Bob Dylan Once Surprised Fans by Revealing That Only One Member of Guns N’ Roses Had Ever Written Something He Considered Truly “Profound”—And the Unexpected Identity of That Bandmate, Along With the Reason Behind Dylan’s Praise, Might Change the Way You See Rock Music Forever—Click the Link to Read More

Bob Dylan is not known for giving compliments lightly, especially when it comes to other songwriters. The Nobel Prize-winning artist, whose lyrics have been studied in literature classes and dissected in music history books, has often kept his opinions about other musicians guarded. So when Dylan did offer rare praise to a member of Guns N’ Roses—a band more commonly associated with hard rock anthems and late-night chaos than lyrical depth—it raised more than a few eyebrows.

In an interview from the early 2000s that resurfaced years later, Dylan mentioned that among all the work he had heard from the members of Guns N’ Roses, only one song—and only one songwriter—stood out to him as having written something “profound.” That songwriter, surprisingly to many, was Axl Rose.

According to Dylan, the song “November Rain” was the piece that caught his attention. “There’s something in that song,” Dylan said. “It’s theatrical, yes, but it carries a kind of poetic sorrow. There’s longing in it. And that makes it different.” He went on to say that while Guns N’ Roses was often labeled as brash and bombastic, the emotion buried beneath the production in “November Rain” felt genuine—and in his words, “almost timeless.”

This wasn’t a casual compliment. For Dylan, who famously once said he doesn’t really listen to much popular music, to single out a song like “November Rain” was notable. It prompted fans and critics alike to take a second look at Axl Rose’s lyrical work—not just in that ballad, but across the broader Guns N’ Roses discography.

“November Rain” is indeed a departure from the band’s usual style. Clocking in at nearly nine minutes, it’s a slow-building, piano-driven epic that blends hard rock with orchestral elements and emotional vulnerability. The lyrics speak of love, loss, and impermanence—classic rock ballad territory, but with a haunting melancholy that lingers well after the song ends.

Lines like “Nothing lasts forever / and we both know hearts can change” may seem straightforward, but when paired with the music’s swelling arrangements and Axl’s raw delivery, they take on a weight that surpasses the sum of their parts. Dylan seemed to recognize that nuance—the ability to make something simple feel universal—as a sign of true songwriting talent.

Of course, Dylan’s praise wasn’t without its qualifiers. He didn’t comment on the rest of Guns N’ Roses’ catalog, nor did he suggest that Rose had matched the lyrical achievements of someone like Leonard Cohen or Joni Mitchell. But his acknowledgment opened a window into how even the most unexpected artists can, in the right moment, tap into something deeper.

This moment also speaks to the complex reputation of Axl Rose himself. Known for his volatile personality, feuds with bandmates, and erratic public behavior, Rose has long been a polarizing figure in rock. But beneath that chaos, there’s a meticulous craftsman—a perfectionist who reportedly spent years working on songs like “November Rain” and “Estranged,” layering them with multiple orchestrations and countless lyrical revisions.

Those who worked with Axl have often described him as obsessively detail-oriented when it came to songwriting. Producer Mike Clink once said that Axl would spend hours tweaking single lines of lyrics, searching for the right phrasing to capture a specific emotional tone. “He wanted the words to last,” Clink said in a later interview. “He didn’t want to write throwaway rock songs. He wanted them to mean something.”

It’s easy to forget that Guns N’ Roses was once more than just a hard-partying rock band. Their debut album Appetite for Destruction remains one of the most successful in history, and songs like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle” have become cultural touchstones. But it was with “Use Your Illusion I and II” that Axl Rose began to stretch his ambitions, experimenting with structure, genre, and lyrical complexity.

Dylan’s comment, then, isn’t just about one song. It’s a recognition that artistry can emerge in unexpected places—that even within the walls of a stadium rock anthem, a quiet, aching truth can be found. That’s not a typical compliment in the world of rock criticism. And coming from Dylan, it carries an extra weight.

Fans of Dylan and Guns N’ Roses alike have debated the significance of his praise. Some dismiss it as a throwaway remark. Others see it as a long-overdue nod to the emotional intelligence buried within Rose’s songwriting. And for younger fans discovering both artists for the first time, it’s a reminder that musical depth isn’t confined to genre or generation.

In the years since, Axl Rose has remained largely private about his influences and aspirations. He hasn’t publicly commented on Dylan’s words, but his admiration for classic songwriters is well known. He has spoken in the past about his appreciation for Elton John, Queen, and even Dylan himself. Some believe that “November Rain” was, in part, inspired by the grand, emotionally resonant ballads of the 1970s—songs that sought to combine personal pain with universal resonance.

Looking back, it’s not hard to understand why Dylan saw something in “November Rain.” Beneath its power chords and dramatic guitar solos lies a core of human vulnerability. It’s a song about change, about holding on, and about the inevitability of letting go. And in those themes, Dylan may have recognized a piece of himself—a fellow traveler on the winding road of music and meaning.

Ultimately, when one of the greatest lyricists of all time calls your work “profound,” it’s a moment worth remembering. Whether you’re a die-hard Dylan devotee or a Guns N’ Roses fan who’s never paid much attention to lyrics, perhaps it’s time to listen again. Not for the thunder of the guitars, but for the quiet truth hiding in the rain.