The General and Monsters Lyrics

[Ollster42]

listen to the live version, much easier to hear what he's saying 

"can anybody tell me why the pain it just won't stop?

can anybody help me? this pain it just won't stop"

And I think it is "laugh at your despair" in the chorus

[evilfacelessturtle]

14 hours ago, ZODIAC said:

Hearing the live version, I tend to believe it's "took the time to forget".

Still could be wrong though... 🤷‍♂️

How does that make sense though? Forgetting isn't something you can just choose to do.

Edit: 4:00 into the video below, sounds like a clear "forgive", to me.

10 hours ago, Ollster42 said:

listen to the live version, much easier to hear what he's saying 

"can anybody tell me why the pain it just won't stop?

can anybody help me? this pain it just won't stop"

And I think it is "laugh at your despair" in the chorus

In the live videos, it sounds like he's saying "and don't deserve respect" to me, but unfortunately it's even harder to make out lyrics in a live setting.

Listen to 2:45 in this video, sounds like a clear "D" as the first letter to me:

The weird thing is that he's adding a syllable to the live version, that much is clear. Which seems to bolster the idea that the vocals were originally intended to be a rough take, but became the final take. You see the same thing with OMG, there are syllables missing from what were confirmed to be the official lyrics. Doesn't help us in deciphering.

I've changed it to "this pain", though. That much is very clear.

Edited November 3, 2023 by evilfacelessturtle

[StrangerInThisTown]

To me with headphones it sounds clear as day as "forget" in the live version, because it ends with a T. Also as @Axl_morris pointed out in the other thread, are you really gonna forgive a child molester? Forgive doesn't make sense, it is pretty much the most despicable thing you can do on this planet

Edited November 3, 2023 by StrangerInThisTown

[evilfacelessturtle]

1 hour ago, StrangerInThisTown said:

To me with headphones it sounds clear as day as "forget" in the live version, because it ends with a T. Also as @Axl_morris pointed out in the other thread, are you really gonna forgive a child molester? Forgive doesn't make sense, it is pretty much the most despicable thing you can do on this planet

A few things: we don't know that the song is about molestation, just abuse. But regardless, there are parents who forgive people who murdered their children. Forgiveness is more about letting go of your own anger that only hurts you and not the person who you're angry at.

Alternatively, he could be talking about forgiving himself, as abuse victims often blame themselves.

Also, Axl doesn't really write songs quite that specific and direct in their lyrics. Take Sorry, he said about those lyrics:

"'Sorry,' like a lot of the material, is drawn from a lot of different situations. The main focus on the boards with the track seems to be either Slash or “the fans” and is much too restrictive or narrow and limits what I feel I intended. For me it’s for anyone talking nonsense at mine and the public’s expense, and that many of those, as well as the public, don’t know who to believe. Also where possible I’d like to give people the opportunity to get what they can from the material for a while before clouding that with my inspirations. Of course that’s not always avoidable."

Axl really loves writing vague things that sound meaningful without being clear in how they relate to their context. I was just thinking about that in regard to the OMG lyrics. He says the song is about societal repression, but then throws in lyrics like "I was willing to be lost in the shuffle, if only you had let me know". What does that mean? Who knows.

Edited November 3, 2023 by evilfacelessturtle

[Rovim]

7 hours ago, evilfacelessturtle said:

 

Axl really loves writing vague things that sound meaningful without being clear in how they relate to their context. I was just thinking about that in regard to the OMG lyrics. He says the song is about societal repression, but then throws in lyrics like "I was willing to be lost in the shuffle, if only you had let me know". What does that mean? Who knows.

Oh My God is an interesting one lyrically. As you say, who knows what he means but my interpretation of it is that it could be about the "shadow" of the person, very Jungian lyrics, unless I'm totally wrong. In case you're not familiar with the idea:

Shadow (psychology) - Wikipedia

[Blackstar]

After listening to the best quality live version with headphones on, think that was "time to forget" on the first chorus and "to forgive" on the second chorus.

