For a "deep cut" this is an amazing song. Slash and Axl get a lot of credit for the GNR sound but i put Duff up there with the best rock bassists because he is never sleeping through any of these songs.
The music was written by Slash, it's his favourite GnR song, and during writing it was title 'Girth' because it was so long. Once Slash and the rest of the band handed over the music to Axl, it took him a while to write the lyrics. He apparently eventually wrote the last section after waking up in the studio and just came pouring out in one sitting. Another interesting fact is that it was all one take in the recording studio too. The lyrics, as others here have mentioned, were inspired by Axl's near death experience after a heroin overdose. The medical sounds and voices you hear are real and not synthesised. Axl mananged to call back the docotos and nurses from ER who helped him and they recreated the scene orally for the song. Originally during the early 90's Use Your Illusion tour, the track was only on the set list twice. There's a poor recording of one of those instances on RUclips. According to either Izzy or Gilby (both rhythm guitarists for GnR, Gibly taking over when Izzy left), I can't recall which of them said it, but it was a PTA to play live and they said in jest that there are over 50 chord changes in the song and that's why it wasn't played lived, too difficult to remember, lol. Anyway, after the reunion in 2016, Axl added it to the set list because he knew Slash would appreciate it. I've learnt to play a few riffs from the song, and know the lyrics; this and Estranged are by far my favourite GnR songs.
Well said Ted, a stone cold masterpiece. I am of the opinion that had the band picked the best 16 tracks and released just the one double album it would have been one of the greatest rock albums ever. I love both UYI albums and still play them regularly but I'm still sad that Steven couldn't keep himself together long enough to record with them.
This song always takes me WAY back to a rainy winter night with an old girlfriend flying along a coastal highway in Northern California singing this to each other stopping to get high and make out. Good times in the long, long ago.
This was never a favorite when I was young. I can remember that I was the only one who freakin loved this song I would listen to it multiple times a day FOR YEARS! As a young boy I didn't really understand the lyrics (I'm Dutch) but understood the basics of the lyrics (It's pretty deep, and too deep for a 11 year old I guess). Still love this song and it's 32 years later.. LoL PS: Bought the albums (Use you Illusion 1 and 2) back in 1992 when they came out! Was a HELL a lot of money to buy (almost a year of allowance), so I can't remember if I bought them both at the same time..(Still got the cd's in my collection and still play the cds occasionally).
Several members of Guns N Roses have had near death experiences and thats what this song explores. Someone whos been living rough, ods and considers as hes passing away that it doesnt feel so bad, only to realize hes being resussitated by medics and coming back to reality. The drumbeat mimicking his heartbeat fading and then returning.
In an interview, on August 31, 1990, with MTV's Kurt Loder on Famous Last Words, Axl talks about the song "Coma": There's a song called Coma that's like 11 minutes 45 seconds long with no chorus. And I think there was only one verse that somewhere it repeats itself. It's Slash's baby. It's his monster. The song used to be called Girth. But I started writing about when I OD'ed 4 years ago. The reason I OD'd was because of stress. I couldn't take it. And I just grabbed the bottle of pills in an argument and just gulped them down and I ended up in the hospital. But I liked that I wasn't in the fight anymore and I was fully conscious that I was leaving. I liked that. But then I go, all of a sudden, my first real thoughts were that "okay, you haven't toured enough. The record's not going to last; it's going to be forgotten. This and that, you have work to do. Get out of this." And I went "No!" and I woke up, you know, and pulled myself out of it. But in the describing of that, some people could take it wrong and think this means "go put yourself into a coma," you know. And so it's really tricky, and I'm still playing with the words to figure out how to, like, show some hope in there.
Knowing their history and well publicised personal demons (of the time), it's a song about a heroin overdose-induced coma, and the struggle in life, that a coma probably feels like a safer option than being able to stay in the cycle whilst conscious.
It's hard to understand how 5 different minds can come together and create a flipping masterpiece like this. This song has so many twists and turns. It's really impressive to make something like this so cohesive. Don't even get me started on the lyrics. Absolute poetry, but better (I dislike poetry 😂). GNR at their prime showing out why they are icons.
The songs original name was Girth Axl Rose wrote the song "Coma" about an overdose he experienced due to stress. The song's lyrics were inspired by Rose's time in the hospital after the overdose. Slash wrote the music part before Axl wrote the lyrics.
Didn't know Axl overdosed. I was aware of Slash and Duff almost passing, but I didn't know Axl experienced an overdose. I am not surprised though because I know he was seeking help from Psychiatrists for a long time starting around the Illusions tour.
GNR were always lumped with the hair metal bands. Now, I love me some hair metal bc it was the music I loved when I was a teenager (in the late 90s, believe it or not), but I don't think any of those bands were doing stuff like this, or November Rain, or Estranged. This band was different. It's too bad that things became too for them much to handle, but ... I saw them last year in concert for the first time, and they killed it. Yea, Axl's voice is nothing like it used to be, but ... they played for over 3 hours, and I was there for it. I was a kid again for those 3 hours, listening on my headphones on the way to school.
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This is a fucking great song
One of my absolute favorite songs! MASTERPIECE!
For a "deep cut" this is an amazing song. Slash and Axl get a lot of credit for the GNR sound but i put Duff up there with the best rock bassists because he is never sleeping through any of these songs.
All of the Gunners brought something exceptional to the band. At least the appetite lineup, and including Matt and Dizzy Reed.
And as usual izzy the man that wrote most of their songs (yes even on the illusions albums) gets no praise
Coma has the greatest chorus in rock history! It's one of my favorite songs.
There is no chorus in Coma
The music was written by Slash, it's his favourite GnR song, and during writing it was title 'Girth' because it was so long. Once Slash and the rest of the band handed over the music to Axl, it took him a while to write the lyrics. He apparently eventually wrote the last section after waking up in the studio and just came pouring out in one sitting. Another interesting fact is that it was all one take in the recording studio too. The lyrics, as others here have mentioned, were inspired by Axl's near death experience after a heroin overdose. The medical sounds and voices you hear are real and not synthesised. Axl mananged to call back the docotos and nurses from ER who helped him and they recreated the scene orally for the song.
Originally during the early 90's Use Your Illusion tour, the track was only on the set list twice. There's a poor recording of one of those instances on RUclips. According to either Izzy or Gilby (both rhythm guitarists for GnR, Gibly taking over when Izzy left), I can't recall which of them said it, but it was a PTA to play live and they said in jest that there are over 50 chord changes in the song and that's why it wasn't played lived, too difficult to remember, lol.
Anyway, after the reunion in 2016, Axl added it to the set list because he knew Slash would appreciate it.
I've learnt to play a few riffs from the song, and know the lyrics; this and Estranged are by far my favourite GnR songs.
I have a copy of every studio record they ever put out, and this song is IMHO G&R's masterpiece. Glad to find someone reacting to it.
Well said Ted, a stone cold masterpiece. I am of the opinion that had the band picked the best 16 tracks and released just the one double album it would have been one of the greatest rock albums ever. I love both UYI albums and still play them regularly but I'm still sad that Steven couldn't keep himself together long enough to record with them.
My favorite song by GN'R
Mine too
Love this song
This song always takes me WAY back to a rainy winter night with an old girlfriend flying along a coastal highway in Northern California singing this to each other stopping to get high and make out. Good times in the long, long ago.
Masterpiece.. Slash s playing is insane 🔥 🔥. 🤘🏻
Both solos, some of his best work!!! 🤘
Its such an epic song.
great song! "Dead Horse" is part 1 and "Coma" is part 2.
Thanks for doing this one!
This was never a favorite when I was young. I can remember that I was the only one who freakin loved this song I would listen to it multiple times a day FOR YEARS! As a young boy I didn't really understand the lyrics (I'm Dutch) but understood the basics of the lyrics (It's pretty deep, and too deep for a 11 year old I guess). Still love this song and it's 32 years later.. LoL
PS: Bought the albums (Use you Illusion 1 and 2) back in 1992 when they came out! Was a HELL a lot of money to buy (almost a year of allowance), so I can't remember if I bought them both at the same time..(Still got the cd's in my collection and still play the cds occasionally).
this is such a great song. The lyrics are amazing... and all the music composition is amazing!
How have i not heard this already?
Several members of Guns N Roses have had near death experiences and thats what this song explores. Someone whos been living rough, ods and considers as hes passing away that it doesnt feel so bad, only to realize hes being resussitated by medics and coming back to reality. The drumbeat mimicking his heartbeat fading and then returning.
In an interview, on August 31, 1990, with MTV's Kurt Loder on Famous Last Words, Axl talks about the song "Coma":
There's a song called Coma that's like 11 minutes 45 seconds long with no chorus. And I think there was only one verse that somewhere it repeats itself. It's Slash's baby. It's his monster. The song used to be called Girth.
