Do CD's lyrics read like a self-help book to anyone else?

[Vincent Vega]

Let's take a sampling of some of CD's lyrics:

Shackler's Revenge:

No one is stoppin' you

From doin' what you want to do

No one is stoppin' you now

Stoppin' you now

Street of Dreams

I don't know just what I should do

Everywhere I go I see you

Though it's what you planned

This much is true

What I thought was beautiful

Don't live inside of you

Anymore

Scraped:

Some may convince you

No one can break through

I’m here to tell you

You’re worth

More than they tell you

----------------------------------------

No one can make you

Do what they want to

You know you’re stronger

Than the lies

That they tell you

Believe in yourself

Madagascar:

I won't be told anymore

That I've been brought down in this storm

And left so far out from the shore

That I can't find my way back, my way anymore

Oh no I won't be told anymore

That I've been brought down in this storm

And left so far out from the shore

That I can't find my way back, my way anymore

Does anyone else feel like Axl got these lyrics out of touchy feely '90s self help/self esteem building books?

[HOLDEN CAULFIELD]

YESSS!!

N ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU AXL FOR GETTING ME THRU SOME GASH TIMES

GREAT ALBUM FOR THE HURT

[Randy Lahey]

Pretty much

[wasted]

Kind of.

like he said he wanted to make a positive spiritual record without going religious. Axl does a fine line of bitter, self righteous rage poetry. He took the high road?

Shackler's and Catcher not so sure as he he's sing as a character for the most part. ITW seems like a love song written for the end of the world in 2012. Riad is more a straight ass kicking. IRS more all out rage. TIL unrequited love.

I'll give you

Better

SOD

TWAT

Sorry

Scraped

Madagascar

Prostitute

for the "I'm Better, Better than You" best-seller.

[originalgnrnewgnr]

crappy lyrics by the way.

[magisme]

They don't read like a self help book. They read like they're written by a person who needs help and reads a lot of self help books.

[Nosaj Thing]

lol those lyrics are beyond awful. I can't believe Axl wrote that.

They don't read like a self help book. They read like they're written by a person who needs help and reads a lot of self help books.

lol

THIS.

[Rovim]

For the most part I like Axl's lyrics on Chinese. Catcher, Street Of Dreams, and some parts of Prostitute comes to mind.

Sorry and Riad not so much. In some songs you have cool lyrics right next to not the best like in I.R.S.

But I think Catcher lyrically is my favorite.

[netcat]

"No one is stoppin' you From doin' what you want to do" and "I’m here to tell you You’re worth More than they tell you" stuff is very much in the vein of his endless AFD and Illusions era rants, it's so old and boring now i don't even know why he keeps bringing up the topic

[wasted]

lyrically, I've thought how many americans feel oppressed in their daily lives? how many ask themselves what they would do for fortune and shame?

I think this fighting dictators theme is pretty interesting. As this is what the world has become whether it's the gov or people you know on a daily basis. but I think most people have just accepted to become the bully and take the money and party.

I don't really relate to the CD lyrics, it plays more like a movie in my head.

Catcher is definitely the most far out lyrically, as it works in about 3 different ways. It's like One by Metallica. Although it sounds good, it rarely just takes you over, it's very self conscious as a third person narrator.

"No one is stoppin' you From doin' what you want to do" and "I’m here to tell you You’re worth More than they tell you" stuff is very much in the vein of his endless AFD and Illusions era rants, it's so old and boring now i don't even know why he keeps bringing up the topic

Shackler's is hard to pin down because Axl is singing from the point of view of that school shooter. So I take it as that character's moment of liberation before he goes crazy. But I find it hard not to take that song literally, even Catcher to me it could just be Axl talking about the fans and the label. Is that Scraped line meant to be a message to the band and fans?

[netcat]

i don't know, i think those Shackler's and Scraped lines (disregarding the context) are the extention of an endless rants like "i want to dedicate this song to the ppl who tell you how to dress, what you can or can't say i don't need that sh*t", and "only you know whatever the f*ck to do with your life". and it was cool then as it touched the right chords, 'cause when you are young it's only natural to be angry, incecure and rebel. i think he spoke for himself and fans could relate. now on the other hand.. how old was he when he wrote those songs, like 40?

