G N' R Lies cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

G N' R Lies Songwriting Credits by Guns N' Roses

1988 Geffen Records 8 tracks 33 min

Produced by Guns N' Roses, Mike Clink

Geffen Records Hard rockAcoustic rockGlam metal
75%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 6 of 8 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 6 / 8 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether Guns N' Roses carries a lyricist or composer credit.

75%
6 trackswritten by Guns N' Roses 2 tracksoutside writers
Guns N' Roses's roles on this album

Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist75%
Composer75%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

8
Tracks
13
Lyricists
2
Producers
5 million
US Copies Sold
1988
Released
Data Insight

G N' R Lies pairs four raw live-style tracks from the band's 1986 EP with four new acoustic songs, all written by the classic Guns N' Roses lineup. The acoustic side includes the hit ballad "Patience," credited to the band, and the controversial "One in a Million," written largely by Axl Rose. The record is entirely self-written, showcasing the band's stripped-back, acoustic side.

G N' R Lies is the second studio release by Guns N' Roses, issued on November 29, 1988 through Geffen Records. The eight-track record pairs the four faux-live songs from the 1986 EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide with four new acoustic studio recordings. Its first side features the Aerosmith cover "Mama Kin," written by Steven Tyler, and a take on Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys," while the acoustic side introduced the hit ballad "Patience." The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified multi-platinum, though the closing track "One in a Million" drew lasting controversy for its lyrics. Produced by the band with Mike Clink, it bridged the gap between Appetite for Destruction and the Use Your Illusion albums.

Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Reckless Life
Axl RoseIzzy StradlinChris Weber W. Axl RoseJeffrey Dean IsbellChris Weber Guns N' Roses Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
2
Nice Boys
Angry AndersonMick CocksGeordie LeachDallas RoyallPeter Wells Angry AndersonMick CocksGeordie LeachDallas RoyallPeter Wells Guns N' Roses Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
3
Move to the City
Izzy StradlinChris WeberDaniel Nicolson Jeffrey Dean IsbellChris WeberDaniel Nicolson Guns N' Roses Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
4
Mama Kin
Steven Tyler Steven Tyler Guns N' Roses Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
5
Patience #4
Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler W. Axl RoseSaul HudsonJeffrey Dean IsbellDuff McKaganSteven Adler Guns N' RosesMike Clink Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
6
Used to Love Her
Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler W. Axl RoseSaul HudsonJeffrey Dean IsbellDuff McKaganSteven Adler Guns N' RosesMike Clink Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
7
You're Crazy
Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler W. Axl RoseSaul HudsonJeffrey Dean IsbellDuff McKaganSteven Adler Guns N' RosesMike Clink Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler
8
One in a Million
Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler W. Axl RoseSaul HudsonJeffrey Dean IsbellDuff McKaganSteven Adler Guns N' RosesMike Clink Axl RoseSlashIzzy StradlinDuff McKaganSteven Adler

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 18 contributors

IS
Izzy Stradlin
Writer
On this album6 written
JD
Jeffrey Dean Isbell
Writer
On this album6 written
AR
Axl Rose
Writer
On this album5 written
WA
W. Axl Rose
Writer
On this album5 written
DM
Duff McKagan
Writer
On this album4 written
SH
Saul Hudson
Writer
On this album4 written
S
Slash
Writer
On this album4 written
SA
Steven Adler
Writer
On this album4 written
CW
Chris Weber
Writer
On this album2 written
AA
Angry Anderson
Writer
On this album1 written
DR
Dallas Royall
Writer
On this album1 written
DN
Daniel Nicolson
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Guns N' Roses

1987 100%
Appetite for Destruction
Geffen Records
12 tracksProd. Mike Clink
1991 94%
Use Your Illusion I
Geffen Records
16 tracksProd. Mike Clink
1991 93%
Use Your Illusion II
Geffen Records
14 tracksProd. Mike Clink
1993 0%
"The Spaghetti Incident?"
Geffen Records
13 tracksProd. Mike Clink
2008 100%
Chinese Democracy
Black Frog / Geffen Records
14 tracksProd. Axl Rose

Frequently Asked Questions G N' R Lies

Did Guns N' Roses write G N' R Lies themselves?
Yes. G N' R Lies was written entirely by the band. The first half reuses tracks from their 1986 live EP, and the acoustic second half features new songs credited to the group.
Who wrote "Patience" by Guns N' Roses?
"Patience" is credited to the band and is a fully acoustic ballad. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the album's breakout hit.
Is G N' R Lies an EP or an album?
It is a half-live, half-studio album. The first four tracks come from the 1986 EP "Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide," while the second four are newly recorded acoustic songs.
Why is "One in a Million" on G N' R Lies controversial?
"One in a Million," written largely by Axl Rose, drew heavy criticism for slurs and offensive lyrics targeting immigrants and gay people. It remains the most controversial song in the band's catalog.
How well did G N' R Lies by Guns N' Roses sell?
G N' R Lies was certified 5x Platinum in the United States for over five million shipments. It was a major commercial success on the heels of Appetite for Destruction.
What genre is G N' R Lies by Guns N' Roses?
G N' R Lies mixes hard rock and glam metal with acoustic rock. The acoustic second side showed a softer, more folk-influenced side of the band.

Sources

Wikipedia: G N' R Lies MusicBrainz: G N' R Lies release group Cover Art Archive: G N' R Lies front cover Wikipedia: Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide MusicBrainz: G N' R Lies release group (Guns N' Roses) Cover Art Archive: G N' R Lies front cover Cover Art Archive: G N' R Lies by Guns N' Roses