But I started writing about when I OD'ed 4 years ago. The reason I OD'd was because of stress. I couldn't take it. And I just grabbed the bottle of pills in an argument and just gulped them down and I ended up in the hospital. But I liked that I wasn't in the fight anymore and I was fully conscious that I was leaving. I liked that. But then I go, all of a sudden, my first real thoughts were that "okay, you haven't toured enough. The record's not going to last; it's going to be forgotten. This and that, you have work to do. Get out of this." And I went "No!" and I woke up, you know, and pulled myself out of it.
But in the describing of that, some people could take it wrong and think this means "go put yourself into a coma," you know. And so it's really tricky, and I'm still playing with the words to figure out how to, like, show some hope in there.
The best GNR song ever
Slash was in the Coma
Axl wrote the lyrics with Slash
Axl over-dosed after taking a bunch of pills trying to kill himself it was a suicide attempt and the lyrics were from that experience.
Knowing their history and well publicised personal demons (of the time), it's a song about a heroin overdose-induced coma, and the struggle in life, that a coma probably feels like a safer option than being able to stay in the cycle whilst conscious.
Nope, sleeping pills OD
It's hard to understand how 5 different minds can come together and create a flipping masterpiece like this. This song has so many twists and turns. It's really impressive to make something like this so cohesive. Don't even get me started on the lyrics. Absolute poetry, but better (I dislike poetry 😂). GNR at their prime showing out why they are icons.
This was my favorite song on this DOUBLE ALBUM when it came out, its like 16 minutes long or something, SOME CRAZY LENGTH
Please, live Estranged Tokyo 92🙏
Actually one of my favorites
The songs original name was Girth
Axl Rose wrote the song "Coma" about an overdose he experienced due to stress. The song's lyrics were inspired by Rose's time in the hospital after the overdose. Slash wrote the music part before Axl wrote the lyrics.
Didn't know Axl overdosed. I was aware of Slash and Duff almost passing, but I didn't know Axl experienced an overdose. I am not surprised though because I know he was seeking help from Psychiatrists for a long time starting around the Illusions tour.
@@DickTrickle-d6w he was trying to over dose He talked about it in an interview on MTV back in the early 90s.
Need you and Lex to do reactions again!!!
GNR were always lumped with the hair metal bands. Now, I love me some hair metal bc it was the music I loved when I was a teenager (in the late 90s, believe it or not), but I don't think any of those bands were doing stuff like this, or November Rain, or Estranged. This band was different. It's too bad that things became too for them much to handle, but ... I saw them last year in concert for the first time, and they killed it. Yea, Axl's voice is nothing like it used to be, but ... they played for over 3 hours, and I was there for it. I was a kid again for those 3 hours, listening on my headphones on the way to school.
Axl once tried to kill himself by taking a bunch of pills.
A true masterpiece indeed. Step by step through a pills driven suicide attempt
What happened to Lex?
Sometimes I think Axl is just a real A-hole. But then I hear songs like this and feel bad for him.
Brad After Dark, GNR Greatest Band Heavy Metal Music In The World. "Brad After Dark", "You Must See GNR The Greatest GNR Song : 1). "Estranged"( Estranged Official Video Music "Same as "November Rain" And Coma" Duration Long Time 9-10 Minute Killer Melodis Slash Guiter , Appear "Mermaid" In The Sea. And The Best Estranged Concert In Brazil in 1991, "Axl Rose Singing Estranged Use Short Pants American Flag" And Bandana While Cigarette Smoke"). 2). You Could Be Mine GNR Song. : ( Soundtrack Movie " Arnold Schwarzenegger ", In Terminator II; The "Judgement Day". And Sarah Conor).
3). Knock "On" Heaven Door, GNR Song:, ( Live Concert Tribute Freddie Mercury, + ( Plus Reagee Music By GNR). Freddy Mercury, Is Vocalis Band Rock Queen Pass Away, Live in Wembley Stadium). 4). Rocket Queen GNR Song: ( Sex Woman Organism Climax in Rock Music, In Apetite For Destruction Album, 1987).
5). Coma GNR Song : ( "The Best bass Play Duff McKaagan , Greatest ay Drum By Matt Sorum And Killer Melodies Guitar Slash, And Include Same As Long Time Band Heavy Metal Music Like : "November Rain And Estranged" ). 💖💖💖 I Loveeed GNR.
