I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey
Yay
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey
Yay
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey
Yay
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey
Yay
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7, edited by bbaldwin50, stjimmyrocks92, LHGL, ELVIS PRESLEY BITE OF 87 XXXFREE, KookOcean
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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Alkaline Trio
While the obvious connections with suicide or alcoholism could be drawn easily, more subtly this song could be about someone who views the world through a negative lens constantly and how as much as the writer tries to show the beauty in the world, this person refuses to see it. It's one or another between the rope and the bottle. There is no good option for this person. They can't see it. Skiba sings it in a kind of exasperated way like He's tired of hearing this negative view constantly and just allowing that person to continue feeling the way they feel knowing he can't do anything about it. You can hear it when he says maybe you're a vampire.
This song's a joke.
No really, it is.
One of his ex girlfriend's spraypainted "Kurt smells like teen spirit". Well "Teen Spirit" is a deodrant. He didn't know that back then (found out after the song was released) and thought it was a good revolution slogan. Long story short, he used that title to make a joke song about a "revolution". That's all it is, a joke.
This quote basically says it all "The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas. It's just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But it's a nice thought." - Kurt Cobain
It's like something the Pixies would.
I mean seriously, if you read the lyrics, they're ridiculous, they have no meaning, "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido"
"Oh well, whatever, never mind"
Well I'm done.
While this is correct, I fear most people posting on this site are too god damn stupid to know any better, and will still try and decipher this inherently meaningless song.<br /> <br /> Also, much of this album was written with disgust for the band's record label at the time, because they were forcing them to release more radio-friendly content. Kurt's response was to write some gibberish that meant nothing, and to insult them at every turn.
I disagree that this song means nothing. There's a lot of reference to social issues of the time the song was written. <br /> The 90's was during the worst of the AIDS epidemic the lines:<br /> "I fell stupid and contagious"<br /> are a reference to AIDS.<br /> Also the words "A mosquito, my libido" make sense in this context too. <br /> A mosquito is an insect that can spread disease. In the context of AIDS, peoples libidos are what spreads it. Many other things can be pointed out, but that's just my biggest argument.
I'm pretty sure that it was the 80's but this is an opinion, not fact.
This song has nothing to do with AIDS, let alone the fact that you are a decade late, since the worst of the AIDS epidemic was the 80s. You should read up on things.
I always heard "a mosquito, my libido" as, the conformity of the audience is a huge turn off for him. Actually an interesting idea that it really meant that his particular contagious nihilist libido would spread to the pseudo revolutionaries demanding to be entertained. But it's a little stretch. To say it has anything to do with HIV is a real stretch.<br /> <br /> Dreamless, he couldn't possibly be making a joke since he didn't even freakin know the punchline, that Teen Spirit was a deodorant. Tons of emotion in there, dissolved a heavy dose of contempt for all the denial that had already snatched any chance he had of happiness.
I think this was a great analysis. I just came in from listening to this song, shaking my head that it was an awesome tune musically, but the lyrics made no sense. I came to song meanings to see if anyone had any good ideas about it, and your thoughts seem the most accurate. I am usually good at deriving song meaning, but this one threw me. Appreciated.
@DreamlessNights! I heard this song for the first time at my 8th grade dance and lost my shit in '91/'92. Never had a song (or band) before this, have such an impact on my direction in life. To me it represented teenage angst. It was ok to let loose and rock out. U don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else. Damn it's good stuff
@DreamlessNights <br /> <br /> It has every meaning, it's genius and very precise.<br /> <br />
@DreamlessNights I can't help thinking he went out with a girl who messed with him; she could have been sadistic - people like this can do a lot of damage...
@DreamlessNights It wasn't one of his ex-girlfriends, rather, one of her friends. It was Kathleen Hannah who did it, she was friends with Tobi Vail, who was Kurt's girlfriend at the time.
@DreamlessNights It was based off of The Pixies. He called it a Pixies rip-off.
