Use Your Illusion II es un álbum de Guns N' Roses, publicado en 1991. El disco incluye 14 canciones, entre ellas «Civil War», «14 Years», «Yesterdays» y «Knockin' On Heaven's Door».
Sobre el álbum
"Use Your Illusion II" es el cuarto álbum de estudio de Guns N' Roses y se lanzó el 17 de septiembre de 1991, de forma paralela al tercer álbum de Guns N' Roses, "Use Your Illusion I". El doble proyecto fue fruto de las numerosas composiciones de las que la banda disponía. Este segundo "Use Your Illusion" obtuvo ligeramente mejor resultado comercial, alcanzando el número uno en Reino Unido. "Use Your Illusion II" es el último álbum de Guns N 'Roses que presenta a Izzy Stradlin en la guitarra rítmica.Los álbumes Use Your Illusion fueron un punto de inflexión estilístico para Guns N 'Roses. Habría que verlos de manera conjunta, ya que ambos forman parte de un trabajo cohesionado. Tanto es así, que ambos álbumes incluyen una versión del tema "Don't Cry" y ambos incluyen una versión de un tema de otro artista: En "Use Your Illusion I", el tema "Live and Let Die" de Paul McCartney y en "Use Your Illusion II", "Knockin 'on Heaven's Door" de Bob Dylan.
En "Use Your Illusion II", los temas son más políticos que en anteriores trabajos de la banda, con canciones como "Civil War", una versión de "Knockin 'on Heaven's Door" de Bob Dylan y "Get in the Ring", temas que tratan sobre la violencia, la aplicación de la ley o los prejuicios mediáticos. Temas que se trataban de manera más profusa en anteriores trabajos, como las drogas, quedan más relegados en esta ocasión.
El guitarrista Slash declaró que la mayor parte de los temas fueron compuestos en un par de noches de inspiración en su casa, junto a unas guitarras acústicas. Los miembros de Guns N' Roses se encerraron a trabajar conjuntamente tras varios meses de dispersión.
Las portadas de ámbos álbumes fueron obra del artista estonio-estadounidense Mark Kostabi, basadas en una obra de Rafael titulada "La escuela de Atenas".
Listado de Canciones
- Civil War7:36
Letra
(What we've got here is failure to communicate Some men you just can't reach So you get what we had here last week Which is the way he wants it, well, he gets it I don't like it any more than you, men) Look at your young men fighting Look at your women crying Look at your young men dying The way they've always done before Look at the hate we're breeding Look at the fear we're feeding Look at the lives we're leading The way we've always done before My hands are tied The billions shift from side to side And the wars go on with brainwashed pride For the love of God and our human rights And all these things are swept aside By bloody hands, time can't deny And are washed away by your genocide And history hides the lies of our civil wars Did you wear a black armband When they shot the man Who said peace could last forever? And in my first memories They shot Kennedy I went numb when I learned to see So I never fell for Vietnam We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all That you can't trust freedom When it's not in your hands When everybody's fighting For their promised land And I don't need your civil war It feeds the rich while it buries the poor You're power hungry, sellin' soldiers In a human grocery store, ain't that fresh? I don't need your civil war No, no, no, no Look at the shoes you're filling Look at the blood we're spilling Look at the world we're killing The way we've always done before Look in the doubt we've wallowed Look at the leaders we've followed Look at the lies we've swallowed And I don't wanna hear no more My hands are tied For all I've seen has changed my mind Still the wars go on as the years go by With no love of God or human rights 'Cause all these dreams are swept aside By bloody hands of the hypnotized Who carry the cross of homicide And history bears the scars of our civil wars (We practice selective annihilation Of mayors and government officials For example, to create a vacuum Then we fill that vacuum As popular war advances, peace is closer) I don't need your civil war It feeds the rich while it buries the poor You're power hungry, sellin' soldiers In a human grocery store, ain't that fresh? And I don't need your civil war No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no I don't need your civil war I don't need your civil war You're power hungry, sellin' soldiers In a human grocery store, ain't that fresh? I don't need your civil war No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, oh no, oh no I don't need one more war I don't need one more war No, no, no, no, oh no, oh no What's so civil about war, anyway? - 14 Years4:17
Letra
