Song Meaning: Mr. Brownstone by Guns N' Roses

ARTIST: GUNS N' ROSES | ALBUM: APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION | RELEASED: 1987

"Mr Brownstone" is a highpoint of GNR's world renowned Appetite for Destruction album.The hard rock is about one thing and one thing only: drugs, drugs and more drugs. The lyrics depict a typical day in the life of the band members. For example, on a typical day back in the 80s, bassist Duff McKagan would consume a gallon of vodka! To put that in perspective, when I first had a "shot" of vodka, I had to run to the washroom, and projectile vomit soon insured. :-( Duff's lifestyle was not different from any of four other band members. Slash, for instance, was ALWAYS high. Steven Adler was fired from the group for being too alcoholic. Mr McKagan has written a book about his past "adventures" entitled It's So Easy. It's a very good read. I'd highly recommend you check it out, even if you aren't a Guns N Roses fan.

Other GNR members have also written books in which they extensively talk about the overuse of drug and alcohols. Slash's autobiography,Slash, reads that he has to wears a pacemaker as a consequence of his Highway-to-Hell-like lifestyle in his twenties.

So without further ado, let's do some rock n' roll analysis:

I get up around seven / Get outta bed around nine^#1 - suffering from serious hangover :-)

The show usually starts around seven / We go on stage around nine^#6 - Axl Rose is being honest about his schedule. Axl never went on stage on time, and when he finally did, he'd usually piss someone off.

Sippin' a drink^#9 - probably referring to NightTrain - a cheap, but enjoyable, alcohol they managed to afford in the old days

He won't leave me alone^#16 - hard to break addicted behaviour even when you really want to "leave [alcohols] alone"

Lines #18 to #21 -  obviously if you are like Duff, "little" isn't enough; you probably need a gallon.

I just keep tryin / 'ta get a little better^#27 - rehab?

Gonna kick him on down the line^#37 - this just a filler line to complete the verse.

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1. I get up around seven
2. Get outta bed around nine
3. And I don't worry about nothin' no
4. Cause worryin's a waste of my...time
5. 
   
6. The show usually starts around seven
7. We go on stage around nine
8. Get on the bus about eleven
9. Sippin' a drink and feelin' fine
10. 
    
11. [Chorus:]
12. 
    
13. We been dancin' with
14. Mr. Brownstone
15. He's been knockin'
16. He won't leave me alone
17. 
    
18. I used ta do a little
19. but a little wouldn't do
20. So the little got more and more
21. I just keep tryin'
22. ta get a little better
23. Said a little better than before
24. I used ta do a little
25. but a little wouldn't do
26. So the little got more and more
27. I just keep tryin'
28. ta get a little better
29. Said a little better than before
30. 
    
31. [Chorus]
32. 
    
33. Now I get up around whenever
34. I used ta get up on time
35. But that old man
36. he's a real muthafu@#r
37. Gonna kick him on down the line

Lyrics from: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/gunsnroses/mrbrownstone.html