Good Grief

I don't think it's about suicide.

I think it's about the fear of suicide. When he says "... the thought of being ousted comes and goes. When I think about it, the wind blows. I hate it," he's saying that when he thinks about it, something seems to shift in the room so-to-speak, and he hates that the feeling even came into his mind.

The second verse is, to me, about wanting to get away from whatever is making him think about it. Because even though he flashes that smile, it's delicate and easy to break. And he doesn't like this running. The "chills and petty band-aids wrapped around," line is talking about his cover-up and these stupid things he does to get away from the problem, just covering the feelings up, instead of addressing them and eliminating them. He hates that he just covers up his emotions.

The song is called Good Grief, and it seems that it is in response to Kurt Cobain's suicide. It is widely known that Dave reported having a difficult time after Kurt's death and wrote and recorded this album in that aftermath.

"Since I'm putting down all of the true things around, but I like it"

He's in a negative mood, talking shit even about the good things in life, but it feels good to him because he's in such a negative state.

"I handed down the crown, given the jewels and the answers of may"

I think that this means that he WAS handed down the crown. Now that Kurt is gone, he and Krist are the ones who have the responsibility for carrying on the legacy of Nirvana. Given the jewels, as in he had just fallen into Nirvana before Nevermind, and all of a sudden he's the one who has these riches but feels like he doesn't deserve it. The "answers of May" could refer to the aftermath of Kurt's April suicide.

"The thought of being ousted comes and goes"

He feels like he's a fraud and that his music career won't survive now that Nirvana is over. The next big band will "oust" him from the industry.

"Run me out of town"

He's sick of dealing with all the publicity himself and just wants to leave.

"Pissed at all the bowels, always the blues and a delicate smile"

Fed up with all the shit, but he has to put on a smile for the camera and for other people despite feeling down.

"Petty band-aids"

The things that are supposed to make you feel better, the advice that people give - they're just bandages on the wound of losing a friend.

I think the rest of the lyrics are a frustrated attempt to complete the song with nonsense words, either because he was fed up with not finishing it or perhaps partly in homage to Kurt, who would rhyme seemingly nonsense words in Nirvana songs. I'm surprised that this meaning hasn't been proposed before.

not sure about the lyrics but this is one of the best foo fighters songs, up there with everlong and hey johnny park. its so raw, it just makes you want to rock! anyways, that's what i think...

yer a real good song!

It could be about suicide.

"since I'm putting down all of the true things around but I like it"-He's saying that when he kills himself he's leaving behind everything but he wants to leave suffering

"I handed down the crown" This might be something to do with his will, what he means by 'crown' is his favorite thing.

"given the jewels and the answers of may" He was given everything he could possibly want.

"the thought of being ousted comes and goes" His paranoia says that if he doesn't kill himself someone else will

"when I think about it the wind blows" The wind could be a metaphor for paranoia.

"I hate it" He hates life

"run me out of town" He's basically asking someone to kill him

"somewhere a move might intended a gown at" A place where he can no longer suffer-a.k.a heaven

"pissed at all the bowels" He's experienced all the lows of life and now he's had enough

"always the blues and a delicate smile" He's trying to make himself happy but inside he's sad and lonely.

"missed all of the sideways" He doesn't want therapy or anything else to help him

"gull and noun" He doesn't care what anything means anymore, he just to die and thats all that matters to him

"chills and petty band-aids" He thinks that people lie when they say they can cure depression

"wrapped around" He knows this because he's tried them before and they don't work.

not sure as to the meaning, but i do know that this is definitely one of the best songs the foo's have done. I'm surprised more people haven't commented on it...

My favorite Foo Fighters song, definately.

FUCKING MAD ASS SONG!!! The best in my opinion, shoulda been a single.

Brilliant song..apparentley Dave opened with it the Pixies' 'Tony's Theme' during a live show..The opening drum bit sounds like the begining of a Pixies song also the riff is like that of the Pixies..Also the bit repitition of Tony in the chorus............

I was always a big Foo Fighters fan... but I never liked their first album. It sounded much rawer and grungier than their other works. After listening to In Your Honor (FF's finest achievement) for the umpteenth time, I decided to give their first album another try. I bought it off of iTunes, and instantly loved it. This was one of the standout tracks. The meaning of the song is in the eye of the beholder, but I agree with lukefun that it's about suicide, or even hatred of life, or "phoniness" as Holden Caulfield might call it.