Sweet Child o' Mine

During a jam session at the band's house in Sunset Strip,{{cite web|url=http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/articles/showarticle.php?articleid=149|title=The Story Behind The Song – Guns N' Roses 'Sweet Child O' Mine'|publisher=Here Today... Gone To Hell!|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515173901/http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/articles/showarticle.php?articleid=149|url-status=live}} drummer Steven Adler and Slash were warming up and Slash began to play a "circus" melody while making faces at Adler. Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin asked Slash to play it again. Stradlin came up with some chords, Duff McKagan created a bassline and Adler planned a beat. In his autobiography, Slash said "within an hour my guitar exercise had become something else." Lead singer Axl Rose was listening to the musicians upstairs in his room and was inspired to write lyrics, which he completed by the following afternoon. He based it on his girlfriend Erin Everly (daughter of Don Everly, of the Everly Brothers, and Venetia Stevenson), and declared that Lynyrd Skynyrd served as an inspiration "to make sure that we'd got that heartfelt feeling." On the next composing session in Burbank, the band added a bridge and a guitar solo.{{cite book | last=Slash |author2=Bozza, Anthony | title=Slash | publisher=Harper Entertainment | year=2007 | isbn=978-0-00-725775-1 | pages=154–5}}

When the band recorded demos with producer Spencer Proffer, he suggested adding a breakdown at the song's end. The musicians agreed, but were not sure what to do. Listening to the demo in a loop, Rose started saying to himself, "Where do we go? Where do we go now?" and Proffer suggested that he sing that.

An alternate version featuring half a live version, half a newly recorded 1999 version plays during the credits of the movie Big Daddy.{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1429782/new-guns-n-roses-makes-mystery-debut-live-album-sessions-underway/ |title=New Guns N' Roses Makes Mystery Debut; Live Album Sessions Underway |work=MTV News |date=July 9, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128140836/http://www.mtv.com/news/1429782/new-guns-n-roses-makes-mystery-debut-live-album-sessions-underway/ |archive-date=January 28, 2020 |access-date=January 28, 2020 }}

A music video was made for the song in 1987. The music video depicts the band rehearsing in Mendiola's Ballroom at Huntington Park, California, surrounded by crew members. All of the band members' girlfriends at the time were shown in the clip: Rose's girlfriend Erin Everly; McKagan's girlfriend Mandy Brix, from the all-female rock band the Lame Flames; Stradlin's girlfriend Angela Nicoletti; Adler's girlfriend Cheryl Swiderski; and Slash's girlfriend Sally McLaughlin. Stradlin's dog was also shown. The video was successful on MTV, and helped launch the song to mainstream success.

To make "Sweet Child o' Mine" more marketable to MTV and radio stations, the song was edited down from 5:56 to 4:58, for the radio edit/remix, with much of Slash's guitar solo removed. This drew the ire of the band, including Rose, who commented on it in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone: "I hate the edit of 'Sweet Child o' Mine.' Radio stations said, 'Well, your vocals aren't cut.' My favorite part of the song is Slash's slow solo; it's the heaviest part for me. There's no reason for it to be missing except to create more space for commercials, so the radio-station owners can get more advertising dollars. When you get the chopped version of 'Paradise City' or half of 'Sweet Child' and 'Patience' cut, you're getting screwed."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/axl-rose-the-rolling-stone-interview-3-184068/ |title=Axl Rose: The Rolling Stone Interview |author=Del James |date=August 10, 1989 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

A 7-inch vinyl format and cassette single were released. The album version of the song was included on the US single release, while the UK single was the "edit/remix" version. The 12-inch vinyl format also contained the longer LP version. The B-side to the single is a non-album, live version of "It's So Easy.”

On an interview on Eddie Trunk's New York radio show in May 2006, Rose stated that his original concept for the video focused on the theme of drug trafficking. According to Rose, the video was to depict an Asian woman carrying a baby into a foreign land, only to discover at the end that the child was dead and filled with heroin. This concept was rejected by Geffen Records.

