SLASH hadn't often written lyrics till the SLASH's Snakepit album, It's Five O'Clock
Somewhere. He says that he wrote "Mr. Brownstone" with Izzy for GNR, and he may have added a phrase or
two in other GNR songs, but this project was one where he was deeply involved as a lyricist. It turned out he enjoyed it!
"Monkey Chow" (Gilby Clarke) is the only track SLASH didn't contribute to. And "Be The Ball" is the
only track done by SLASH alone.
You can see glimpses of SLASH's life and feelings in these lyrics. Two
songs are about suicide, "Lower" and "Neither Can I". At this time in his life, SLASH was dealing with
suicides of a friend and a fellow recording artist (Kurt Cobain). SLASH says the songs may be about
suicide, but they don't have pro-suicide lyrics. Check them out and see for yourself. "Be The Ball"
is influenced by SLASH's favorite book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, and his
love for pinball games. "Back and Forth Again" is written, he says, for everyone's old girlfriends, especially
his. And "I Hate Everybody (But You)" was written for SLASH's wife who wanted a love song written for
her, but later in his marriage and after the divorce, SLASH said that wasn't why it was written. We're still
waiting for an explanation on that one. Even SLASH never figured out Gilby's "Monkey Chow", but he
says that anytime there is a song about a monkey, a musician is only writing about one thing - drugs. And
when asked what was "Dime Store Rock" about, Gilby Clarke said...well, what's a dime store? A store
where you buy cheap things? These guys are too much! Well, here they are - lots of symbolism, lots
of personal touches .....and lots of ROCK!
This is a menu of songs from It's Five O'Clock Somewhere. Find the
song you're looking for below, click on the treble clef. The lyrics (and some great SLASH pictures will come up). At
the end of each song's lyrics, there is a place to click and return right
here to the Lyrics Menu. When you're finished trying to be Eric Dover,
scroll down to the bottom of this page, and you'll find a way back to
the SLASH Main Menu. All together now...."Be the ball....".
 Neither Can I
|
Dime Store Rock
|
| Beggars & Hangers-on
|
Good To Be Alive
|
| What Do You Want To |
Monkey Chow
|
| Soma City Ward
|
Jizz Da Pit
|
| Lower
|
Take It Away
|
| Doin' Fine
|
Be The Ball
|
| I Hate Everybody |
Back And Forth Again
|
To Return to the SLASH Official Fan Site's Main Menu, Click
on the Snakepit banner at a Brazilian gig:
