"Dead Horse" is a hard rock composition written solely by Axl Rose, recorded for the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion I released in 1991 on Geffen Records. The song stands out for its dynamic structure, opening and closing with an acoustic guitar riff composed and performed by Rose himself, a rare instance of the vocalist picking up the instrument on a Guns N' Roses recording. These folk-inflected acoustic passages frame a heavier electric guitar-driven core dominated by aggressive riffs and full-band intensity, creating a distinctive contrast between sparse intimacy and anthemic power. The track concludes with a playful audio effect of the song appearing to fast-forward, adding an unconventional touch to its ending. Lyrically, "Dead Horse" explores themes of victimhood, accusation, and personal frustration, fitting within the broader defensive and introspective tone that characterized Rose's six sole writing credits on the Use Your Illusion albums. The composition reflects Rose's expanding creative ambitions during the period between Appetite for Destruction and the Use Your Illusion sessions, as the band's songwriting shifted from the collaborative dynamic of the debut era toward more individually authored material. "Dead Horse" was issued as a promotional single in 1993 with an accompanying music video compiled from tour footage, including scenes captured by Rose wearing a helmet camera during a concert in Kansas City. The song was performed infrequently in concert, with notable gaps of over two decades between live appearances.
