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 I may, and if I might
Lay me down weeping
And if I say, what is life?
I might be dreaming
If I may, what is right?
Summertime, see me yield
Those years in his body
A phrase from his pocket
In chains from the no-end, lifelong dream
Re, mi
Re, mi
Well, do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
If I may and if I might
Wake me up and see me
If I do, and if I lie
Find me out, to see me
And if I'm made, cold as ice
I may have to see me heal
Raised in his own care
Erased from this moment
The change from his socket
That I may need
Re, mi
Re, mi
Well, do re mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Wish me good and wish me life
Find me out, to see me
In your way, just be quiet
Follow pain and be me
Yell or wail and if I sigh
Stake me out the TV
And if I may, and if I might
Got a gun to bleed me
Crazed in this gossip
Erased from his woman
And chains from his knowing
In my tea
Re, mi
Re, mi
Re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Lay me down weeping
And if I say, what is life?
I might be dreaming
If I may, what is right?
Summertime, see me yield
Those years in his body
A phrase from his pocket
In chains from the no-end, lifelong dream
Re, mi
Re, mi
Well, do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
If I may and if I might
Wake me up and see me
If I do, and if I lie
Find me out, to see me
And if I'm made, cold as ice
I may have to see me heal
Raised in his own care
Erased from this moment
The change from his socket
That I may need
Re, mi
Re, mi
Well, do re mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Wish me good and wish me life
Find me out, to see me
In your way, just be quiet
Follow pain and be me
Yell or wail and if I sigh
Stake me out the TV
And if I may, and if I might
Got a gun to bleed me
Crazed in this gossip
Erased from his woman
And chains from his knowing
In my tea
Re, mi
Re, mi
Re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Do, re, mi
Lyrics submitted by PsykeZ555, edited by Riotboy, KurtDCobainLiving
Do Re Mi [Home Demo] Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This song, like any Nirvana song, has so many meanings and possible meanings/references that it can make your head spin.
To those who believe in "What you see is what you get" - i dont understand your logic. If you listen to any of the band's other songs you will see how Kurt played with words and intentionally made things sound very gray. In agreeance with a poster before me, this "style" added to Nirvana's appeal and mystery. Proof of that is some of us still bickering some 10 years after Kurt is dead.
Some things that i have thought of while hearing these lyrics over the years (apologize for repetition): Do Re Mi - Music Scale. duh. Do Re Mi could be a reference to the way he saw the events of his past behind him and the path that lies before him; since Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do is a sequence and the mood of the song is not exactly like his others it seems a positive outlook. The song could be a description of some kind of fight that was going on inside of him at the time. Do Re Mi could be an intentional "last words before death" kind of deal. Some of the words are stressed where its like he is reminiscing his past and coming to a realization that he can leave this all behind. Like he was ready and experienced all that he set out to do. But then again, he never meant for nirvana to become so popular and become what it did. *Do Re Mi/Dont Rape Me: funny and a possibly a reference to "Rape Me". You could also say that the drugs were welcomed before and now they are not, hence Dont rape me.
Whatever the reason for this song, it definitely had a reason and a purpose for its creation.
Absolutely. I think you probably have just come up with the most insightful and intelligent lyric explanation on this website.