## GNR Is The Best Heavy Metal Rock Music In The World. Since The Band Was Founded Middle 80's, GNR Winner MTV VMA, 1989,1990, 1992,1993. Beaten U2 Album, Metallica Album, And Then Nirvana Album, Until Vacum In Middle 1993. And Then GNR Reunion In 2006. ( Since 2006 Reunion - Active Until Now). GNR Reunion, in Festival Coachella Music, Troubadour,
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Dab?
Maybe 12 minutes long, I DON'T REMEMBER
Not 16 minutes but it is LONG
that was a gunshot
Brad After Dark, GNR Greatest Band Heavy Metal Music In The World. "Brad After Dark", "You Must See GNR The Greatest GNR Song : 1). "Estranged"( Estranged Official Video Music "Same as "November Rain" And Coma" Duration Long Time 9-10 Minute Killer Melodis Slash Guiter , Appear "Mermaid" In The Sea. And The Best Estranged Concert In Brazil in 1991, "Axl Rose Singing Estranged Use Short Pants American Flag" And Bandana While Cigarette Smoke"). 2). You Could Be Mine GNR Song. : ( Soundtrack Movie " Arnold Schwarzenegger ", In Terminator II; The "Judgement Day". And Sarah Conor).
3). Knock "On" Heaven Door, GNR Song:, ( Live Concert Tribute Freddie Mercury, + ( Plus Reagee Music By GNR). Freddy Mercury, Is Vocalis Band Rock Queen Pass Away, Live in Wembley Stadium). 4). Rocket Queen GNR Song: ( Sex Woman Organism Climax in Rock Music, In Apetite For Destruction Album, 1987).
5). Coma GNR Song : ( "The Best bass Play Duff McKaagan , Greatest ay Drum By Matt Sorum And Killer Melodies Guitar Slash, And Include Same As Long Time Band Heavy Metal Music Like : "November Rain And Estranged" ). 💖💖💖 I Loveeed GNR.
## GNR Is The Best Heavy Metal Rock Music In The World. Since The Band Was Founded Middle 80's, GNR Winner MTV VMA, 1989,1990, 1992,1993. Beaten U2 Album, Metallica Album, And Then Nirvana Album, Until Vacum In Middle 1993. And Then GNR Reunion In 2006. ( Since 2006 Reunion - Active Until Now). GNR Reunion, in Festival Coachella Music, Troubadour,
Many Artist Hollywood.💖💖💖💖💖
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Brad After Dark, GNR Greatest Band Heavy Metal Music In The World. "Brad After Dark", "You Must See GNR The Greatest GNR Song : 1). "Estranged"( Estranged Official Video Music "Same as "November Rain" And Coma" Duration Long Time 9-10 Minute Killer Melodis Slash Guiter , Appear "Mermaid" In The Sea. And The Best Estranged Concert In Brazil in 1991, "Axl Rose Singing Estranged Use Short Pants American Flag" And Bandana While Cigarette Smoke"). 2). You Could Be Mine GNR Song. : ( Soundtrack Movie " Arnold Schwarzenegger ", In Terminator II; The "Judgement Day". And Sarah Conor).
3). Knock "On" Heaven Door, GNR Song:, ( Live Concert Tribute Freddie Mercury, + ( Plus Reagee Music By GNR). Freddy Mercury, Is Vocalis Band Rock Queen Pass Away, Live in Wembley Stadium). 4). Rocket Queen GNR Song: ( Sex Woman Organism Climax in Rock Music, In Apetite For Destruction Album, 1987).
5). Coma GNR Song : ( "The Best bass Play Duff McKaagan , Greatest ay Drum By Matt Sorum And Killer Melodies Guitar Slash, And Include Same As Long Time Band Heavy Metal Music Like : "November Rain And Estranged" ). 💖💖💖 I Loveeed GNR.
## GNR Is The Best Heavy Metal Rock Music In The World. Since The Band Was Founded Middle 80's, GNR Winner MTV VMA, 1989,1990, 1992,1993. Beaten U2 Album, Metallica Album, And Then Nirvana Album, Until Vacum In Middle 1993. And Then GNR Reunion In 2006. ( Since 2006 Reunion - Active Until Now). GNR Reunion, in Festival Coachella Music, Troubadour,
Many Artist Hollywood.💖💖💖💖💖
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