on the streets, with no money or food. The line "Ragz to richez or so they say, ya gotta-keep pushin' for the fortune and fame. It's all a gamble when it's just a game, ya treat it like a capital crime. Evrybody's doin' their time" refers to the conversations he'd had with his parents about his dreams and ambitions of moving to LA and becoming a rock star, they were unsupportive and told him 'horror stories' about what happened to people in LA. This is also the meaning behind the line "Strapped in the chair of the city's gas chamber, why I'm here I can't quite remember. The surgeon general says it's hazardous to breathe, I'd have another cigarette but I can't see. Tell me who ya gonna believe"- his 'father' (he later discovered that Bailey wasn't his real father) discouraged him from moving and tried to convince him that he'd never succeed. The phrase "Paradise City" is in refference to his home town Lafayette, Indiana- he's reflecting on its beauty.
@BethLovesGNR Getting back to the actual meaning of the song, BethLovesGNR, I agree with your interpretation of the first 3 verses, but you didn't give your opinion on the last verse: (Captain America's been torn apart Now he's a court jester with a broken heart He said— Turn me around and take me back to the start I must be losin' my mind—"Are you blind?" I've seen it all a million times)
@BethLovesGNR Getting back to the actual meaning of the song, BethLovesGNR, I agree with your interpretation of the first 3 verses, but you didn't give your opinion on the last verse: (Captain America's been torn apart Now he's a court jester with a broken heart He said— Turn me around and take me back to the start I must be losin' my mind—"Are you blind?" I've seen it all a million times)
I think at that time he meant that America was no longer what it was, that it went from super powerful and admirable to ridicuous and...
I think at that time he meant that America was no longer what it was, that it went from super powerful and admirable to ridicuous and pathetic, as from being an awesome superhero and turning into a buffoon that just entertains the royal family. Being that us Americans just being pathetic and ridiculous to those in power, be it the President or Corporations or the Banks. Then when he asks to be taken back to the start I think he's actually saying LET'S go back to the start, are we stupid and blind, haven't we seen enough? we've seen it all a million times and we are still the sheeple of this system that pushes us into living on the streets, into living from charity, into backstabbing anyone in order to get ahead, and if we cross the lines is gives us, it just gasses us.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this verse.
Cheers!