This song was used for a teaser trailer premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder, which released on April 18, 2022, and the film itself,{{Cite web |last=Rolli |first=Bryan |title=GNR's 'Sweet Child O' Mine' Fuels 'Thor: Love and Thunder' Teaser |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/thor-love-and-thunder-sweet-child-o-mine/ |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=April 18, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418170037/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/thor-love-and-thunder-sweet-child-o-mine/ |url-status=live }} including the end credits. As of 2024, the music video currently has over 1.6 billion views on YouTube.{{Citation |title=Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine (Official Music Video) | date=December 24, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4 |access-date=2024-09-14 |language=en}}

"Sweet Child o' Mine" placed number 37 on Guitar World's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos." It also came in at number three on Blender's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born, and at number 196 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2 |title=RS Greatest Songs 2004 #s 101-200 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620035744/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2 |access-date=29 Nov 2024|archive-date=June 20, 2008 }} and 88th in the 2021 list.[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/the-beatles-hey-jude-2-1225249/ RS500]

In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number six in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. On a 2004 Total Guitar magazine poll, the introduction's famous riff was voted the number one riff of all-time by the readers of the magazine.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm | work=BBC News | title=Guns N' Roses top rock riff poll | date=May 2, 2004 | access-date=May 24, 2010 | archive-date=August 14, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814230144/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm | url-status=live }} It was also in Rolling Stone's 40 Greatest Songs that Changed the World. It places number seven in VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s,” and placed number 210 on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Songs of the Century list.

The song has sold 2,609,000 digital copies in the United States as of March 2012.{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-march-18-2012-songs-80s-party-004336988.html |title=Week Ending March 18, 2012. Songs: Your '80s Party Mix-Tape |publisher=Yahoo! Music |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140912190215/https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-march-18-2012-songs-80s-party-004336988.html |url-status=live }} In 2017, Paste ranked the song number 10 on their list of the 15 greatest Guns N' Roses songs,{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/guns-n-roses/the-15-best-guns-n-roses-songs/|title=The 15 Best Guns N' Roses Songs|first=Bryan|last=Rolli|work=Paste|date=September 27, 2017|accessdate=April 27, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427213833/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/guns-n-roses/the-15-best-guns-n-roses-songs/|url-status=live}} and in 2020, Kerrang ranked the song number eight on their list of the 20 greatest Guns N' Roses songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-guns-n-roses-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Guns N' Roses songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|work=Kerrang|date=October 8, 2020|accessdate=April 27, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427213833/https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-guns-n-roses-songs-ranked|url-status=live}}

Guitarist Slash said in 1990, "[The song] turned into a huge hit and now it makes me sick. I mean, I like it, but I hate what it represents."{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Rowland|title=LA Law and Disorder|magazine=Select, reprinted from Musician|date=February 1991|page=45}}

Cash Box called it a "medium tempo rocker by the new hero's [sic] of metal, featuring a nice breakdown" and "standout guitar playing."{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1988/CB-1988-06-18.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=June 18, 1988|accessdate=2022-12-21|page=8}}

In 2015, the web page of the Australian music TV channel MAX published an article by music writer Nathan Jolly that noted similarities between "Sweet Child o' Mine" and the song "Unpublished Critics" by the Australian band Australian Crawl, from 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/how-similar-is-sweet-child-o-mine-to-a-1981-australian-crawl-song.aspx|title=How similar is 'Sweet Child O Mine' to a 1981 Australian Crawl song?|publisher=maxtv.com.au|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619224146/http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/how-similar-is-sweet-child-o-mine-to-a-1981-australian-crawl-song.aspx|archive-date=June 19, 2016}} The article included both songs, inviting readers to compare the two. It also cited a reader's comment on an earlier article{{cite web|url=http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/slash-is-open-to-a-gunners-reunion-never-say-never.aspx|title=Slash is open to a Gunners reunion: 'Never say never'|publisher=maxtv.com.au|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419011218/http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/slash-is-open-to-a-gunners-reunion-never-say-never.aspx|archive-date=April 19, 2016}} that had originally drawn attention to the similarities between the songs. As of May 2015, this comment no longer appeared on the earlier article. The story went viral{{cite web|url=http://app.viralnewschart.com/News/News.aspx?linkId=108853839|title=Guns N Roses Sweet Child O Mine comes under plagiarism charges – ViralNewsChart via Consequence of Sound|date=May 10, 2015|work=ViralNewsChart|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100731/http://app.viralnewschart.com/News/News.aspx?linkId=108853839|archive-date=May 18, 2015|url-status=dead}} quickly, encouraging several comments on both the MAX article and the suggestion that "Unpublished Critics" had influenced "Sweet Child o' Mine,”{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/australian-crawl-fans-spark-online-debate-after-pointing-out-similarities-with-guns-n-roses-hit/story-e6frfmq9-1227350742310|title=Australian Crawl fans spark online debate after pointing out similarities with Guns N' Roses hit|work=NewsComAu|date=May 11, 2015|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514084521/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/australian-crawl-fans-spark-online-debate-after-pointing-out-similarities-with-guns-n-roses-hit/story-e6frfmq9-1227350742310|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6568203/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-australian-crawl|title=Did Guns N' Roses' 'Sweet Child O' Mine' Copy Australian Crawl's 'Unpublished Critics'? |magazine=Billboard}}{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-plagiarism/|title=Guns N' Roses 'Sweet Child O' Mine' Plagiarism Claims Laughed Off by Australian Crawl Singer|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-date=May 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515153756/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-plagiarism/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/may/14/australian-crawl-singer-james-reyne-similarities-between-sweet-child-o-mine|title=James Reyne responds to Guns N' Roses Sweet Child O' Mine plagiarism rumours|first=Monica|last=Tan|work=The Guardian|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202105453/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/may/14/australian-crawl-singer-james-reyne-similarities-between-sweet-child-o-mine|url-status=live}} including one from Duff McKagan, bass player with Guns N' Roses when "Sweet Child o' Mine" was written and recorded.{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2015/05/13/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-plagiarism-duff-mckagan/|title=Duff McKagan: Guns N' Roses Didn't Plagiarize on 'Sweet Child O' Mine'|publisher=Radio.com|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090403/http://radio.com/2015/05/13/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-plagiarism-duff-mckagan/|archive-date=May 18, 2015|url-status=dead}} McKagan found the similarities between the songs "stunning," but said he had not previously heard "Unpublished Critics."{{cite web|url=http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/guns-roses-duff-mckagan-on-aussie-crawl-song-it-is-pretty-stunning-but-we-didnt-steal-it-from-them.aspx|title=Duff McKagan on the Aussie Crawl song: 'It is pretty stunning... but we didn't steal it from them'|publisher=maxtv.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092122/http://www.maxtv.com.au/news/guns-roses-duff-mckagan-on-aussie-crawl-song-it-is-pretty-stunning-but-we-didnt-steal-it-from-them.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2017}}

