This song is timeless, and nearly 20 years after its creation, still possesses the mystique it did the first time i heard it ~1994. To me, at first blush, all those years ago, it had some kind of homo-erotic allure. The line "so that the others may do" tells of something which must be done for others to follow suit. It felt like like some kind of roxy-glam-pop invitation to sexual liberation.
Upon further introspection I think the song may not have an intrinsic meaning, but simply represents a sort of "holding open the door" for people who otherwise might be affronted by this song/band's unusual style. I know, as a sort of armchair rock-historian, that there have been few bands so daring and so true to the sound that wanted to emerge from within, whether the creator wanted it or not. This band handled it with elegance and grace seldom, if ever, seen.
I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
Lyrics submitted by justinjtp, edited by spacebat11, BudGreen0420, KurtDC, sony105798, daniels102
Very Ape Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's quite clear he had difficulty making his ideals a reality; the popularity explosion and constant media exposure meant he could not escape from the lies, the contradictions - even if some of these were media fabrications; and some of the contradictions, part of the media persona he created himself.
"...and very nice. If you ever need anything..."
he was a nice, caring guy, and yet selfish and insular - both are true.
I think this, and the "too busy acting like I'm not naive" is a pretty good description of the lengths kind people will go to so they do not get used and abused - and hence another contradiction. I also think it's a sarcastic (and self-immolating) remark about the "punk rock ethic".
The chorus is chilling.
--
I think that kurt was probably aware of other interpretations of these lyrics - as an attack on other people/society - that others have mentioned, and that in a sense he intended these also, but I feel that the real drive behind the lyrics is against himself, though never with total sincerity.