GUNS N' ROSES - PATIENCE

PATIENCE

GUNS N' ROSES

SONGWRITERS: Axl Rose; Duff McKagan; Izzy Stradlin; Slash & Steven Adler

COUNTRY: U.S.A.

ALBUM: "G N' R Lies"

LABEL: GEFFEN RECORDS

GENRE: HARD ROCK

YEAR: 1988

"Patience" is a song by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which appears on the album G N' R Lies and was released as a single in 1989. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is played using three acoustic guitars and was recorded in a single session by producer Mike Clink. A music video of the song was shot and appears on the band's music video DVD, Welcome to the Videos.

Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon later implied that Guns N' Roses had copied Tesla's earlier work, stating that a demo by Tesla called "Better Off Without You" was "'Patience' note for note." Hannon later backtracked on his blog, saying "The song is a great song that they wrote themselves, and it is only the end part that has any similar part to the guitar chords we used. I apologize for any controversy or dis-respect I may have projected in my joking around with Eddie Trunk about this."

The motivation for the track is generally accepted to be the troublesome relationship between Axl Rose and his now ex-wife Erin Everly, though this was never stated in the album or interviews. According to bass guitarist Duff McKagan, "Axl came up with a great lyric, seemingly out of nowhere, that of course became the story and melody of that song." It has also been stated by the band that Stradlin wrote the song about his ex-girlfriend Angela Nicoletti McCoy.

One, two, one, two, three, four

Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' you

I'm still alright to smile

Girl, I think about you every day now

Was a time when I wasn't sure

But you set my mind at ease

There is no doubt

You're in my heart now

Said, woman, take it slow

It'll work itself out fine

All we need is just a little patience

Said, sugar, make it slow

And we come together fine

All we need is just a little patience

(Patience)

I sit here on the stairs

'Cause I'd rather be alone

If I can't have you right now

I'll wait, dear

Sometimes I get so tense

But I can't speed up the time

But you know, love

There's one more thing to consider

Said, woman, take it slow

And things will be just fine

You and I'll just use a little patience

Said, sugar, take the time

'Cause the lights are shining bright

You and I've got what it takes

To make it, we won't fake it,

I'll never break it

'Cause I can't take it

Little patience

Need a little patience

Just a little patience

Some more patience

Need some patience

Could use some patience

Gotta have some patience

All it takes is patience

Just a little patience

Is all you need

I been walkin' the streets at night

Just tryin' to get it right

Hard to see with so many around

You know I don't like

Being stuck in the crowd

And the streets don't change

But maybe the name

I ain't got time for the game

'Cause I need you

Yeah, yeah, but I need you

Oh, I need you

Whoa, I need you

All this time.