The lyrics came from a poem Axl Rose was working on. He wrote the song about his girlfriend, Erin Everly, the daughter of Don Everly of the Everly Brothers. After dating for four years, they got married at a quickie wedding in Las Vegas on April 28, 1990, but just nine months later, the marriage was annulled, with Everly claiming abuse.
Appetite For Destruction was Guns N' Roses' first album, released in July 1987. It took a long time to catch on, and three cracks at a hit single before it did.
Slash broke out the wah-wah pedal for his guitar solo, which landed at #3 on Guitar World's 2015 list of greatest wah solos of all time.
Lyrics
She's got a smile it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mine
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh yeah yeah
Oh oh sweet love of mine
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, oh
Where do we go?
(Where do we go now?)
Oh where do we go now? (Where do we go?)
Where do we go? (Sweet child)
Oh where do we go now?
Ay ay ay ay (where do we go now, where do we go)
Oh where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, where do we go now?
Oh, where do we go?
Oh where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, where do we go now?
No, no, no, no, no, no
Sweet child
Sweet child of mine
Songwriters: W. Axl Rose Rose / Saul Hudson Hudson / Duff Rose Mckagan / Izzy Stradlin / Steven Adler
Sweet Child O' Mine lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
