The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
And if you save yourself
You will make him happy
He'll keep you in a jar
And you'll think you're happy
He'll give you breathing holes
And you'll think you're happy
He'll cover you with grass
And you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
And if you cut yourself
You will think you're happy
He'll keep you in a jar
Then you'll make him happy
He'll give you breathing holes
Then you'll think you're happy
He'll cover you with grass
Then you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
And if you fool yourself
You will make him happy
He'll keep you in a jar
Then you'll think you're happy
He'll give you breathing holes
Then you will seem happy
You'll wallow in the shit
Then you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
You will make him happy
He'll keep you in a jar
And you'll think you're happy
He'll give you breathing holes
And you'll think you're happy
He'll cover you with grass
And you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
And if you cut yourself
You will think you're happy
He'll keep you in a jar
Then you'll make him happy
He'll give you breathing holes
Then you'll think you're happy
He'll cover you with grass
Then you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
And if you fool yourself
You will make him happy
He'll keep you in a jar
Then you'll think you're happy
He'll give you breathing holes
Then you will seem happy
You'll wallow in the shit
Then you'll think you're happy now
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
You're in a laundry room
The clues that came to you, oh
Lyrics submitted by shadowcml, edited by Mellow_Harsher, roche4thewin
Sappy Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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I think it's about not being able to escape. It's kind of a mockery of of god, referring to god as a mean kid keeping you in a jar, for his own fun and entertainment. You're thrown all sorts of bullshit that you need to survive (breathing holes and grass). And then you realize why nothing is ever fixed because he forgot about you; you're in a laundry room.
Maybe I always just saw it that way. From the bug in a jar analogy which is repeated throughout the song.