I try and feel the sunshine You bring the rain You try and hold me down With your complaints You cry and moan and complain You wine an tear Up to my neck in sorrow The touch you bring You just don't step inside to 14 years So hard to keep my own head, that's what I say You know, I've been the beggar I've played the thief I was the dog, they all tried to beat But it's been 14 years of silence It's been 14 years of pain It's been 14 years that are gone forever And I'll never have again, well Your stupid girlfriends tell you That I'm to blame Well they're all used-up has-beens Out of the game This time I'll have the last word Hear what I say I tried to see it your way It won't work today You just don't step inside to 14 years So hard to keep my own head, that's what I say You know, I've been the dealer Hangin' on your street I was the dog, they all tried to beat But it's been 14 years of silence It's been 14 years of pain It's been 14 years that are gone forever And I'll never have again, well Let's get naughtier! Bullshit and contemplation Gossip's their trade If they knew half the real truth What would they say Well I'm past the point of concern It's time to play These last 4 years of madness Sure put me straight Don't get back 14 years In just one day So hard to keep my own head Just go away You know, just like a hooker, she said Nothing's for free Oh I tried to see it your way I tried to see it your way - Yesterdays3:13
Letra
Yesterday, there was so many things I was never told Now that I startin' to learn I feel I'm growin' old 'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me Old pictures that I'll always see Time just fades the pages In my book of memories Prayers in my pocket And no hand in destiny I'll keep on movin' along With no time to plant my feet 'Cause yesterday's got nothing for me Old pictures that I'll always see Some things could be better If we'd all just let them be Yesterday's got nothin' for me Yesterday's got nothin' for me Got nothin' for me Yesterday there were so many things I was never shown Suddenly this time I found I'm on the streets and I'm all alone Yesterday's got nothin' for me Old pictures that I'll always see I ain't got time to reminisce old novelties Yesterday's got nothin' for me Yesterday's got nothin' for me Yesterday's got nothin' for me Yesterday - Knockin' On Heaven's Door5:36
Letra
Mama, take this badge from me I can't use it anymore It's getting dark, too dark to see Feels like I'm knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Mama, put my guns in the ground I can't shoot them anymore That cold black cloud is coming down Feels like I'm knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door (You just better start sniffing your own rank subjugation, Jack 'Cause it's just you against your tattered libido The bank and the mortician, forever, man And it wouldn't be luck if you could get out of life alive) Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah (Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door) Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door (Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door) Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door (Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door) Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door (Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door) Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door Knock-knock-knockin' on Heaven's door - Get In The Ring5:29
Letra
Why do you look at me when you hate me Why should I look at you when you make me hate you too I sense a smell of retribution in the air I don't even understand why the fuck you even care And I don't need your jealousy yeah Why drag me down in your misery And when you stare you don't think I feel it But I'm gonna deal it back to you in spades When I'm havin' fun ya know I can't conceal it 'Cause I know you'd never cut it in my game, oh no And when you're talkin' about a vasectomy, yeah I'll be writin' down your obituary, history You got your bitches with the silicone injections Crystal meth and yeast infections Bleached blond hair, collagen lip projections Who are you to criticize my intentions Got your subtle manipulative devices Just like you I got my vices I got a thought that would be nice I'd like to crush your head tight in my vice, pain And that goes for all you punks in the press That want to start shit by printin' lies Instead of the things we said That means you Andy Sercher at Hit Parader Circus magazine Mick Wall at Kerrang! Bob Guccione Jr. at Spin What you pissed off cuz your dad gets more pussy than you? Fuck you Suck my fuckin' dick You be rippin' off the fuckin' kids While they be payin' their hard earned Money to read about the bands They want to know about Printin' lies startin' controversy You wanta antagonize me Antagonize me motherfucker Get in the ring motherfucker And I'll kick you bitchy little ass Punk I don't like you, I just hate you I'm gonna kick your ass, oh yeah, oh yeah! You may not like our integrity, yeah We built a world out of anarchy, oh yeah And in this corner weighing in at 850 pounds Guns n' roses Get in the ring Yeah Yeah this song is dedicated to All the guns n' fuckin' roses Fans who stuck with us through all the Fucking shit And to all those opposed Hmm, well - Shotgun Blues3:23
Letra
