Tyler Drama Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means. Edited June 24, 2012 by GNRSkidRow1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Rose Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) I gotta agree, it's kinda obtuse. Some of the big reviews said it was one of Axl's best songs and sets of lyrics wheras I think it's a tad 'spoon, moon, goon' compared to Twat and Prostitute. He probably doesn't want us to know what it means or, as with Sorry in the chats, would deny it's specific to anything. Its obviously about a bird. I'll take an obvious stab: it's about Seymour and it means nobody had the nerve to tell him when it was really over whilst he was in denial and stopped inviting people to his Hallowe'en parties. Edited June 24, 2012 by Jordan Rose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Lahey Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 It's self help jargon. Axl thought he would figure out stuff on his own, but he needed to share his life with others in order to heal himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 It's about being in love, and how nobody told him about the perils and heartbreak associated with trying to keep a relationship going. "When I was alone" is before he w in a serious relationship, then "just his luck [He] fell in love" with someone he "should have known [was] crazy". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damn_Smooth Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 It's not better, it's Betta, or however the fuck you spell her name. I'm more interested in wasting my time writing this than looking it up.People just thought that he had someone like her instead of him needing them. That's how I interpret it.Fucked if I really know though, I'm not a big fan of the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kill Devil Hill Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Kind of Estranged Part II, no? No one ever told him before he got into the relationship how it was gonna be. They just assumed he'd know better than to fall in love, or to fall in love with her. I'm not sure which one was the bigger offense now that I think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Jay Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 "Better" is about an impossible love. I join Amir's opinion. Unless "When I was alone" is for after his relationship, and therefore no one comfort him after the break, they thought he knew why this love is impossible .. Whilst he was alone and ignorant. So "Now I know you better" (with time, he realized why this love was impossible). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I always thought it was "taught", not "told", in which case it makes more sense. But it's not, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Everyone thinks you'd know better than to be alone? But people often choose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scaramouche Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Better is the perfect breakup song! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droezle Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 schizophrenia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiipu Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I thought it's a reference to the rest of the song where he struggles with a crazy bitch When he was alone he should've known better not to jump in that wagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Maybe when you're with the wrong person it's like being alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sandman Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Unless it refers to all other band members leaving and reconstructing the band... but him still being "alone" for those purposes of surviving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 It could have to do with Estranged. He talks about being alone in that one too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finck6 Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaida Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ?nopefinck6 just trolling as always Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finck6 Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ?yeah. better is a robin song. robin writes the lyrics 2 better. and does the magical riff and solo of better Edited June 24, 2012 by finck6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ?yeah. better is a robin song. robin writes the lyrics 2 better. and does the magical riff and solo of betterSongwriters: W. Axl Rose;Robert John Finck Edited June 24, 2012 by Crash Diet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finck6 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ?yeah. better is a robin song. robin writes the lyrics 2 better. and does the magical riff and solo of betterSongwriters: W. Axl Rose;Robert John Finckeverybody knows robin finck co-wrote better with axl rose. there is no john finck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luciusfunk Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 "No one ever told me when I was alone, they just thought I'd know better." What does this mean? No one told Axl that he was alone? Or was there something that they chose not to tell him, specifically when he was alone? I've listened to this song hundreds of times and still do not understand what this line means.ask robin finck. he wrote those lyrics 2 betterDid he really ?yeah. better is a robin song. robin writes the lyrics 2 better. and does the magical riff and solo of betterSongwriters: W. Axl Rose;Robert John Finckeverybody knows robin finck co-wrote better with axl rose. there is no john finckAll lyrics were written by Axl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 Robin wrote the music, Axl wrote the lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacardimayne Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I've always thought the lyrics (or at least the chorus and title) were a subtle tribute to Beta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damn_Smooth Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I've always thought the lyrics (or at least the chorus and title) were a subtle tribute to Beta.So that's how you spell it. I added a t. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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