This song expresses the feeling of remorse when you love someone who doesn’t love you back.
As Axl Rose put it himself in an interview, “‘November’ Rain is a song about not wanting to be in a state of having to deal with unrequited love.”
He Had to Get it Right
“November Rain” is a Guns N’ Roses power ballad of epic proportions. It took Axl Rose several years at least to write the words and compose the tune on the piano, but the title came early on in the process.
Still, Rose was unsure of how to develop the tune and which direction to take the lyrics. He refused to finalize anything until he was certain that everything was perfect. Clearly, Axl felt like a lot was riding on this song.
Is It a True Story?
Some fans have theorized that Stephanie Seymore is the inspiration for this song, but that doesn’t fit in with the timeline. Even though the song didn’t come out until 1992 due to Rose’s perfectionism, he was reported to have been writing the song as early as 1983.
Del James wrote a story that Axl based his lyrics on. Rose also drew from the relationship he was in at the time with Erin Everly, which is what James’s story was partially based on as well.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
“November Rain” tends to make one think of being cold, wet, vulnerable and even lonely. It’s easy to imagine a dark and dingy street. Rain may also symbolize tears in this context.
“‘Cause nothing lasts forever / And we both know hearts can change / And it’s hard to hold a candle / In the cold November rain”
Holding a candle can represent numerous things, but in this case, it seems to be a symbol of hope. Because of the rain, it’s hard to keep the hope alive.
Axl makes sure to show that he’s not overbearing. He respects her and is willing to give her space, and he understands the importance of alone time when recovering from trauma:
“Do you need some time on your own? / Do you need some time all alone? / Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own / Ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone?”
A Healing Journey
In the bridge, Axl opens up about one of the most common struggles with trauma: the subsequent trust issues. Rose moves on to a message of healing that suggests it’s all worth it in the end:
“I know it’s hard to keep an open heart / When even friends seem out to harm you / But if you could heal a broken heart / Wouldn’t time be out to charm you, woah-woah”
By this point, Axl has turned an earlier refrain around on himself:
“Sometimes, I need some time on my own / Sometimes, I need some time all alone”
After a ripping guitar solo courtesy of Slash, Axl sings to his lover about how fear doesn’t leave a person all at once. It will oftentimes leave traces, and Rose uses the imagery of shadows to depict this lingering fear. In spite of these shadows that lie within, though, Axl swears that his love will always be there:
“And when your fears subside / And shadows still remain, ooh yeah / I know that you can love me / When there’s no one left to blame”
Axl gives us one last chorus to drive home darkness as a metaphor for trauma:
“So, never mind the darkness / We still can find a way / ‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever / Even cold November rain”
The song winds down with an outro, repeating the refrain from earlier but this time with several noteworthy variations:
“Don’t ya think that you need someone? / Everybody needs somebody / You’re not the only one, you’re not the only one”
Lyrics
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin’ when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same?
Nothin’ lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We’ve been through this such a long long time
Just tryin’ to kill the pain, ooh yeah
Love is always coming, love is always going
No one’s really sure who’s lettin’ go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head just knowin’ that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me then darlin’ don’t refrain
Or I’ll just end up walkin’ in the cold November rain
Do you need some time on your own?
Do you need some time all alone?
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone
I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you?
Oh, oh, oh
Sometimes I need some time on my own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone
And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, oh yeah
I know that you can love me when there’s no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness, we still can find a way
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever, even cold November rain
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Darren A Reed / Duff McKagan / Izzy Stradlin / Matt Sorum / Saul Hudson / W. Axl Rose
November Rain lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