[Alexmee239]

Maybe Axl just messed up the lyric on the first chorus

[TrixAreForKids]

On 10/29/2023 at 3:09 PM, evilfacelessturtle said:

Since we obviously don't have any official lyrics yet, I wanted to put a little more effort into deciphering than what I've seen floating around.

I've emboldened the parts that I feel are still debatable.

The General:

[Verse]
Daddy, don't
I swear I won't
I'll be good from now on
And I'm awful sorry
Daddy don't
The hell I won't
I won't be good anymore
And you'll all be sorry

[Refrain]
Can anybody tell me why the pain, it just won't stop?
Can anybody help me?
This pain, it just won't stop

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And lack self respect
And lost your sordid meaning

[Verse]
Daddy, don't
I swear I won't
I'll be good from now on
And I'm awful sorry
Daddy don't
The hell I won't
I won't be good anymore
And you'll all be sorry

[Refrain]
Can anybody tell me why the pain, it just won't stop?
Can anybody help me?
This pain, it just won't stop

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And lack of self respect
And lost your sordid meaning

[Bridge]
Don't know what to tell you now
It's never really what they tell you, now
You oughta know what they tell you, now (This line sounds like part of a word was clipped off)
And not really what they tell you now
Don't know what to tell you now
It ain't really what they tell you, now
Don't know what to tell you, now
It ain't really what they tell you, now

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And lack self respect
And lost your sordid meaning

[Outro]

Woah, ah
Is that I never took the time to forgive

Ah ah ah

(Seems like barely mouthed guide vocals at the end here. Kind of like the early outros for The Blues)

 

Monsters:

 

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me (every time I listen to these, I hear something different. Not sure these can ever be nailed down without official lyrics)
The monsters can't have me 
The monsters can't get me
The monsters can't get me

[Verse 1]
A tour-de-force of an evil old passion
A broken heart that was out of fashion
Dynamic duo, seen your figure crashing (this doesn't make sense but I can't think of anything else that fits)
My early warning was your satan laughing

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't help me

[Verse 2]
You stole my soul with the devil's romancing
All alone in your bedroom, dancing
Thought I could feel somebody worth having
But in the end I guess you're good for the damage

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

[Guitar Solo]

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't get me
The monsters can't...

[Bridge]
The more I did, what I did, I did for you
There's no excuses for the hell on Earth you put me through
I never cared how much I cared, when I cared for you
To make you better there was nothin' that I wouldn't do
I doubt there's anybody left that wants to know the truth
The dirty secret that you hid away inside of you
Who ever thought I'd be around to shed a light on you?
Well here's the story, baby, I got nothin' else to do

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

I was there for you
It's all I could do

I was there for you
It's all I could do

(It's over)
(It's over)

I was there for you
(It's over)
(But it's over now)

I hear…Monsters Dead, Can’t Get Me

[ZODIAC]

22 hours ago, Alexmee239 said:

Maybe Axl just messed up the lyric on the first chorus

Or on the second... 😅😉

[Rindmelon]

I'm sticking this here as the Hollywood Bowl thread will get moved i'm sure in the next few days.

 

[NicoRourke]

What does "And not the sordid meaning" means, in the context of the song?

I'm not a native speaker, so not sure I'm getting the meaning right. 

[BreakDown2014]

On 11/3/2023 at 4:35 AM, ZODIAC said:

Hearing the live version, I tend to believe it's "took the time to forget".

Still could be wrong though... 🤷‍♂️

+1, it's pretty clear he sings "time to forget" on the live performances

 

Edit: actually I think he says "forgive" on the second chorus haha

Edited November 6, 2023 by BreakDown2014

[Live Like a Suicide]

I think the chorus is actually closer to this:

My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forget
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
At those who understand
Love deserves respect
And not disordered meaning

In this way, the lyrics make sense. His experiences had such a negative impact that his subsequent feelings weren't spared on anyone, even those who understood his pain. To put it simply, he took his anger out on people, even those who didn't deserve it, and he regrets that.

This video is clearer than most:

 

 

[evilfacelessturtle]

20 hours ago, Live Like a Suicide said:

I think the chorus is actually closer to this:

My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forget
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
At those who understand
Love deserves respect
And not disordered meaning

In this way, the lyrics make sense. His experiences had such a negative impact that his subsequent feelings weren't spared on anyone, even those who understood his pain. To put it simply, he took his anger out on people, even those who didn't deserve it, and he regrets that.