The song has been used in numerous films and series, most recently in the 2025 series finale of Cobra Kai.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=antiMusic |date=2025-02-15 |title=Guns N' Roses Fuel Finale Of Cobra Kai |url=https://www.antimusic.com/news/25/0215guns_n_roses_fuel_finale_of_cobra_kai.shtml |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.antimusic.com |language=en}} Other films and series include:

• The Wrestler (2008){{Cite web |date=2021-02-04 |title=The 10 Best Uses Of Guns N' Roses Songs In Movies |url=https://screenrant.com/best-movie-scenes-featuring-guns-roses-music/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726091115/https://screenrant.com/best-movie-scenes-featuring-guns-roses-music/ |url-status=live }}
• Step Brothers (2008)
• The Big Short (2015){{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Axl |date=2016-01-05 |title=The Big Short: The Most Metal Movie of 2015? |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2016/01/05/the-big-short-the-most-metal-movie-of-2015/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}
• Captain Fantastic (2016){{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Keith |date=2016-07-15 |title=Review: Captain Fantastic |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/captain-fantastic/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US |quote=[...] about five different feel-good endings, the most egregious of which sees the family performing an exultant cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as they cremate their matriarch’s corpse on a bonfire, ostensibly giving her the funeral she would have wanted. The moment is calculated for maximum emotional punch, but the family’s choice to sing a popular rock song rings hollow [...]}}{{Cite web |last=Kermode |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Kermode |date=2016-09-11 |title=Captain Fantastic review – thrilling and poignant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/11/captain-fantastic-review-viggo-mortensen |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=The Guardian |quote=... a Wicker Man-style reworking of Sweet Child O’ Mine that reduced me to tears.}}{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2021-05-24 |title=The Number Ones: Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2148494/the-number-ones-guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine/columns/the-number-ones/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Stereogum |language=en |quote=Something about “Sweet Child O’ Mine” seems to make filmmakers think about what it’s like to accept or even embrace death. In 2016’s Captain Fantastic, there’s an idyllic scene where a whole brood full of hippie kids sings “Sweet Child O’ Mine” while their mother’s body burns on a funeral pyre.}}
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022){{Cite web |last=Chappell |first=Caitlin |date=2022-06-28 |title=Thor: Love and Thunder Is a Love Letter to '80s Rock |url=https://www.cbr.com/thor-love-and-thunder-press-conference-music/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702095643/https://www.cbr.com/thor-love-and-thunder-press-conference-music/ |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-18 |title=Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" Soundtracks The First Teaser For 'Thor: Love And Thunder' |url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/04/18/news/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-soundtracks-the-first-teaser-for-thor-love-and-thunder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630224141/https://www.theprp.com/2022/04/18/news/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-soundtracks-the-first-teaser-for-thor-love-and-thunder/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US}}

