"Coma" is an extended hard rock composition written by Axl Rose and Slash, serving as the closing track on Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion I, released in 1991 on Geffen Records. At over ten minutes in length, it is one of the longest songs in the band's catalog and among the most musically ambitious pieces from the Use Your Illusion sessions. The composition moves through multiple sections and dramatic shifts in dynamics, ranging from quiet, tension-building passages to explosive, heavy guitar-driven climaxes, creating a narrative arc that mirrors its lyrical subject matter. The song depicts the experience of a drug overdose and the resulting medical emergency, with sound effects including a defibrillator and a heart monitor woven into the arrangement to heighten the cinematic intensity. Rose's vocal performance spans a wide emotional range, from subdued near-spoken passages to full-throated screams, while Slash's guitar work navigates intricate melodic lines and crushing riff sections throughout the song's extended runtime. "Coma" reflects the darker creative territory that Rose and Slash explored during the Use Your Illusion era, pushing the boundaries of conventional rock song structure in favor of a more progressive, suite-like approach. The track has been performed live only rarely, partly due to its demanding length and complexity, making it one of the more elusive pieces in the Guns N' Roses concert repertoire.
