Nice Boys
Guns N' Roses Lyrics

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She hit town like a rose in bloom
Smellin' sweet, said sweet perfume
The color faded and the petals died
Down in the city, no one cried
In the streets, the garbage lies
Protected by a million flies
The roaches so big you know that they got bones
They moved in and made a tenement home

I said nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
I'm not a nice boy

Sweet sixteen she was fresh and clean
Wanted so bad to be part of the scene
She met the man and she did the smack
Paid the price layin' flat on her back
Wanted so bad just to please the boys
They ended up just being a toy
Played so hard burned her life away
Lies were told no promises made

You know nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
I'm not a nice boy and I never was

Young and fresh when she hit town
Hot for kicks just to get around
But now she lays in a filthy room
She kills the pain with a flick and a spoon
And in the streets the garbage lies
Protected by a million flies
You know the roaches so big
You know that they got bones
Moved in and made a tenement home

Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no baby
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys never don't play rock and roll
I bet you mama said
'Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys don't play rock and roll

Nice boys don't play rock and roll
Nice boys

Overall Meaning

The song "Nice Boys" by Guns N' Roses tells the story of a young girl who comes to the city with hopes of being a part of the rock and roll scene. She is at first alluring and attractive, but soon falls prey to drugs and becomes a victim of the harsh realities of city life. The lyrics describe the stark contrast between the beauty and innocence of the girl and the ugliness and decay of the city, where the presence of garbage, flies, and roaches is a common sight.

In the second verse, we learn that the girl turns to drugs in a desperate attempt to please the boys and fit in with the rock and roll crowd. Despite her efforts, she ends up being used and discarded, leading to her downfall. The lyrics emphasize the destructive consequences of the youth culture that glamorizes drugs, sex, and rock and roll.

Overall, the song is a cautionary tale that warns against the allure of the rock and roll lifestyle, which can be as destructive as it is glamorous. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Nice boys don't play rock and roll," is a statement of rebellion against societal norms and expectations. The singer of the song refuses to conform to traditional expectations of what is considered "nice" or acceptable behavior, but also acknowledges the dark side of rebellion and the necessity of recognizing the dangers of excess.

Line by Line Meaning

She hit town like a rose in bloom
She arrived in the city with beauty and elegance

Smellin' sweet, said sweet perfume
She smelled pleasant like perfume

The color faded and the petals died
Her appearance deteriorated with time

Down in the city, no one cried
Despite her situation, no one felt empathy for her

In the streets, the garbage lies
The city is littered with trash

Protected by a million flies
The filth attracts countless flies

The roaches so big you know that they got bones
The cockroaches are so large that they appear to have bones

They moved in and made a tenement home
The cockroaches have infested the tenement building as their home

I said nice boys don't play rock and roll
Society expects polite behavior, not the wildness associated with rock music

Sweet sixteen she was fresh and clean
She was young and innocent when she arrived

Wanted so bad to be part of the scene
She desired to be part of the music scene

She met the man and she did the smack
She became involved with drugs

Paid the price layin' flat on her back
She became ill as a result of drug use and was bedridden

Wanted so bad just to please the boys
She wanted male attention

They ended up just being a toy
She was used and discarded by her male partners

Played so hard burned her life away
Her excessive lifestyle led to her downfall

Lies were told no promises made
She was deceived and not given any commitments

You know nice boys don't play rock and roll
Rock music is associated with a rebellious and wild lifestyle

I'm not a nice boy and I never was
The singer does not conform to societal expectations of politeness

Hot for kicks just to get around
She desired excitement and new experiences in the city

Now she lays in a filthy room
Her situation has deteriorated to living in dismal conditions

She kills the pain with a flick and a spoon
She numbs her pain with drugs

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no baby
The singer rejects societal norms of politeness

Nice boys never don't play rock and roll
Rock music is not for the faint-hearted

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Leach, Gary Anderson, Dallas Royall, Michael Cocks, Peter Wells

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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