Vincent Vega Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) I was listening to How Do You Sleep? by John Lennon. The song as you all know is a full blast attack on Paul McCartney. It puts him down. It's a slow paced, sort of brooding, slow track with a lot of burning anger, bitterness and a sort of "you mean NOTHING" mindset in it. In the song, Lennon credits Paul only with the song Yesterday. He says the freaks were right when they said Paul was dead. For it's time it's quite a venomous attack. It's got a refrain chorus of "How Do You Sleep/How do you Sleep at Night" which is a little tiny bit faster than the rest of the song. Sorry, it has been debated, is a song which has Axl taking out all his anger and bitterness toward Slash and attacking him and putting him down. It's got the same sort of slow pace, even the structure is sort of similar. The lyrical content is much the same--Attacking Slash, albeit in a more subtle way than How Do You Sleep attacks McCartney. He pretty much puts down Slash and says he'll kick his ass, that Slash talks too much and no one cares about him. It's got the same sort of refrain chorus wherein the chorus speeds up a bit, "I'm Sorry for You/Not Sorry for Me" etc, followed by a sort of meandering guitar solo, with the chorus repeating again after the solo--same in Sorry.They just seem to have the same sort of vibe, the same sort of feel/atmosphere and even the same sort of structure, at least on a basic level.Axl has credited Lennon as one of his influences; Hell, the album even has a song that is a tribute to Lennon. He said here in his chats he loves Lennon's solo work a lot. Even if the song isn't about Slash, I do wonder if Axl was trying to go for a "How Do You Sleep?", a sort of slow, droning, dark kind of brooding attack song...I just see them as similar.DISCLAIMER: I am not at all claiming Sorry is ANYWHERE the same level of quality as How Do You Sleep? in this thread. Nor am I claiming or trying to say Axl has anything of Lennon's lyrical genius. I just am wondering if the tracks sound similar to anyone and if anyone agrees with the theory that Axl might've been going exactly for this, at least in part, or if he was inspired by Lennon's song and approach, given his love of John Lennon's solo work. Edited September 1, 2012 by Vincent Vega Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Len B'stard Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 John Lennon exists in an impenetrable bubble that floats above all other artists that ever existed in popular music, nothing anyone ever does bears comparison to Monsieur Lennon, he is, simply, a fuckin' G, the man, the toppermost of the poppermost, even dreams cannot reach that high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axl8302 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 For the last fucking time... Sorry isn't about Slash. How many times does Axl have to say it before it sticks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalsh327 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 "Sorry" is a composite of people, it's just Axl being defiant. I think "How Do You Sleep" was because Paul had done "Too Many People". What song was a tribute to Lennon, CITR? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaida Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 What ever the song is about, it drags on and on and on. The ending is just an abortion. It don't work live either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damn_Smooth Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damn_Smooth Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.I think parts of them are definitely about Slash. Maybe since Axl has decided that he never needs to release new music again, he could translate the material that he's already written. That shouldn't be too much to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowOfTheWave Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 I would like to know who "the ones you would not save" are in Prostitute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axl8302 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Did you miss the part where I said "I THINK"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAFC Nick Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Not to open the debate again but I think its naive to think that Sorry is about anyone BUT Slash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 It's not like Axl was going to say: "Yes, I wrote these songs about Slash because I hate him". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr420 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I really dislike john lennon and enjoy all the songs paul sings a lot more. Sorry is a better song also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarpatch Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 The best thing about "How Do You Sleep" is the fact that George Harrison plays slide guitar on that song. Imagine if Sorry were about Slash, and that Axl got Izzy to play the solo on that song as well as Adler/Sorum to listen in before it was released. Pretty strong stuff... That being said Lennon softened his stance on it later and said the song was more about himself than Paul. It was a direct response to McCartney's "Too Many People", which IMO is probably the best song out of the 3, and has more vigor towards the break up of a band. It was released as a B side to Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey. One of the Lennon/Beatles line is:Too Many People Preaching PracticesDon't Let Them Tell You What You Wanna BeToo Many People Holding Back, This IsCrazy And Maybe It's Not Like MePretty much going after Lennon and his "Give Peace A Chance", "Live Peace in Toronto" political activism he had going on in the late 60's / early 70's as well as people holding back songs for solo albums. If you