"Dry County" is a song by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band Bon Jovi. It was released on March 7, 1994, as the sixth and final single from their fifth studio album, ''

Keep the Faith ''Keep the Faith'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dis ...

'' (1992). It was written by Jon Bon Jovi. Clocking in at 9 minutes and 52 seconds, "Dry County" is the longest song that Bon Jovi has ever recorded on a studio album. A shorter 6-minute version reached number nine on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and number six in Finland. It was not released in the United States or Canada.

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.

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 The Have a Nice Day Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi. It took place between November 2005 and July 2006. The tour supported their ninth studio album '' Have a Nice Day''. The tour was a significant commercial suc ...

Düsseldorf Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second- ...

, 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 Lost Highway Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi in support of their 10th studio album, '' Lost Highway''. It took place from October 2007 to July 2008. Originally planned as a 2008 greatest hits tour, the tour wa ...

. The band's followers often display signs requesting the song. It was also performed during

The Circle Tour The Circle Tour is a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi. The tour supported the band's 11th studio album '' The Circle'' (2009). Starting in North America in early 2010, the tour progressed to Europe, South America, Asia and ...

and Because We Can Tour. It was performed once on the

This House Is Not for Sale Tour The This House Is Not for Sale Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi in support of their album '' This House Is Not for Sale''. The tour marked the first time of Phil X and Hugh McDonald as official members of the band. Backgr ...

in 2018 at the Allentown, Pennsylvania show.

Track listings

UK 7-inch and cassette single # "Dry County" – 9:36 # "Stranger in This Town" (live) UK CD1 # "Dry County" (edit) # "Stranger in This Town" (live) # "Blood Money" (live) UK CD2 # "Dry County" (live) # "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" (live) # "Waltzing Matilda" (live) European and Australian CD single # "Dry County" (edit) – 6:37 # "Dry County" – 9:36 Japanese CD single # "Dry County" (edit) # "Stranger in This Town" (live) # "Blood Money" (live) # "Dry County" (live) # "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" (live) # "Waltzing Matilda" (live)

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1992 songs 1994 singles Bon Jovi songs Mercury Records singles Song recordings produced by Bob Rock Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi Vertigo Records singles