Nirvana – Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" as written by and Kurt Cobain....
Use just once and destroy
Invasion of our piracy
Afterbirth of a nation
Starved without your skeleton key

I love you for what I am not
I did not want what I have got
Blanket acne'd with cigarette burns
Speak at once while taking turns

What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?

I'm gonna do with what you think
If you ever think at all
Bi-polar opposites attract
All of a sudden my water broke

I love you for what I am not
I did not want what I have got
Blanket acne'd with cigarette burns
Second-rate third degree burns

What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What do I think? I think

Hate your enemies
Save, save your friends
Find, find your place
Speak, speak the truth

What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What is what I need?
What do I think? I think

Just use once and destroy
Invasion of our piracy
Afterbirth of a nation
Starved without your skeleton key

What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What do I think? I think

What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What is wrong with me?
What do I think? I think


Lyrics submitted by justinjtp, edited by AidanStalin

"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" as written by Kurt Cobain

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Radio Friendly Unit Shifter song meanings
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65 Comments

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  • +6
    General CommentKurt said it himself that this song has no meaning and that it's a bunch of random poetry lines thrown together to a kick ass motherfucking melody. This is one of my favorite Nirvana songs.
    trevoron July 01, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General CommentMy favorite lines: "Hate, hate your enemies/Save, save your friends/Find, find your place/Speak, speak the truth." Great mantra for anyone.

    Kurt was a pretty cool guy.
    Aquarius121on February 21, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General CommentEr, this song is NOT about hating life as a rockstar.

    Keep in mind that this song was written in late 1990, a good year or so before Nevermind was even released.
    Malteseon September 11, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI don't know why people are digging into the views of Kurt.
    Its pretty basic.
    He is writting as if he is the song.
    The title as mentioned before is sarcastic as it cleary isn't a radio friendly unit shifter.
    He asks the question "what is wrong with me?" as in why can't I (on behalf of the song) be a radio hit.
    Thats it he probabley is having a stab at Smells Like Teen Spirit but its certainly not to do with drugs or anything.
    leeroyf2on February 26, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWhy do you guys get so impatiant that you need to click the add button more then 1 time?

    (The Ironicy)
    Talk to meon February 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWhat si wrong with me?
    mojo risinon August 31, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Commentwtf? no one mentions that "use once and destroy" is printed on virtually every insulin syringe.
    stickfigure8on January 21, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think this song is about how Kurt had everything given to him: fame, fortune, and a posterboy for a new generation, but he hated all of it. He is basically asking himself "What is wrong with me?", why he hates all of this when he should be loving and embracing it.
    revolverisgayon April 08, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song was written in 1992, and its original title was "9-Month Media Blackout". It is essentially a song about Kurt's distaste for the music industry, the media and how DGC stated that the band needed more "radio-friendly" songs.
    sc1021on September 23, 2013   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General CommentThis song has no meaning. Other then to be amazing of course.
    Tom1234on April 24, 2014   Link

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