What does Welcome to the Jungle mean?

Guns N' Roses: Welcome to the Jungle Meaning

Album cover for Welcome to the Jungle album cover

Song Released: 1987


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Welcome to the Jungle Lyrics

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need
If you got the money honey
We got your disease

Chorus:
In the jungle
Welcome to the...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 31st 2007 !⃝

    No one effin gets it this song is about everything that happens when your alone in a big city on your own! it's about how you get sucked into the nightlife of a big city. Axl's first day in the city the cab driver he was with said" you know where you are? you in the jungle baby your gunna die" he then used that as a theam for the song. The beginning of the video explains a lot the song is also bout how a big city changes you. Like at the beginning of the video he is a country boy but at the end he is TOTALLY different.

    this person is the only one to have gotten the true meaning..the cab driver said to him, his first day in the city "d'you know where you are? you're in the jungle baby. you're gonna die!" and he then used this as inspiration for the song. The rest of the song was written about all the band member's different experiences in the big city... The line that says "you're a very sexy girl, whos very hard to please you can taste the bright lights but you won't get them for free" is obviously about money-hungry prostitutes. The line that says "you learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play, if you've got a hunger for what you see you'll take it eventually you can have anything you want but you'd better not take it from me" is about having to be bad ass and act like that to fit in, in the city..

    everyone else who interpreted it you're fucking idiots...maybe you oughtta listen to the song again... maybe you'll get it then

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Jan 14th 2010 !⃝

    To tell you the truth I'm a street cat, straight hip hop to the bone. I think this is the only rock song that I ever got into. My white friend let me here it in his car and I fully related to it. The song is about the big city street life, and to be honest if you don't live that lifestyle rather it's hip hop or rock then you're not gonna understand it. Big ups to guns n roses, this track keeps it real. Also this just go's to show that people from all walks of life can relate to the same music if it's REAL and not a gimmik.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 7th 2009 !⃝

    all the people who say it's about sex are missing the part about drugs. all the people who say it's about drugs are missing the part about the sex.

    it's not about sex or drugs as an end though, but rather the corruption they interlace with in LA (or for that matter the underground of any big city).

    and no, "your disease" doesn't mean std, it refers to addiction (to sex, to drugs, to power, to whatever) in general.

  4. Stoner
    click a star to vote
    Jul 6th 2023 !⃝

    I was at Westville from 02 to 05 and Old man Sgt Miller or Homeboy as I remember him, used to tell us stories about him being there. Westville was wild af back then as well. A fun place for a 18 year old kid with a lot of anger and nothing to lose. I'm 40 now. Fuck that place lol. But the memories haha.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 8th 2022 !⃝

    Axle rose would not have made it at Westville back in the day he would have checked in as soon as he hit 8 dorm fact

  6. anonymous
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    Jul 14th 2022 !⃝

    This song was written by axle in the hole on the wall at Westville. In 1997 I read it everyday I spent in that cell.

  7. anonymous
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    Mar 3rd 2022 !⃝

    I Worked at Westville for years as a CO. Always heard this. Never knew if it was true or not. It is indeed a shithole.

  8. anonymous
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    Dec 2nd 2019 !⃝

    Why doesn't Axelrose do a personal interview and disspell all the myth if it isn't true that he was locked up at Westville? It is a shithole from what everybody has to say about it - not a nice place to be.

  9. anonymous
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    Aug 1st 2019 !⃝

    Cell house 8 - Gsc - W.... few guards still talk of Him

  10. anonymous
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    May 2nd 2019 !⃝

    When your song played at the clubs, only Azteca at the time, maybe the Yellow Rose, it was loud, it was insane, it was outta sight and kinda paranoid feelings, watching the best theatrical entertainment put on a show while wondering if they were going to kill me and wondering why they didnt have disease and scared to death they were going to target me with virus and disease, its like a paranoid thought over an incident that wasnt real, song was wild, filled up the crowd, drinking and money making. While I had thoughts more of it being in Afrika and disease being there and going there would result in death, like it could in america when they want more money to FEED the RICH and starve the poor, had the incident not occured, the paranoid thoughts wouldnt had been there, no problem, your music is always a hit at at the clubs and the best entertainment knows how to put on a show, who cares what others think, thats your defense and theirs, the rest is imagination, we arent in afrika are we? What did happen to Eric Claptons son, that is rumored on the internet, did Eric FEED the HUNGRY in Afrika? And then when we learn that those modeling studios adn all those funky investment corps really clandestine and those were from afrika and arab nations civil coding people and making tons of money while americans were getting hurt and injured and from incidents were injured with virus, as a premeditated scheme against BEASTY BOYS, over a foreign military beasty ring, and heard what happened to BEASTY BOYS, sad deaths rumored on internet. Well, those were the bad investment corps, while they attacked other massage business that werent the same kind but therapeutic for healing arts and hydrotherapy, it made an honest paycheck for americans getting ready for treatment from the abuse afrikan/mexican afrikans crimes caused against us while they made thousands of dollars daily for their girls in those studios that were lined up on Harry Hines in the late 80's and early 90's, the money afrika won and made was hysterical and no taxes to pay getting forgiveness through female church unions and their money out of country, and we like I said, were making a paycheck and all hungry. It was a crime what other countries and their mafias put us through, and worse yet, puttin gthem into election was the worst move americans could had made, it was brutal. Take care and wishing you all well. Reading interpretations is great, thanks for article.