Edited July 25, 2013 by netcat

[alfierose]

The 'no one is stoppin' you' line is an interesting one. It is like a self help mantra but in reality he clearly felt like everyone was stopping him, Slash, Duff, Stephanie, the label, the motherfuckin' downloaders...so on and so forth. I kind of take it as acknowledgement that only the truly crazed individuals I.e school shooters are able to do want they want to do. The rest of us including Axl have pressures and responsibilities that we all bow to even when we wish we didn't have to.

[wasted]

i don't know, i think those Shackler's and Scraped lines (disregarding the context) are the extention of an endless rants like "i want to dedicate this song to the ppl who tell you how to dress, what you can or can't say i don't need that sh*t", and "only you know whatever the f*ck to do with your life". and it was cool then as it touched the right chords, 'cause when you are young it's only natural to be angry, incecure and rebel. i think he spoke for himself and fans could relate. now on the other hand.. how old was he when he wrote those songs, like 40?

I agree that Scraped is like Out Ta Get Me lyrically. I'm not sure about Shackler's, the perspective switches a lot in these songs. It's hard to tell if it's Axl or the shooter. I think it's Axl on the "I don't believe there's a reason" parts. That's his response to the accusations that Mr Brownstone was the reason this shooter went on the rampage.

I kind of thought the Stoppin' you part was saying to Slash or whoever no one is stopping them doing what they want to do. But I think it's just the shooter speaking. But it kind of fits into Axl releasing the record.

Most rock stars are 17 years old mentally. Some are grown up. Axl is probably just playing his role. I just don't think the world is very mature anyway. People are killing each other over religion etc. Scraped seems about his frustrations with getting this record out.

Rock n roll is high school with money.

That's part of the problem with taking on influences from the kids. Like I listen to My Chemical Romance Black Parade, I can tell it's a great record but I'm a bit old for this shit. Some of it transcends being a teenager. Like When We Were Young by The Killers seems like it was written by Axl today.

[wasted]

The 'no one is stoppin' you' line is an interesting one. It is like a self help mantra but in reality he clearly felt like everyone was stopping him, Slash, Duff, Stephanie, the label, the motherfuckin' downloaders...so on and so forth. I kind of take it as acknowledgement that only the truly crazed individuals I.e school shooters are able to do want they want to do. The rest of us including Axl have pressures and responsibilities that we all bow to even when we wish we didn't have to.

Most of the song seems to be the shooter singing, apart from the chorus "I don't believe there's a reason" which is his response to the blame. Or just the shooter saying he's just doing it for the hell of it?

Maybe it is just celebrating that No one is stopping them from releasing it anymore.

It seems to work in both ways.

Is Axl indentifying with the shooter. Like he was so frustrated he could have gone crazy with a gun at some point? Some critics said Axl was identifying with Holden Caulfield on Catcher, he said not.

[alfierose]

i don't know, i think those Shackler's and Scraped lines (disregarding the context) are the extention of an endless rants like "i want to dedicate this song to the ppl who tell you how to dress, what you can or can't say i don't need that sh*t", and "only you know whatever the f*ck to do with your life". and it was cool then as it touched the right chords, 'cause when you are young it's only natural to be angry, incecure and rebel. i think he spoke for himself and fans could relate. now on the other hand.. how old was he when he wrote those songs, like 40?

I agree that Scraped is like Out Ta Get Me lyrically. I'm not sure about Shackler's, the perspective switches a lot in these songs. It's hard to tell if it's Axl or the shooter. I think it's Axl on the "I don't believe there's a reason" parts. That's his response to the accusations that Mr Brownstone was the reason this shooter went on the rampage.

I kind of thought the Stoppin' you part was saying to Slash or whoever no one is stopping them doing what they want to do. But I think it's just the shooter speaking. But it kind of fits into Axl releasing the record.

Most rock stars are 17 years old mentally. Some are grown up. Axl is probably just playing his role. I just don't think the world is very mature anyway. People are killing each other over religion etc. Scraped seems about his frustrations with getting this record out.

Rock n roll is high school with money.

That's part of the problem with taking on influences from the kids. Like I listen to My Chemical Romance Black Parade, I can tell it's a great record but I'm a bit old for this shit. Some of it transcends being a teenager. Like When We Were Young by The Killers seems like it was written by Axl today.

Ha ha I really like Black Parade and Teenagers by MCR but feel the same as you. I'm far too long in the tooth to identify, if my kids caught me singing along in the kitchen they would probably laugh or cringe or both.