I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I said I don't know what I did but I know I gotta move I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I can't wait here forever, I got too much here to lose And now you're blowin' smoke I think you're one big joke Me, I gotta lot ta learn An I'm still waiting for the heads to turn You say I walk a line Fuck they move it every time You walk a mile in my shoes And then you tell me about singing the blues You get what you pay for And freedom's real high priced And while you're ripping off children Somebody is fucking your wife It's never made a difference It's only how you survive I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I said I don't know what I did but I know I gotta move I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I can't wait here forever, I got too much here to lose And now you ask me why I said it's do or die I'll stick it right in your face And then I'll put you in your motherfucking place An you, you can suck my ass An I think it's so low class Me, I'm just so concerned I'm still waiting for your ass to burn Oh! You want a confrontation I'll give you every fucking chance With your verbal masturbation Me, I just like to dance How's that for provocation I'm just making a stance And I'm tired of the frustration Of living inside of your lies And I'm wired on indignation I said somebody's got to die I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I said I don't know what I did but I know I gotta move I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues I can't wait here forever, I got too much here to lose I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues Listen motherfucker, you're about to pay your dues I got the shotgun blues, shotgun blues If you're going up against me then you know you're gonna lose I know I know I know I know (You think anyone with an I.Q. over fifteen Would believe your shit, fuckhead!) Nothing but a fucking pussy! - Breakdown6:58
Letra
We all come in from the cold We come down from the wire An everybody warms themselves To a different fire When sometimes we get burned You'd think sometime we'd learn The one you love is the one That should take you higher You ain't got no one You better go back out and find her Just like children hidin' in a closet Can't tell what's goin' on outside Sometimes we're so far off the beaten track We'll get taken for a ride By a parlor trick or some words of wit A hidden hand up a sleeve To think that the one you love Could hurt you now Is a little hard to believe But everybody, darlin', sometimes Bites the hand that feeds When I look around Everybody always brings me down Well, is it them or me, well, I just can't see But there ain't no peace to be found But if someone really cared, Well, they'd take the time to spare A moment to try to understand Another one's despair Remember in this game we call life that no one Said it's fair Breakdown Let me hear it now Breakdown Let me hear it now Yeah Breakdown Let me hear it now Breakdown Let me hear it now Get down with yo' bad self Alright I've come to know the cold I think of it as home When there ain't enough of me to go around I'd rather be left alone But if I call you out of habit I'm out of love and I gotta have it Would you give it to me if I fit your needs Like when we both knew we had it But now the damage's done And we're back out on the run Funny how everything was roses When we held on to the guns Just because you're winnin' Don't mean you're the lucky ones Breakdown Let me hear it now Breakdown Yeah Breakdown Breakdown Let me hear it now There goes the challenger being chased By the blue blue meanies on wheels The vicious traffic squad cars are after Our lone driver The last american hero The-the electric sintar The demi-god The super driver of the golden west! Two nasty nazi cars are close behind The beautiful lone driver The police cars are getting closer-closer Closer to our soul hero in his soul mobile Yeah, baby! They about to strike him, they gonna get him Smash! Rape! The last beautiful free soul on this planet But it is written if the evil spirit arms The tiger with claws Brahman provided wings for the dove Thus spake the super guru Did you hear that - Pretty Tied Up4:46
Letra
(The perils of rock n' roll decadence) I know this chick she lives down on melrose She ain't satisfied without some pain Friday night is goin' up inside her again Well crack the whip 'Cause that bitch is just insane I'm serious She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down She's pretty tied up and you can ride her She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down I can't tell you she's the right one Oh no, oh no, oh no Once there was this rock n' roll band Rollin' on the streets Time went by and it became a joke We just needed more and more fulfilling Uh-huh Time went by and it all went up in smoke But check it out She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down She's pretty tied up and you can ride her She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down Ohh I can't tell you she's the right one Oh no, oh no, oh no Once you made that money it costs more now It might cost a lot more than you'd think I just found a million dollars That someone forgot It's days like this that push me on her the brinks Cool and stressing She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down She's pretty tied up and you can ride her She's pretty tied up hangin' upside down And I can't tell you she's the right one Oh she's the right one, the right one (But I can tell you a thing or two 'Bout somethin' else If you really wanna know, know what I'm sayin') - Locomotive (Complicity)