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@DreamlessNights That\'s hilarious, I thought it was about sex. Ahh Kurt, I love ya.
@DreamlessNights <br /> I don't thing the meaning of the song is ridiculous, I think it's better to visit this website to realize how this song has a deep meaning.<br /> genius.com/Nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-lyrics
I was born a month before Cobain. If you think the AIDS crisis didn't impact our generation's perspective on sex, you are deeply mistaken. When I heard "With the lights out, it's less dangerous... I feel stupid and contagious," I knew instantly and exactly what he was talking about.<br /> <br /> Of course, one can argue about the artist's intent versus the audience's interpretation. And I'm not saying Cobain did or didn't consciously put this meaning in the song. But the feeling of danger and contagion related to sex was a big part of the zeitgeist of that time (and still is to some extent). And many people, including myself, took it that way. <br /> <br /> In a similar way, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics and the "Oh well, whatever, never mind" attitude resonated deeply with our generation. There was a sense that something was very off in the world but it was difficult to articulate - "I found it hard, was hard to find." All we know was that we had grown up in a world of optimism and, like the industrial heartland of America, it had decayed into disaffection and cynicism. <br /> <br />
@DreamlessNights Id like your comment but you're at 69 likes and I don't wanna ruin it XD
The meaning is simple if you have been there..
"Load up on guns; bring your friends" - Guns= needles friends= encase of fallout "It's fun to lose and to pretend" - Euphoric feelings "She's over-bored and self-assured" - there is no going back, and she knows it "Oh no, I know a dirty word" - Heroin
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous" - feels secure and satisfied after a shot "Here we are now; entertain us" - to messed up, they can't entertain themselves "I feel stupid and contagious" - trying it was stupid yet he still introduces it "Here we are now; entertain us" - " " "A mulatto" - Black-tar mixed with water, turns it brown "an albino" - his blue veins seen through light skin "a mosquito" - the prick of the needle and checking the drawback of blood "my libido" - Heroin is better than sex.. "Yeah, hey" - thats about all you can say after you've shot enough..
"Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello" -This about a fallout (overdose) other people trying to wake him up, he is at a very low point, very near death
"I'm worse at what I do best" - doesn't think hes a good musician "And for this gift I feel blessed" - he feels blessed to create, though hes on dope "Our little group has always been" - Always felt like they were over-rated "And always will until the end" - Hes caught, and will be until death
"And I forget just why I taste" - why did he start? "Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile" - it made him feel good while depressed "I found it hard; it's hard to find" - hes hardened and lost inside "Oh well, whatever, never mind" - no control, no hope, no future
"a denial" - he denies this part of himself though he knows it exists, a complex confusion all addicts face and nobody else can feel unless they have been where he has.
I think this is the best "translation" of the song as its meaning. You really made the song sound more logical.
Yeah kinda what BiPolarBear said, you obviously have a bigger brain than the rest of these idiots who can't decipher lyrics from a heroine addict. Think outside the box dumb asses.
Except he didn't even start heroin until he was RECORDING Nevermind, meaning this song was written before he started heroin. (several post-death interviews wiil say this, as far as sources go).
inthe212, actually he started using heroin in 1986, well before he wrote this song in 1991. so this interpretation does have merit.
Thank you, BiPolarBer! Your translation has helped me big time!!!
Dude you are losing it. You see the description above yours? The top one. It is correct becouse it's written in "Heavier than Heaven" Kurt's biography. You just writed about heroin lol it's all nonsense
Way to over-think it. I bet anyone can write nonsense and someone else would "find meaning" in it, oh wait, it already happened with this song.
