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"Dry County"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Keep the Faith
Released	1994
Format	CD single
Recorded	1992
Genre	Hard rock
Length	9:52
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi
Producer	Bob Rock
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"I Believe" (1993) "Dry County" (1994) "Always" (1994)

"Dry County" is a song by Bon Jovi from their 1992 album Keep the Faith. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi. Dry County stands as the band's longest song released so far, with a length of 9 minutes 52 seconds. A shorter 6-minute version reached #9 in the UK Charts and #1 in Latin America.

Lyrical interpretation

Dry County is about the decline of the US domestic oil industry and its effect on those whose income relied on it. In live versions of the song, during the build up 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", "November Rain" and "Jungleland".

Although Dry County is considered a fan favorite, it was played regularly only on the Keep the Faith and These Days tours. In fact, on May 13, 2006, when Bon Jovi played Dry County live on the first concert of the summer leg of their Have A Nice Day Tour in Düsseldorf, 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.

Track listing

UK release

1. "Dry County"
2. "Stranger In This Town (Live)"
3. "Blood Money (Live)"

CD1

1. Dry County [Live]
2. It's Only Rock n Roll [Live]
3. Waltzing Matilda [Live]

References

• "Chart Data: Bon Jovi". Worldwide chart positions. http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PBonJovi.htm. Retrieved March 7, 2007.