haven't given listen to McCartney's Ram album, do yourself a favor and have a listen. Good stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalsh327 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4s7s5tSk8E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAxlMorrison Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 What ever the song is about, it drags on and on and on. The ending is just an abortion. It don't work live either.I've seen it live 4 times. Worked just fine. Many fans unfamiliar with it (I'm sure) gave it the applause it deserved, Axl was great, the band cooked, etc. Shut up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 What ever the song is about, it drags on and on and on. The ending is just an abortion. It don't work live either.I've seen it live 4 times.Was it the fifth song every time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axl8302 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Did you miss the part where I said "I THINK"?No, I didn't miss that. Did you miss the part where Axl said the song wasn't about Slash? Edited September 2, 2012 by axl8302 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Did you miss the part where I said "I THINK"?No, I didn't miss that. Did you miss the part where Axl said the song wasn't about Slash?Dude, Axl would never accept that the song was about Slash or directed at him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Rose Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Was talked to death hereAll of the rational, reasonable people decided that just because Axl irritably said it isn't about Slash doesn't mean it isn't. It's pretty screamingly obvious that the verses are for the alumni, if not just Slash, and the chorus is an ironic, not sarcastic, 'sorry' for anyone who cared for the old band. It's quite easy to see why Axl would want to play down the idea that it's about Slash and easy to see that the song is way too direct and personal to be a 'composite'. I discuss it in detail in that thread but for anyone too lazy to read it here's an excerpt:Axl got a bit uppity in the chats about our discussions over the meaning of 'Sorry' and said it's not about one person or situation or 'the fans' as a collective. He said at a show that 'it's not about someone I used to know'. The fact that he's gotten so narkey about it and hasn't come out and had a go at people for allocating the wrong ex-missus to the ballads suggests to me it's more a case of him not wanting it to catch on in the media/fanbase at large/magazines that 'Sorry' is 'The Slash song'. Maybe it's a slander thing, maybe it's something else or maybe i'm wrong and none of it pertains directly to Slash, I just don't believe him when he says it doesn't. He laughed when people asked who the ballads were about and said it'd be revealed sometime maybe. He got arsey about 'Sorry'.As much as he wants to downplay Slash's contributions to GN'R he's probably aware that putting an overtly Slash-bashing song on a GN'R album isn't going to sit well with many people and would rather not have it become a big issue or common consensus.Now, given especially all the new in info from Canter confirming what we all know from tens of sources anyway: that Axl has spent much of the last 16 years consumed by his anger towards and disappointment in Slash; that he was obsessed with the insult of Velvet Revolver and that he clearly wants people to know the truth, or his truth, about Slash and what went down........ how does it make any sense that there wouldn't be a song on the album dealing with this most central issue of Axl's life? He's done the women; Lennon's murder; kids with guns; Black Bond; the lawsuits; the old band in general; Chinese politics and the general fucked-up nature of his life....so why on Earth would he not write about his arch nemesis? Unless he saved the songs about him for the next records... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axl8302 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Did you miss the part where I said "I THINK"?No, I didn't miss that. Did you miss the part where Axl said the song wasn't about Slash?Dude, Axl would never accept that the song was about Slash or directed at him. Why would he write and release it then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Sorry is about Slash.Every song is about Slash if you ask some of the people around here. Including all of the material Slash was around for and even some songs Axl had no part of whatsoever. Like Beat It and Cherry Pie. Axl supposedly wrote those about Slash somehow. You heard it here first.Ha! I think "Sorry" and "Prostitute" are about Slash or at least directed at him, but I could be mistaken. Not that I care though.Axl Rose disagrees with you, but I guess that you know better. Did you miss the part where I said "I THINK"?No, I didn't miss that. Did you miss the part where Axl said the song wasn't about Slash?Dude, Axl would never accept that the song was about Slash or directed at him. Why would he write and release it then?No idea. Ask Axl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babooshka Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) I would like to know who "the ones you would not save" are in Prostitute.I think he's referring to himself and maybe GNR. It's interesting that Sorry, Prostitute and Better, songs which are thought to be about Slash, have lines with this theme - of being saved/freed and saving/freeing someone else - because a few of Slash's songs express the same sentiment. I can't save you if you don't let me - GottenI don't need you to save me anymore - You're A LieThese songs have been rumoured to be about Axl. It may all be coincidence, but it's something that stood out to me. Edited September 2, 2012 by Babooshka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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