Slash performs his guitar solo as a guitarist auditioning for a band in a Capital One commercial in which the theme is "easiest decision in the history of decisions.”{{cite news|url=http://wxhc.com/watch-slash-shred-sweet-child-o-mine-in-new-capital-one-commercial|title=Watch Slash shred 'Sweet Child o' Mine' in new Capital One commercial|work=WXHC|via=ABC News|date=2022-07-26|access-date=2022-08-30|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116182225/https://www.wxhc.com/watch-slash-shred-sweet-child-o-mine-in-new-capital-one-commercial/|url-status=live}}

The song is used in a 2024 commercial for Spectrum cable service.

{{Track listing

| headline = US 7-inch vinyl (27963-7)

|all_writing = Guns N' Roses except where noted

|total_length =

| title1 = Sweet Child o' Mine

| note1 = LP version

| writer1 =

| length1 = 5:55

| title2 = It's So Easy

| note2 = live at The Marquee Club June 28, 1987

| writer2 =

| length2 =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK 1988 7-inch vinyl (GEF 43)

|total_length = 8:17

| title1 = Sweet Child o' Mine

| note1 = remix/edit

| writer1 =

| length1 = 3:57Actual length is 4:19

| title2 = Out Ta Get Me

| note2 = LP version

| writer2 =

| length2 = 4:20

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK 1988 10-inch and 12-inch vinyl (GEF 43TE; GEF 43T)

| title1 = Sweet Child o' Mine

| note1 = LP version

| writer1 =

| length1 = 5:55

| title2 = Out Ta Get Me

| note2 = LP version

| writer2 =

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Rocket Queen

| note3 = LP version

| writer3 =

| length3 =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK 1989 7-inch vinyl (GEF 55)

|total_length =

| title1 = Sweet Child o' Mine

| note1 = remix/edit

| writer1 =

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Out Ta Get Me

| note2 = LP version

| writer2 =

| length2 = 4:20

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK 1989 12-inch vinyl and 3-inch CD (GEF 55T; GEF 55CD)

| title1 = Sweet Child o' Mine

| note1 = LP version

| writer1 =

| length1 = 5:55

| title2 = Move to the City

| note2 = LP version

| writer2 = Guns N' Roses, Del James, Chris Weber

| length2 = 3:47

| title3 = Whole Lotta Rosie

| note3 = live AC/DC cover

| writer3 = Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott

| length3 = 4:34

| title4 = It's So Easy

| note4 = live

| writer4 = Guns N' Roses, West Arkeen

| length4 = 3:51

}}

• W. Axl Rose – lead vocals
• Slash – lead guitar
• Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Duff "Rose" McKagan – bass, backing vocals
• Steven Adler – drums

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Sweet Child o' Mine"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=1988|certyear=2020|access-date=April 24, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|award=Diamond|relyear=1988|certyear=2024|access-date=August 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2023|id=12633|access-date=July 4, 2023|refname=DEN1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|certyear=2024|access-date=December 4, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1988|certyear=2019|note=sales since 2009|access-date=December 31, 2019|id=7554}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1988|certyear=2025|id=file_2025-03-13-17-34-14.pdf|access-date=March 14, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1988|certyear=2024|access-date=August 26, 2024|id=guns-n-roses-sweet-child-omine}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Guns N' Roses|title=Sweet Child o' Mine|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|id=8964-145-1|access-date=January 19, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Guns N Roses|title=Sweet Child|award=Gold|relyear=1987|certyear=2005|digital=true|salesamount=3,126,000|salesref={{cite news|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-dark-horse-holds-off-happy-230021537.html|title=Chart Watch: 'Dark Horse' Holds Off 'Happy'|first=Paul|last=Grein|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo|date=February 19, 2014|access-date=February 21, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304042038/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-dark-horse-holds-off-happy-230021537.html|url-status=live}}|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Guns N Roses|title=Sweet Child|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|note=Mastertone|digital=true|access-date=July 20, 2021|refname=RIAA}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Sweet Child o' Mine

| cover = Sweet child shreyl crow.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Sheryl Crow

| album = Big Daddy soundtrack

| B-side = * "If It Makes You Happy"

• "A Change Would Do You Good"
• "Leaving Las Vegas"

| released = {{start date|1999|05|31}}{{cite magazine|title=Adds for May 31 & June 1|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2257|page=45|date=May 28, 1999}}

| recorded =

| studio = Sound City Studios (Van Nuys, CA){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-daddy-mw0000241564|title=Big Daddy - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}

| genre = * Americana{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-daddy-mw0000241564|title=Big Daddy - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}

