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Dry County (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Dry County'" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on March 7, 1994, as the sixth and final single from their fifth studio album, 'Keep the Faith' (1992). It was written by Jon Bon Jovi and remixed specifically for the single release by Bob Clearmountain. Clocking in at 9 minutes and 52 seconds, "Dry County" is the longest song that Bon Jovi has ever recorded on a studio album. The single reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and number six in Finland. It was not released in the United States or Canada. The edited 6 minute version wasn't commercially released in the UK, but was available in parts of Europe. In the UK, the single was issued as a two disc digipack complete with the first disc featuring the full length remix as well as live versions of 'Blood Money' and 'Stranger In This Town.' The second disc featured a full live version of 'Dry County' as well as a cover of the Rolling Stone's 'It's Only Rock & Roll' and a 'Waltzing Mathilda' sung by the bands drummer Tico Torres.
Lyrical interpretation
"Dry County" is about the decline of the U.S. domestic oil industry and its effect on those whose income relied on it. In live versions of the song, during the buildup to the second guitar solo, Jon Bon Jovi often includes a monologue about the struggles of life generally.
Song structure
"Dry County" is an epic ballad that contains several rises, climaxes, and instrumental solos, in the vein of such long rock epics as "Free Bird", "Child in Time", "Stairway to Heaven", "Telegraph Road", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "New York City Serenade", "Jungleland" and "November Rain".
Live performances
Although "Dry County" is considered a fan favorite, it was only played regularly on the Keep the Faith Tour. On May 13, 2006, Bon Jovi played "Dry County" live at the first concert of the summer leg of their Have a Nice Day Tour in Dsseldorf, it was the first time it had been played live in 10 years, and went on to be performed on further occasions on that tour and on the band's more recent Lost Highway Tour. The band's followers often display signs requesting the song. It was also performed during The Circle Tour and Because We Can Tour. It was performed once on the This House Is Not for Sale Tour in 2018 at the Allentown, Pennsylvania show.
Track listings
'UK and European 7-inch single'
:A. "Dry County" 9:36
:B. "Stranger in This Town" (live)
'UK CD1'
# "Dry County" (Clearmountain Mix) 9:36
# "Stranger in This Town" (live)
# "Blood Money" (live)
'UK CD2'
# "Dry County" (live)
# "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" (live)
# "Waltzing Matilda" (live)
Charts
References
Category:1992 songs
Category:1994 singles
Category:Bon Jovi songs
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Rock
Category:Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi
Category:Vertigo Records singles
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