The hallmark of a successful band is probably one that matures along with it's original core fan base. The early rebellious stuff will always be there to be enjoyed and discovered by younger generations but the long term fans will grow with the music.

[Guest Manny Manner]

Kind of.

like he said he wanted to make a positive spiritual record without going religious. Axl does a fine line of bitter, self righteous rage poetry. He took the high road?

Shackler's and Catcher not so sure as he he's sing as a character for the most part. ITW seems like a love song written for the end of the world in 2012. Riad is more a straight ass kicking. IRS more all out rage. TIL unrequited love.

I'll give you

Better

SOD

TWAT

Sorry

Scraped

Madagascar

Prostitute

for the "I'm Better, Better than You" best-seller.

I think he sings like a character in those songs- but its one that he identifies with- Chinese Democracy is really an emotionally baring record.

[netcat]

Most rock stars are 17 years old mentally. Some are grown up. Axl is probably just playing his role. I just don't think the world is very mature anyway. People are killing each other over religion etc. Scraped seems about his frustrations with getting this record out.

I don't think Axl is a type of person who plays roles or games, he just takes himself too seriously for that

i think maybe he just suffered from creativity crisis and at some point got trapped by his own past success as a lyricist.

the thing is when you are young everything is fresh and thrilling but when you are older you just like "who cares"?

[Nosaj Thing]

crappy lyrics by the way.

[rockerman]

I thought the same thing when I read the lyrics to CD. I didnt expect AFD2 by any means or even any of the UYI works. IMO I think the music could stand the test of time and even the timbre of the vocals but the lyrics wrecked the project for me. TIL grates on me like nails on a chalkboard lyric wise.

I dont know how Axl wrote the lyrics on this album but in my speculation based on the amazing lyrics of previous works- the collaboration as well as the spontanious impromptu from jam sessions shows. What i get here on CD is the distinct feeling that he sorted through music that was written and then layered on the vocals or he showed the fellas what the basics were and then they wrote around the lyrics and built the music seperately. It would be interesting to really know if the band and Axl actually ever really jammed in a room together as a unit or if it was "phoned in" like some of the later UYI sessions were. In my experience the X factor for really good bands and singers is in the jam sessions..the chemistry and the spontanious off the cuff writting sessions that are inspired at the moment. It would be interesting to know is- as a unit they conviened in a session hall and pounded out the music together until the song was perfected and then went in and recorded it.

We have heard several producers describe snippets of material that were recorded ...ideas that remained unfocused or unfinished. Merck described Axl as be at the mercy of his "muse" and several times recording sessions were lined up but Axl was a no show. Axl said that it was an approach/challenge to get the best out of every person , to rise to the occasion. Does any body know how old the lyrics of CD are and are they a reflection of the immediate post legacy band breakup? It seems to me that they reflect a defiant but shaken AXl if your trying to associate meaning with topics.

[Mastodonny]

Self help or self pity?

[Amir]

The 'no one is stoppin' you' line is an interesting one. It is like a self help mantra but in reality he clearly felt like everyone was stopping him, Slash, Duff, Stephanie, the label, the motherfuckin' downloaders...so on and so forth. I kind of take it as acknowledgement that only the truly crazed individuals I.e school shooters are able to do want they want to do. The rest of us including Axl have pressures and responsibilities that we all bow to even when we wish we didn't have to.

Most of the song seems to be the shooter singing, apart from the chorus "I don't believe there's a reason" which is his response to the blame. Or just the shooter saying he's just doing it for the hell of it?

Maybe it is just celebrating that No one is stopping them from releasing it anymore.

It seems to work in both ways.

Is Axl indentifying with the shooter. Like he was so frustrated he could have gone crazy with a gun at some point? Some critics said Axl was identifying with Holden Caulfield on Catcher, he said not.

For me, the "I don't believe there's a reason" is the shooter/Axl refusing to believe the excuses someone is making that has wronged them, i.e. Axl doesn't believe Stephanie for the excuses she gave for cheating on him.

If you look at the preceding lines:

"Don't ever try to tell me

How much you care for me

Don't ever try to tell me

How you were there for me"

It could be taken as the shooter being angry at family/friends who are trying to stop his vengeance on them by claiming they were there for him when they weren't (in his mind), and it can also be Axl being angry at Steph/Slash/others who claim they were there for him when he felt they weren't.

[niceguy]

It's more like a cookbook.

That explains Axl's physique.