"There Was a Time" is a heavily layered melody driven orchestral song with a mellotron, violins, choirs and multiple synthesizers. "Spin" noted, "Bluesy piano and slyly cinematic passage set up the highest notes Axl's full-health throat has ever belted." "Catcher in the Rye" was written after Rose watched a documentary on Mark David Chapman and wanted to write a song in dedication to John Lennon; the song is meant to criticize the book "The Catcher in the Rye". The song, a power ballad drew comparisons to Oasis as well as Elton John, Queen and the Guns N' Roses song "Yesterdays".