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 22nd 2019 !⃝

    It is in fact about his experience in the westville prison he was an inmate at the same time that I myself was he was sent there for possession of illigal drugs Grand theft auto an driving under the influence of alcohol he had an 18 month sentence in which he served the majority of in his home town county jail and had to serve out the final six months I'm fairly certain it was. He would go to the recreation department where we inmate's had access to musical instruments where he played the guitar and sing he came up with the lyrics to welcome to the jungle as well as parts an pieces of a few of his other kick ass tunes he said on his way out of the place that he had no intentions of ever returning to this hell on Earth he was intending to go somewhere in life that he was in control.He would sit an tell anyone that would talk an listen to him that he intended to go out to the west coast an see if he had the shit to make a go of with his voice and hell yeah he done what he said and became somebody that everyone would know and remember long after he was gone instead of some number on a ledger and little metal plate grave marker like the unknown countless individuals on westville,s boot hill those are the facts beginning to end of Williams westville prison exsploits ya care to know more ask him

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 12th 2018 !⃝

    It's about living a life of debauchary and craziness. The singer of the song is inviting the individual to come experience the amazing chaotic world.

    Honey we know the names
    We are the people that can find
    Whatever you may need
    If you got the money honey
    We got your disease

    Translation:
    We know the names of all the drug dealers that can get you any drug you want. If you got the money than you can get any drug you want.

    In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
    Watch it bring you to your shun n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n knees, knees
    Ohhh ah, I wanna watch you bleed

    Translation:
    Welcome to the jungle, which is the chaotic world of sex, drugs, and alcohol. This chaotic world can make you a addict of the chaos. The partying can take it's toll both on one's mind and body. The verse is about embracing the chaos.

    Welcome to the jungle, we take it day by day
    If you want it you're going to bleed, but it's the price you pay
    And you're a very sexy girl, very hard to please
    You can taste the bright lights, but you won't get there for free.

    Translation:
    When you are addicted to this life of debauchary day by day (everyday) you are going to suffer. You can get very good drug but it's not free.

    In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
    Feel my, my, my, my serpentine
    Ohhh ah, I wanna hear you scream

    Translation:
    Welcome to this world of chaos. The serpentine is synonomous with the ethical darkness of the chaotic underbelly.

    And when you're high, you never
    Ever want to come down
    So down, so down, so down, yeah!

    Translation:
    When your high, you never want to experience the come down.


    You know where you are?
    You're in the jungle, baby
    You're gonna die

    Translation:
    Don't you realize you're in the chaotic world now? You are an addict and in some way shape or form you are going to die. Psychologically or physiologically.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 17th 2018 !⃝

    Thank you for saying the sang wasn't about westville. Did 13 years there and heard it alot. Westville isn't as tuff as they say. Only for the week or wiggers it's rough. Mind ur own and stand and fight a few times and ur good

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 11th 2018 !⃝

    Ok. I believe it's about Westville state prison. The introduction speaks for itself. The jungle was what they called the tunnel yrs an yrs ago at Westville. An then we got everything you want, Honey we know the names. This means since ur in prison the prisoners have their drugs smuggled in by visitors an whoever isn't scared to do it. So they got what u need in the jungle (drugs of course). An then it goes on by saying, Honey meaning ur the new bitch! But Honey we no the names meaning the inmates no the names of the other inmates who deal drugs cause they've been in there so long an it's easy after awhile to remember the names of the inmates that r selling or trading u their drugs cause let's face it who's gonna forget the name or names of the innates who theyvw been getting their fix from for yrs by now? Nobody who's an addict for dam sure! An I'll bring u to ur knees in the jungle! Meaning ur getting either raped or ur giving it up for drugs! If u got a hunger for what u see you'll take it eventually! U can have anything u like but u better not take it from me. Meaning the new prisoner likes what he sees in other prisoners having fun an goofing off playing games cause their high on some type of drug so the newbie wants to fit in an have fun as well so he gets down on his knees an then gets f****" in his butt an the other prisoners like watching him bleed cause it's like a man taking a girl's virginity

