“I was overruled”: The crass Slash lyric that was cut from 1987’s ‘Paradise City’
Guns N’ Roses considered a cruder alternative lyric for “Paradise City” while making their 1987 debut album, *Appetite for Destruction*. Guitarist Slash suggested the line, but the band chose a more restrained version, which went on to become one of their best-known lyrics.
In his memoir, Slash recalled proposing, “where the girls are fat, and they’ve got big titties” as an alternative to “where the grass is green and the girls are pretty”. He said he preferred his version but was overruled; the article presents the decision as a choice to avoid a more brazenly misogynistic lyric.
- Slash proposed a much cruder “Paradise City” lyric.
- The band chose the familiar “grass is green” line.
- Slash later said he was overruled.
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Guns N’ Roses are an American rock band whose 1987 debut album, Appetite for Destruction, helped make them internationally known. “Paradise City” is one of the album’s best-known songs, with a chorus describing an appealing place to go.
The song’s familiar line about green grass and pretty girls was one of two versions the band considered. In his memoir, guitarist Slash said he had proposed a cruder alternative, but the band chose the more restrained wording.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The band had reason to keep the lyric that became familiar: it is less objectifying and crude, and its more restrained imagery may have made the song accessible to a wider audience. Choosing it also showed that artistic collaboration can improve a line by balancing provocation with the tone and appeal the group wanted.
The case against
Slash’s proposed line could be defended as deliberately bawdy shock humour, fitting the band’s rebellious hard-rock persona rather than a serious statement about women. In a collaborative songwriting process, keeping a vivid, provocative line might have served the song’s irreverent character, even if it risked alienating some listeners.