// why did they write Civil War ??

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

i looks like it's the only GNR song that doesnt talk about them you know ...
i mean, i don't think they 've been in a civil war you know.
usually they talk about things they know (or everybody knows)
sex, drug, alcohol, weed, love, hate, friendship .... you know .....

but civil war. they actually have a political point there.
this is weird. out of the whole GNR discography, this one's theme stands out.

why did they wrote that ?
i don't blame them. it's good to talk about general things like that. but why only one song .... they never did that ......

 
 

[Rockin' Rose]

I actually don't know but I would guess it had something to do with the Gulf War, maybe they didn't like it or something...

[2NaFish]

George Harrison's wife was organizing a romanian orphans album. George phoned Axl and asked them to put something forward. Slash wrote the music (izzy didn't write or play on it). Axl then added lyrics, which arose from the fact that many of the orphans came from civil wars in eastern europe.

I'm fairly sure it was written before the gulf war began.

[McGann]

It was written bfore the Gulf War.  The band debuted it at Farm Aid '90, which was in April or May of 1990, about 6 months before the war.
The performance had one of my favorite visuals:  Adler doing a very excited sideways run to the drum kit, enthusiastically leaping toward his seat, tripping and just wiping out.  Funny stuff, and he seemed to crack up about it.
/Mike

[Rockin' Rose]

I guessed wrong

This clears things up 'cause I've always wondered about the lyrics and what's the song about, now this song touchess me little deeper, thanks for the info

[Malcolm]

I dont know why they wrote this song..but god is it ever amazing...i love the performance of this song from Paris 92...Axl sounds great and does awsome moves.. but ya this is an awosme song

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

yeah song is great
but this is so unusual for them to write about something else than there personal experiences you know ....
and this is the only song like that, i think.
maybe they read a book about that or what. you know.  

[Rockin' Rose]

yeah song is great
but this is so unusual for them to write about something else than there personal experiences you know ....
and this is the only song like that, i think.
maybe they read a book about that or what. you know.  

Used to love her is based on "fantasy" thank god

[slashedguns]

I dont know why they wrote this song..but god is it ever amazing...i love the performance of this song from Paris 92...Axl sounds great and does awsome moves.. but ya this is an awosme song

I agree,i think this song is guns at their peak,amazing song. The version of Paris 92 is incredible,,in the last first when Axl screams civil warrrrrsssssssssss and then Slash rips into that amazing riff is my best memory of GNR live. They are an absolute awesome combination those two guys

[Scottyl333]

Its not about the Gulf War.  Axl, if I remember correctly, supported the Gulf War.  I think he said it when he was on stage once.

[Continental Drift]

Yup. I have a bootleg of GN'R's Summer '91 Noblesville, IN show where Axl goes on a big Gulf War rant. He was basically a "reluctant" supporter of the war stating: "that no one in their right mind ever enjoys the idea of going to war, but once you get into one, you're a fvcking a$$hole if you root for the other side etc." He also states how much he supports the members of the US military and dedicates "Civil War" to them. However, the song is definitely more a general statement about the horrors of all wars and specifically the ethnic/religious motivated wars that were raging in Eastern Europe in the early 90's.

As far as "political" GN'R songs go... hmmm.... I suppose you could argue that there are some political themes to "Garden of Eden". "Chinese Democracy" is definitely a political song and I happen to think that "Madagascar" is at least partially political. I think we will see more "social interest" GN'R songs in the future if Axl ever bothers to release CD.

[MadmanDan]

George Harrison's wife was organizing a romanian orphans album. George phoned Axl and asked them to put something forward. Slash wrote the music (izzy didn't write or play on it). Axl then added lyrics, which arose from the fact that many of the orphans came from civil wars in eastern europe.

I'm fairly sure it was written before the gulf war began.

Dude.someone got their facts wrong. There was no civil war in Romania,just a revolution in 1989. I should know,I live there The only civil war in Eastern Europe was in Yugoslavia,but that started in 92. And the place ain't crawling with orphans either!!!

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

yeah garden of eden might have some general political themes, but vaguely.
i still think it's weird that GNR did that Civil War song. it is so unusual....but also, why only this song on illusions .....
it would have been good to have them talk about these kinda stuff more, maybe the critics would have seen them more lile serious band and not just " sex drug rock n roll" u know .... maybe they gnr members were just too dumb and coked at the time  

[Evolution]

the solo to civil war is so full of feeling!

i dont know why they wrote it but im glad they did

[justynius]

i looks like it's the only GNR song that doesnt talk about them you know ...
i mean, i don't think they 've been in a civil war you know.
usually they talk about things they know (or everybody knows)
sex, drug, alcohol, weed, love, hate, friendship .... you know .....

but civil war. they actually have a political point there.
this is weird. out of the whole GNR discography, this one's theme stands out.

Everyone in this string is way off. Pay close attention to the lyrics. Axl and company were not trying to make some new political statement on issues they're totally unqualified to be talking about. The point of the song is a metaphor paralleling the ideologic conflicts in the band (which eventually led to the breakup) to civil war within a nation.

[Dizzy]

Everyone in this string is way off. Pay close attention to the lyrics. Axl and company were not trying to make some new political statement on issues they're totally unqualified to be talking about. The point of the song is a metaphor paralleling the ideologic conflicts in the band (which eventually led to the breakup) to civil war within a nation.

Interesting idea, but on what do you base this?  The stuff about JFK doesn't seem to parallel anything that was going on in the band.

Personally, I find it a musically superior but lyrically preachy song.

[parisrocks]

Civil War hit radio in "89.

[jungleman_83]

i think the song's about civil wars in other countries, like viatnam or however you spell it.  I think they're tryin to say that we don't need to get involved in their wars.  How it's all corrupt and political.  How our young men are fighting and being killed just for some big fat rich politician.  

This song is fuckin great.  Lyrics are so true.

[bolton]

this is great song.
and why axl did lyrics,because it was his atitude about civil war,polictical and other  things.

[Axlative]

I've always thought that it isn't at all about civil wars, but wars in general. Just like it's summed in the end:

"What's so civil 'bout war anyway?"

And the "civil" part coming from the motivation of US participation in the post-WW2 wars. They've always had some "civil" excuse to back up participation (direct or indirect) even in the worst wars & massacres around the world. That's why there's all this stuff about government feeding lies etc. Or that's what I've always thought...