• country{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine|website= Stereogum |date= May 24, 2021|url= https://www.stereogum.com/2148494/the-number-ones-guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= In 1999, Sheryl Crow contributed a countrified “Sweet Child O’ Mine” cover to the soundtrack of the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy.|accessdate= November 12, 2023}}

| length = 3:49

| label = A&M

| writer = Guns N' Roses

| producer = Rick Rubin, Sheryl Crow

| prev_title = Anything but Down

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Soak Up the Sun

| next_year = 2002

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vyr-CtYGfmY|"Sweet Child O' Mine"}}|header=Audio video}}

}}

The song was covered by Sheryl Crow on the soundtrack to Big Daddy, and released as a bonus track on her third studio album, The Globe Sessions. The recording was produced by Rick Rubin and Crow. A music video for Crow's version was also released, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sheryl+Crow+to+Release+%27Sweet+Child+O%27+Mine,%27+Her+Special+Version+of...-a054768180 |title=Sheryl Crow to Release 'Sweet Child O' Mine,' Her Special Version of the Rock Classic, in June |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |date=June 1, 1999 |access-date=April 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210232049/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sheryl+Crow+to+Release+%27Sweet+Child+O%27+Mine,%27+Her+Special+Version+of...-a054768180 |archive-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=dead}} Crow performed the song live at Woodstock '99.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/516168/woodstock-99-report-15-sheryl-crow-act-short-on-theatrics-long-on-emotion/|title=Woodstock '99 Report #15: Sheryl Crow Act Short On Theatrics, Long On Emotion|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 3, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075415/http://www.mtv.com/news/516168/woodstock-99-report-15-sheryl-crow-act-short-on-theatrics-long-on-emotion/|url-status=dead}}

Ultimate Classic Rock profiled the song as part of a series on "Terrible Classic Rock Covers",{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/sheryl-crow-sweet-child-o-mine-terrible-classic-rock-covers/|title=Sheryl Crow, 'Sweet Child O' Mine' – Terrible Classic Rock Covers|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=August 23, 2013|access-date=July 3, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703103940/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/sheryl-crow-sweet-child-o-mine-terrible-classic-rock-covers/|url-status=live}} and Rolling Stone readers named it the fourth worst cover song of all-time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-choose-the-worst-cover-songs-of-all-time-12882/4-sheryl-crow-sweet-child-o-mine-153670/|title=Rolling Stone Readers Choose the Worst Cover Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 18, 2011}} Despite its negative reception, it became a moderate hit in Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and it earned Crow a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/210|title=Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance|publisher=Grammy Awards|access-date=May 10, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106000956/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/210|url-status=live}}

{{Infobox song

| name =

| cover = Sweetchildominetakenbytrees.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Taken by Trees

| album =

| B-side = Above You

| released = November 23, 2009

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Indie pop

| length =

| label = Rough Trade

| writer = Guns N' Roses

| producer =

| chronology = Taken by Trees

| prev_title = Lost & Found

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Dreams

| next_year = 2012

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = John Lewis & Partners Christmas advert

| type = single

| title = Sweet Child o' Mine

| year = 2009

| next_title = Your Song

| next_year = 2010

}}

}}

In 2009, Taken by Trees, the solo project of Swedish singer Victoria Bergsman, former lead singer of the Concretes covered the song for the 2009 John Lewis & Partners Christmas advert, a UK advertising tradition since 2007. It was later announced that the version would be released as their next UK single.Mentioned on the Radio 1 Fearne Cotton Show, November 20, 2009, approx 11:00 GMT It was also used in the promotional trailers for the 2009 remake of The Last House on the Left. The song was also used in the final scene for the 2010 film Life as We Know It. Bergsman's version reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart on November 28, 2009 during a six week spell in the top 75.{{Cite web|title=TAKEN BY TREES {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5931/taken-by-trees/|access-date=2021-09-12|website=www.officialcharts.com|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523131048/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5931/taken-by-trees/|url-status=live}}

{{Clear}}

{{Portal|Rock music}}

• Guns N' Roses discography
• List of best-selling singles in the United States
• List of glam metal albums and songs
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1988 (U.S.)
• List of UK Rock Chart number-one singles of 2010

{{Reflist}}

{{Guns N' Roses}}

{{Sheryl Crow}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for "Sweet Child o' Mine"

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list =

{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video}}

}}

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