"Don't Cry" stands as one of Guns N' Roses' most enduring ballads and was released as the lead single from Use Your Illusion I on September 17, 1991, the same day both Illusion albums hit stores. Written by Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, the song had been part of the band's repertoire since their earliest days, with demo versions dating back to 1985. Set in A-flat minor at a slow, emotive tempo of 63 BPM, the track builds from a delicate acoustic guitar introduction into a full-band arrangement that swells with increasing intensity. Slash's electric guitar solo is the emotional centerpiece of the song, entering around the 2:21 mark with a soaring, lyrical melody that has become one of his most recognized and frequently covered solos. The solo unfolds over approximately thirty seconds with singing legato lines, expressive vibrato, and carefully placed bends that mirror the anguish in Rose's vocal delivery. Slash reportedly recorded the solo using his 1959 Gibson Les Paul replica through a Marshall amplifier, achieving a tone that is both warm and cutting. The song's arrangement features layered guitars from both Slash and Izzy Stradlin, with Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon providing backing vocals. A second version with alternate lyrics appeared on Use Your Illusion II, making it the only composition to appear on both volumes.