Letra
Gonna find a way to cure this loneliness Yeah, I'll find a way to cure the pain If I said that you're my friend and our love would never end How long before I had your trust again? I opened up the doors when it was cold outside Hopin' that you'd find your own way in But how can I protect you or try not to neglect you When you won't take the love I have to give? I bought me an illusion And I put it on the wall I let it fill my head with dreams And I had to have them all But oh, the taste is never so sweet As what you'd believe it is Well, I guess it never is It's these prejudiced illusions That pump the blood to the heart of the biz You know that I never thought that it could take so long You know I never knew how to be strong Yeah, I let you shape me, but I feel as though you raped me 'Cause you climbed inside my world and in my songs So now I've closed the door to keep the cold outside Seems somehow I've found the will to live But how can I forget you or try not to reject you When we both know it takes time to forgive? Sweetness is a virtue And you lost your virtue long ago You know I'd like to hurt you But my conscience always tells me no You could sell your body on the street To anyone whom you might meet Who'd love to try and get inside And bust your innocence open wide 'Cause my baby's got a locomotive My baby's gone off the track My baby's got a locomotive Got to peel the bitch off my back I know it looks like I'm insane Take a closer look, I'm not to blame No Gonna have some fun with my frustration Gonna watch the big screen in my head I'd rather take a detour, 'cause this road ain't getting clearer Your train of thought has cut me off again Better tame that boy 'cause he's a wild one Better tame that boy 'fore he's a man Sweetheart don't make me laugh, you's getting too big for your pants And I think maybe you should cut out while you can You can use your illusion Let it take you where it may We live and learn and then sometimes It's best to walk away Me, I'm just here hanging on It's my only place to stay At least for now anyway I've worked too hard for my illusions Just to throw them all away I'm taking time for quiet consolation In passing by this love that's passed away I know it's never easy, so why should you believe me When I've always got so many things to say? Calling off the dogs, a simple choice is made 'Cause playful hearts can sometimes be enraged You know I tried to wake you, I mean: How long could it take you To open up your eyes and turn the page? Kindness is a treasure And it's one to me you've seldom shown So I'll say it for good measure To all the ones like you I've known You know I'd like to shave your head And all my friends could paint it red 'Cause love to me's a two way street And all I really want is peace But my baby's got a locomotive My baby's gone off the track My baby's got a locomotive Got to peel the bitch off my back I know it looks like I'm insane Take a closer look, I'm not to blame No Affection is a blessing Can you find it in your sordid heart? I tried to keep this thing together But the tremor tore my pad apart Yeah, I know it's hard to face When all we've worked for's gone to waste But you're such a stupid woman and I'm such a stupid man But love like time's got its own plans 'Cause my baby's got a locomotive My baby's gone off the track My baby's got a locomotive Got to peel the bitch off my back I know it looks like I'm insane Take a closer look, I'm not to blame Yeah If love is blind I guess I'll buy myself a cane Love's so strange - So Fine4:09
Letra
How could she look so fine? How could it be she might be mine? How could she be so cool? I've been taken for a fool, so many times It's a story of a man Who works as hard as he can Just to be a man who stands on his own But the book always burns As the story takes it turn And leaves a broken man How could she be so cool? How could she be so fine? I owe a favor to a friend My friends, they always come through for me Yeah! It's a story of a man Who works as hard as he can Just to be a man who stands on his own But the book always burns As the story takes it turn An leaves a broken man If you could only live my life You could see the difference you make to me To me I'd look right up at night And all I'd see was darkness Now I see the stars alright I wanna reach right up and grab one for you When the lights went down in your house Yeah that made me happy The sweat I make for you Yeah, I think you know where that comes from Guitar, come on Well, I'd look right up at night And all I'd see was darkness Now I see the stars alright I wanna reach right up and grab one for you When the lights went down in your house Yeah that made me happy The sweat I make for you I think you know where that comes from How could she look so good? (so good) How could she be so fine? How could she be so cool? How could it be she might be mine? Yeah - Estranged9:20
Letra