This video is clearer than most:

 

 

I definitely agree that he is singing the word "deserve" in live performances. But there's a syllable missing on the studio recording. I'm not really sure what to make of that. (Edit: it's not missing in the second chorus, actually). The first word certainly does sound like "love" in that video.

I've also considered "disordered meaning" as well as "distorted meaning". That's probably the most debatable line of the song at this point IMO. I think we'll need official lyrics to ever really know what that line is. It's so easy to hear it many different ways if you listen for them.

Edited November 8, 2023 by evilfacelessturtle

[HWolllert]

On 11/3/2023 at 11:29 PM, StrangerInThisTown said:

To me with headphones it sounds clear as day as "forget" in the live version, because it ends with a T. Also as @Axl_morris pointed out in the other thread, are you really gonna forgive a child molester? Forgive doesn't make sense, it is pretty much the most despicable thing you can do on this planet

I don't understand it as forgiving a child molester, but forgiving himself he "never took the time to forgive all those unspoken feelings", cause that's the only way out.

I mean, he comes from a naive

"Daddy don't, I swear I won't, I'll be good from now on and I'm awful sorry" - which shows, he initially gave himself the blame for being molested

to a hateful

"Daddy don't, the hell I won't, I won't be good anymore and you'll all be sorry" - This isn't a naive child anymore, but a hateful human being wanting revenge, driven by unspoken, hidden feelings, that formed his fate/life after. The naive child is traumatized and can't cope with the situation. The molest is somehow burned into body and soul of the child, without the possibility to control it nor to get rid of it, but still it controls every aspect of his life.

"Can anybody tell me, why the pain it just won't stop, can anybody help me, this pain it just won't stop." - The source of this pain lies buried somewhere between the - if you want it like that - killed soul of this child and his psychological repression mechanisms. It simply hurts too much. You're not able to deal with it, to get to its source. Hence you're a passenger only within your own life. 

So what's the solution:

"My only regret is that I never took the time to forgive all those unspoken feelings" - This is a life confession, that you need balls to get to. It somehow reminded me of Johnny Cashs cover of Nine Inch Nails Hurt shortly before his death. It's somehow completely different, but also similar in the end. 

"Don't know what to tell you now, It's never really what they tell you now ... and so on" - There's nothing more to say about it, because you can't make it undone, you simply can't undo it. But what you can do, is learning to cope with it. You need time for this, because this will be a long process to go through, as you'll have to relive the molest and the shame of its consequences. You need to take over responsibility for your actions either way. 

 

Or as Live Like a Suicide already put it:

On 11/7/2023 at 4:53 AM, Live Like a Suicide said:

His experiences had such a negative impact that his subsequent feelings weren't spared on anyone, even those who understood his pain. To put it simply, he took his anger out on people, even those who didn't deserve it, and he regrets that

But I don't only think he regrets having taken his anger out on people, but having wasted so much time of his life and having never taken the time to really deal with all of this in all its consequences. As I already said, in the end the solution lies only within someone but not outside. It's the only thing you can change. Having gained this knowledge, you also need to forgive yourself, cause it could possibly break you a second time, so to say. 

As happy as he appears for some time now, he found his way out. 

 

What about the music?

Some said, there is no climax, no taking off, repeating verses and so on. I think it matches the lyrics. It's like running in circles until you find the solution. Regret and forgiveness can light up the dark (that sounds cheesy as fuck, but still) and this is a very dark song. It's the only song, that I listen to in my car. It's that intensive, there's none coming close right now. It's not so much the music or the lyrics itself, but the feeling that it gives me. I can relate to that, because it's real - one can feel, what he feels. In that regard to me it's a great song and that's what art should be about. 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by HWolllert

[Scream of the Butterfly]

I think the lyrics convey the experience of a child who is being punished/beaten. According to Axl, his stepdad was very strict and beat him constantly, so I'm guessing that was the inspiration. I don't think there's anything about the lyrics to suggest it's about child molestation specifically. Lemmy already wrote that song: "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me".