  15. Jbeard
    click a star to vote
    Jan 23rd 2018 !⃝

    Look, Ive been to prison in Indiana too and heard the old wivestale that Axl Rose went to Westville and wrote it about that...THERES ONLY ONE THING wrong with that theory...Axl Never went to prison in Indiana...he moved to LA went he was around twenty..changing from West Lafayette to a place like LA being as unnerving and culture shock that it was he wrote it about his first few weeks in LA.....I know every person thats been locked up in Indiana wants to believe it's about Westville, but they're mistaken...Come on now, how many lies did you hear when you was locked up? And you believe everything those idiots say in there...geez...use your head

  16. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 7th 2017 !⃝

    Any inmate in Indiana who's spent time in county jail convicted of a felony and waiting to be picked up for RDC for the first time knows about Westville Penitentiary and how bad it was back in da day when the tunnels were open. The genius in Axl Rose made sure to word this song in a way that majority folk can have there own interpretations which some of the more popular ones you can read up above but I Interpret this song in the same way that I BELIEVE Axl wrote it. Most of what he writes about in this song, were things he saw happening around him an some of the torment he talks about were probably his own personal experiences as well. Before I write what I think the lyrics could mean, I will first say that for me its only hear say that Axl Rose spent time in Westville but I heard it from enough people back in the day that I personally believe that he did. Second, the fact that he supposedly did his time their back when the tunnels to com. were open tells me that he really was in the jungle cause boys were getting crashed $ smashed everyday in that ho back then.

    WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
    welcome to Westville

    WE GOT FUN 'N' Games
    this is your introduction to prison coming from another inmate or inmates whos sounding like a friend, unbeknownst to you though their only intentions for talking to you are to find out your charges, possible gang or org. affiliations, and to sense out if your a potential wolf or a sheep.

    WE GOT EVERYTHING YOU WANT
    HONEY WE KNOW THE NAMES
    WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN FIND WHATEVER YOU MAY NEED
    IF YOU GOT THE MONEY HONEY WE GOT YOUR DISEASE
    they have felt you out and have came to the conclusion that your no wolf and they prove it with disrespect, talking to you anyway they please, calling you (*honey*)(*BITCH*) for all to hear signifying that you belong to them. They realized that your a target for manipulation and now there going to allow you to set ur own trap more than likely with debt and addiction, once its set, this will conform there ownership over your punk@$$.

    IN THE JUNGLE WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE WATCH IT BRING YOU TO YOUR KNEES OHHAA I WANNA WATCH YOU BLEED
    in just a few days or possibly and more than likely just a few hours, they have discovered a weakness or flaw about you that you had no idea that you even had or worse you knew it but didn't look at it as a weakness. not because its a weakness that can't be discovered out in the streets but because its a weakness that you can't run from and the consequences for having it in the jungle are handed down with unremorseful violence intended to deepen the trap ultimately resulting in you being another inmates punk for the rest of your miserable life praying for it to end.(its a known fact that many people locked up turn to GOD, they all have their own reasons for doing so and this reason has got to be one of the worse reasons to have).

    WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE WE TAKE IT DAY BY DAY
    IF YOU WANT IT YOUR GOING TO BLEED BUT ITS THE PRICE YOU PAY
    inmates with long sentences they normally don't keep day by day calendars they either have calendars marking off months, years or they simply don't have one. I believe he means welcome to Westville where keeping your respect and status amongst the other inmates is a day by day and some of those days your going to have to fight in order to remain living comfortable or even survive and not become a punk or target for extortion, by saying this is the price you pay, he's really insinuating that this is the price we all pay for respect.

    AND YOUR A VERY SEXY GIRL THATS VERY HARD TO PLEASE YOU CAN TASTE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS BUT YOU WONT GET THEM FOR FREE IN THE JUNGLE
    here I believe that he is giving the inmate an alternative, just to see if he bites, (its another trick, ur always being tested in prison one way or another and this test is a sexual proposal giving the inmate an alternative to the day to day struggle for respect in the jungle explaining, look if you don't think you can handle it, i'll protect you, just stay close to me. he has shown the listener another trap in the jungle, say yes and theres no going back.

    WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE FEEL MY, MY, MY SERPENTINE OH-AA I, I WANNA HEAR YOU SCREAM
    for this inmate that eventually got trapped by giving in AXL is saying welcome to the jungle again like its a whole knew intro to prison for the inmate again, he's pretty much telling the inmate to forget anything and everything that he knows about how his experience in prison has been because now its all different and now he belongs to AXL. he says feel my my my serpentine, mwaning he is the head of the snake and the inmate is now the tail and must follow and do as the head pleases. when I say AXL I mean the inmates laying the trap, Axl is speaking or singing this song in second person as if to be a narrator or even sometimes the subconscious mind of the trap itself.

    I gotta go to work but will error check sometime and finish later, very interesting song%
    DR.IS.KILL

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 19th 2017 !⃝

    Westville Correctional Facility

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 1st 2017 !⃝

    He was in westville state prison in Indiana its the jungle there

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