When you're talking to yourself And nobody's home You can fool yourself You came in this world alone (alone) So nobody ever told you, baby, how it was gonna be So what'll happen to you, baby? Guess we'll have to wait and see One, two Old at heart, but I'm only 28 And I'm much too young to let love break my heart Young at heart, but it's getting much too late To find ourselves so far apart I don't know how you're supposed to find me lately And what more could you ask from me? How could you say that I never needed you? When you took everything Said you took everything from me Young at heart, and it gets so hard to wait When no one I know can seem to help me now Old at heart, but I mustn't hesitate If I'm to find my own way out Still talking to myself and nobody's home (alone) So nobody ever told us, baby, how it was gonna be So what'll happen to us, baby? Guess we'll have to wait and see When I find all of the reasons Maybe I'll find another way Find another day With all the changing seasons of my life Maybe I'll get it right next time And now that you've been broken down Got your head out of the clouds You're back down on the ground You don't talk so loud, and you don't walk so proud Anymore, and what for? Well I jumped into the river Too many times to make it home I'm out here on my own Drifting all alone If it doesn't show Give it time to read between the lines 'Cause I see the storm is getting closer And the waves, they get so high Seems everything we've ever known's here Why must it drift away and die? I'll never find anyone to replace you Guess I'll have to make it through This time, oh this time, without you I knew the storm was getting closer And all my friends said I was high But everything we've ever known's here I never wanted it to die - You Could Be Mine5:48
Letra
I'm a cold heartbreaker, fit ta burn And I'll rip your heart in two And I'll leave you lying on the bed I'll be out the door before ya wake It's nothing new to you 'Cause I think we've seen that movie too 'Cause you could be mine But you're way out of line With your bitch slap rapping And your cocaine tongue You get nothing done I said you could be mine Now holidays come and then they go It's nothing new today Collect another memory When I come home late at night Don't ask me where I've been Just count your stars I'm home again 'Cause you could be mine But you're way out of line With your bitch slap rapping And your cocaine tongue You get nothing done I said you could be mine You could be mine You could be mine You could be mine You could be mine You could be mine You've gone sketching too many times Why don't ya give it a rest Why must you find Another reason to cry While you're breaking down my back I been rackin' out my brain It don't matter how we make it 'Cause it always ends the same You can push it for more mileage But your flaps are wearing thin And I could sleep on it 'til morning But this nightmare never ends Don't forget to call my lawyers With ridiculous demands An you can take the pity so far But it's more than I can stand 'Cause this couchtrip's getting older Tell me how long has it been 'Cause five years is forever And you haven't grown up yet You could be mine, but you're way out of line With your bitch slap rapping And your cocaine tongue you get nothing done I said you could be, you should be You could be mine You could be mine (you could be mine) You could be mine (you could be mine) You could be mine (you could be mine) You could be mine (you could be mine) Yeah! - Don't Cry
Letra
Talk to me softly There's something in your eyes Don't hang your head in sorrow And, please, don't cry I know how you feel inside I've been there before Something is changing inside you And don't you know Don't you cry tonight I still love you, baby Don't you cry tonight Don't you cry tonight There's a heaven above you, baby And don't you cry tonight Give me a whisper And give me a sign Give me a kiss before You tell me goodbye Don't you take it so hard now And, please, don't take it so bad I'll still be thinking of you And the times we had, baby Don't you cry tonight Don't you cry tonight Don't you cry tonight There's a heaven above you, baby And don't you cry tonight And, please, remember That I never lied And, please, remember How I felt inside now, honey You gotta make it your own way But you'll be alright now, sugar You'll feel better tomorrow Come the morning light now, baby Don't you cry tonight Don't you cry tonight Don't you cry tonight There's a heaven above you, baby Don't you cry, don't you ever cry Don't you cry tonight Baby, maybe someday Don't you cry, don't you ever cry Don't you cry tonight - My World1:22
Letra
(Spoken:) You wan'da step into my world, it's a sociopsychotic state of bliss. You've been delayed in the real world. How many times have you hit and missed Your CAT-scan shows disfiguration. I want to laugh myself to death. With a misfired synapse, with a bent configuration, I'll hold the line while you gasp for breath. You wanna talk to me? (So talk to me.) You wanna talk to me? (You can't talk to me.) You wanna tald to me? (You don't understand your sex.) You wanna talk to me? (You ain't been mind fucked yet.) Let's do it. Let's do it. (Oh, my distorted smile.) Let's do it. Guess what I'm doing now.