[Blackstar]

Yes, it's not necessarily about sexual abuse in particular, but about the pain stemming from the rough childhood the narrator/Axl had which translated to anger that affected his future relationships.

And now that we have made more sense of the lyrics in the chorus, the General being a (lyrical) sequel to Estranged makes some more sense, too. Axl said about Estranged:

Estranged started getting developed when I had a relationship with my ex-wife Erin. And, you know, it just got really dark and, basically, writing the song was one of the only things that kept me together. And I really tried to put into words how I felt in the situation and how much I wanted things to work, you know. And, really, the song helped me to get in touch with my real feelings besides all the arguments and whatever was going on. Like when you get in an argument with somebody and you’re screaming, and yelling, and whatever, and then you go sit by yourself and you go, “That’s not what I wanted to say.” […] And so it was my way to express to myself how I felt. [Rockline, November 27, 1991]

So The General could be expanding and going more in depth about the causes of acting like that.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Blackstar

[Grayfox]

On 11/3/2023 at 6:29 PM, StrangerInThisTown said:

To me with headphones it sounds clear as day as "forget" in the live version, because it ends with a T. Also as @Axl_morris pointed out in the other thread, are you really gonna forgive a child molester? Forgive doesn't make sense, it is pretty much the most despicable thing you can do on this planet

To be fair, in my own family there was molestation happening. From my grandfather to his kids. Eventually they made the choice to forgive. But they never forget/forgot. 

[jamillos]

I’ve heard there’s a newer version:

Nando don’t 
I swear I won’t 
Withhold those photos from now on 
And I’m awful sorry 

Nando don’t 
I’ll suck your front 
I won’t be bad anymore 
And I won’t tell your story 

[Ref.]
Can anybody tell me why that asshole just won’t stop?
Can maybe Beta help me? 
That cunt, he just won’t stop 

Etc. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by jamillos

[gnfnr2k]

On 10/29/2023 at 5:09 PM, evilfacelessturtle said:

Since we obviously don't have any official lyrics yet, I wanted to put a little more effort into deciphering than what I've seen floating around.

I've emboldened the parts that I feel are still debatable.

The General:

[Verse]
Daddy, don't
I swear I won't
I'll be good from now on
And I'm awful sorry
Daddy don't
The hell I won't
I won't be good anymore
And you'll all be sorry

[Refrain]
Can anybody tell me why the pain, it just won't stop?
Can anybody help me?
This pain, it just won't stop

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And love deserves respect
And not your sordid meaning

[Verse]
Daddy, don't
I swear I won't
I'll be good from now on
And I'm awful sorry
Daddy don't
The hell I won't
I won't be good anymore
And you'll all be sorry

[Refrain]
Can anybody tell me why the pain, it just won't stop?
Can anybody help me?
This pain, it just won't stop

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And love deserves respect
And not your sordid meaning

[Bridge]
Don't know what to tell you now
It's never really what they tell you, now
You oughta know what they tell you, now (This line sounds like part of a word was clipped off)
And not really what they tell you now
Don't know what to tell you now
It ain't really what they tell you, now
Don't know what to tell you, now
It ain't really what they tell you, now

[Chorus]
My only regret
Is that I never took the time to forgive
All those unspoken feelings
That were never spared
And those who understand
And love deserves respect
And not your sordid meaning

[Outro]

Woah, ah
Is that I never took the time to forgive

Ah ah ah

(Seems like barely mouthed guide vocals at the end here. Kind of like the early outros for The Blues)

 

Monsters:

 

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me (every time I listen to these, I hear something different. Not sure these can ever be nailed down without official lyrics)
The monsters can't have me 
The monsters can't get me
The monsters can't get me

[Verse 1]
A tour-de-force of an evil old passion
A broken heart that was out of fashion
Dynamic duo, seen your figure crashing (this doesn't make sense but I can't think of anything else that fits)
My early warning was your satan laughing

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't help me

[Verse 2]
You stole my soul with the devil's romancing
All alone in your bedroom, dancing
Thought I could feel somebody worth having
But in the end I guess you're good for the damage

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

[Guitar Solo]

[Refrain]
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't kill me
The monsters can't get me
The monsters can't...

