Dust N' Bones is a roots rock composition written by Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Duff McKagan for Guns N' Roses. The song originated from one of Stradlin's acoustic demos, brought to the Use Your Illusion songwriting sessions around 1990, which the band collectively expanded into a full arrangement. Drummer Matt Sorum, who joined the group in May 1990, witnessed firsthand how Slash and McKagan built coordinated guitar and bass parts on the foundation of Stradlin's raw, rootsy framework, layering an ensemble riff over his chord changes. The composition is notable as one of the few Guns N' Roses songs to feature Stradlin rather than Axl Rose on lead vocals, lending it a more conversational, storytelling quality. The instrumentation includes lead and rhythm guitars, talkbox effects, bass, drums, and piano and organ parts, giving the arrangement a full-band texture that balances hard rock power with roots-influenced restraint. Lyrically, the song carries themes of mortality and philosophical reflection on life's pressures, with a specific reference to Interstate 65 running through Stradlin and Rose's hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. The track was performed regularly during Guns N' Roses' live shows before Stradlin's departure from the group in November 1991, just two months after the Use Your Illusion albums were released.
