Catcher in the Rye

Producers

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye might be hailed as a classic, but Axl here is talking about how it attracts misguided fans such as John Lennon assassin Mark David… Read More

Nov. 23, 20081 viewer25.5K views

Catcher in the Rye Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When all is said and done, we're not the only ones
Who look at life this way, that's what the old folks say
But every time I'd see them makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy, well, I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

[Chorus]
Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let you get away from him
It's just another day like today

[Bridge]
You decide 'cause I don't have to
And then they'll find and I won't ask you
At any time or long hereafter
If the cold outside's as I'm imagining
It to be

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let you get away from him
It's just another day like today

[Verse 2]
When all is said and done, we're not the only ones
Who look at life this way, that's what the young folks say
As if they'd ever change as that were mine to say
But every time I'd see them makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy, well, I guess I'd have more fun
'Cause what used to be's not there for me
And ought to for someone that belonged
Insane, like I do

[Outro]
On an ordinary day, not in an ordinary way
All at once, the song I heard, no longer would it play
For anybody or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone
Who cared to be not like you and unlike me
And then the voices went away from me
Somehow, you set the wheels in motion, now haunts our memories
You were the instrument, you were the one
How a body, took a body, you gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence beyond our stares
Sometimes, the only thing we counted on when no one else was there

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About

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye might be hailed as a classic, but Axl here is talking about how it attracts misguided fans such as John Lennon assassin Mark David Chapman:

For me, the song is inspired by what’s referred to sometimes as Holden Caulfield Syndrome. I feel there’s a possibility that how the writing is structured with the thinking of the main character could somehow re-program, for lack of a better word, some who may be a bit more vulnerable, with a skewed way of thinking. (…) An indictment of the author for writing what I feel is utter garbage and I agree wholeheartedly that it should be discontinued as required reading in schools. That’s my take, I could be completely wrong. I do realize that the song and title could have the next poor soul reading the book and feeling inspired to make an unfortunate statement. So there’s the catch, I guess.

This piano ballad originally featured Queen guitarist Brian May, who teamed up with the band in 1999 for a collaboration. However nine years later, just prior to the release of Chinese Democracy, he was disappointed to learn that his contribution has been removed from the final version of the song. May commented: “It is a shame. I was proud of it.”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Guns N' Roses say about "Catcher in the Rye"?

Axl recalls Brian May’s reaction upon learning that his solo had been cut from the official release of the song:

It’s entirely constructed from edits based around one specific note Brian hit in a throwaway take. And though Brian seems to have warmed a bit to it, at least publicly, he was, unfortunately, none too pleased at the time with our handiwork. I remember looking at Brian standing to my left and him staring at the big studio speakers a bit aghast saying, “But that’s not what I played.”

Who produced “Catcher in the Rye” by Guns N' Roses?

When did Guns N' Roses release “Catcher in the Rye”?

Who wrote “Catcher in the Rye” by Guns N' Roses?