[Bridge]
The more I did, what I did, I did for you
There's no excuses for the hell on Earth you put me through
I never cared how much I cared, when I cared for you
To make you better there was nothin' that I wouldn't do
I doubt there's anybody left that wants to know the truth
The dirty secret that you hid away inside of you
Who ever thought I'd be around to shed a light on you?
Well here's the story, baby, I got nothin' else to do

[Chorus]
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now
I was there for you
It's all I could do
Oh but it's all burnt down
Oh but it's over now

I was there for you
It's all I could do

I was there for you
It's all I could do

(It's over)
(It's over)

I was there for you
(It's over)
(But it's over now)

 

 

It's A dynamic duo in your big attraction

Funny thing about you hearing "Oh but it's all burnt down"

I could swear I hear that too sometimes but always left it at Oh but it’s over now

I think it's Damin not Damage since that fits better with the rhyming

Also I hear The Monsters in hell with me  but also can hear it the ways you have it too

Hopefully we get offical lyrics soon

This is what I have

 

The monsters in hell with me

 

A tour da force of an evil passion

A broken heart that was out of fashion

A dynamic duo in your big attraction

My early warning was your satan laughing

 

I was there for you

It’s all I could do

Oh but it’s over now

Oh but it’s over now

 

I was there for you

It’s all I could do

Oh but it’s over now

Oh but it’s over now

 

The monsters in hell with me

 

You stole my soul with the devils romancin’

All alone in your bedroom dancin’

I thought I could feel somebody worth havin’

But in the end I guess you’re good for the damin’

 

I was there for you

It’s all I could do

Oh but it’s over now

Oh but it’s over now

 

The monsters in hell with me

 

 

The more I did

What I did

I did for you

There’s no excuses for the hell on earth you put me through

I never cared how much I cared, but I cared for you

To make it better there was nothing that I wouldn’t do

I doubt there’s anybody left who wants to know the truth

The dirty secret that you hid away inside of you

Whoever thought I’d be around to shed a light on you

Well heres the story baby I got nothing else to do

 

I was there for you

It’s all I could do

Oh but it’s over now

Oh but it’s over now

 

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by Dave_gnfnr2k

[gnfnr2k]

On 10/29/2023 at 7:26 PM, Blackstar said:

Could it be "vigor" instead of "figure" in the first verse of Monsters?

The lyric I believe is "in your big attraction"

[Grayfox]

4 hours ago, Dave_gnfnr2k said:

The lyric I believe is "in your big attraction"

I believe it’s “Dynamic duo seen/in your daylight crashing”

[The Matinator]

On 11/2/2023 at 1:41 PM, fangbutt said:

Ya'll are so convinced about "all burned down" but I am still hearing "over now" 100%

Do people really think this? The answer backing vocals are even saying "it's over"

[star]

I am not sure how my threads there are here based on The General

I happened to hear it for the 1st time on YouTube some moments ago. The live version i heard was titled:

Guns N'Roses | The General (live @Hell and Heaven, Toluca. MX 11/05/2023)

Slow sort of track. I know many on MyGnR have wanted to hear this track for a long long time ;D

I hope you are happy now. I would like to hear a studio recorded version before i pass judgement. 

For the moment, i cannot seem to find Monsters. I am sure i will soon enough.

Edited November 27, 2023 by star

[GNRRHCP98]

17 minutes ago, star said:

I am not sure how my threads there are here based on The General

I happened to hear it for the 1st time on YouTube some moments ago. The live version i heard was titled:

Guns N'Roses | The General (live @Hell and Heaven, Toluca. MX 11/05/2023)

Slow sort of track. I know many on MyGnR have wanted to hear this track for a long long time ;D

I hope you are happy now. I would like to hear a studio recorded version before i pass judgement. 

For the moment, i cannot seem to find Monsters. I am sure i will soon enough.

I’m looking for Monsters again too… I wanna listen to it again, especially since we now have absolutely no idea what they plan to do with it