@adnann1176 <br /> <br /> Heavier than Heaven is a biography yes, one written in 2001 and again NOT an auto-biography.<br /> <br /> It's not fact, but actually Charles R. Ross speculation<br /> <br />
@BiPolarBer I believe you got is spot on bipolarber and I think the lyrics are pure genius.<br /> <br /> To add my thoughts on a few things it was clear that Kurt was devastated when Toni vail (who used teen spirit,her scent.)broke up with him,and he wrote at least 6 songs about her. (By the way this happened in 1990 and as in the cross book it's says a new character appeared in Kurt's journal and would soon spring into every image,song story,this was heroine.(which was Kurt's own "bastardisation" of the word heroin) Which became his great love in the fall of 1990. He overcame his fear of needles and injected for the first time with a friend that fall.<br /> <br /> He found the euphoric affects helped him temporarily overcome his heartache and also helped with his stomach pain.<br /> <br /> He also said he really liked it and it made him more sociable. So now you know all this. Just enjoy the pure Genius of the Lyrics.<br /> <br /> Peace out.<br />
@BiPolarBer <br /> If you really think that this song had that much thought put into it, that it became a gumbo pot of metaphors that not even Bob Dylan could pretend to decipher than you are smoking too much salvia and not getting out of your parents basement enough.<br /> <br /> Dude. It's a good song. And everyone knows that what makes a hit song, is simplicity. <br /> <br /> There are people who try to make their songs as complex as possible and it doesn't come to be called art... It is called Techno...<br /> <br /> As an ex heroin addict myself. I am confident in saying this song may have been written while on a squinting-eyed, heavy headed, dose of what I used to refer of as "normal".
@BiPolarBer you have a good thought track, but according to Kurt, this song has no meaning. It's a joke.
@BiPolarBer over thinking
@BiPolarBer I don't think the lyrics were intended to have meaning, but I've never used heroin. It does reflected a tormented soul. Most of Cobain's lyrics do. Perhaps it's subconscious the way it was put from pen to paper.
@BiPolarBer First let me say that i am an addict myself and i think that most of your interpretations of the lines of the song are spot on. This comment "The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas. It's just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But it's a nice thought.", is in my opinion shot down by this interview segment where he says (when speaking about his heroine addiction) that he always lied about it, because he never wanted to influence anybody to do drugs because he think it is stupid. youtube.com/watch
@BiPolarBer That's a very great perspective, except for the fact that the mulatto, albino, mosquito, libido part meant hardcore liquors with the same names. Very great answer. You broke it down so well, and I think that's how it would have been. People misunderstand Kurt Cobain's lyrics all the time, but overthink them, and fail to see the abstracts in his meaning.
@BiPolarBer This makes more sense than the whole teenage high school bs honestly. Coming from heroin addiction, it makes more sense and now I have chills on repeat nothings ever been so much more relatable <br /> <br /> not only that it's super jammy :D
I see that many people around say that this song has no meaning. It is not true! This song is one of the most meaningful songs of Nirvana. It represents the band so well that it should have the title "Nirvana", instead of "Smells like teen spirit". I think it is about the beginnings of the band, when they were at high-school. "Load up on guns; bring your friends it’s fun to lose and to pretend" it gives a picture of the teenage guys in high-school, who usually gather in gangs with guns, fighting each other. "She's over-bored and self-assured Oh no, I know a dirty word" These lines are clearly for the high-school girls, who want to look older by acting like they are bored by life, and want to give the impression that they are self-assured. The dirty word for sure is BITCH! “Hello, hello, hello, how low” Now imagine the high-school gym hall, filled up with the students we described above, that are waiting to listen to a rock band from their school. The first word in the microphone, to salute and also to test the audio system, is “Hello”. It echoes through the loudspeakers “hello, hello, hello, …” “With the lights out, it's less dangerous” It is the title of one of their first songs. Maybe they had practiced it so much that: With the lights out, it’s less dangerous to fail. “Here we are now; entertain us” the crowd seemed to say. “I feel stupid and contagious” how the band leader felt in front of so many people. And “contagious” for the other band members. What the crowd sees: “A mulatto” = Novoselic, with black hair, black beard, big face, who looked like a mulatto “An albino” = Cobain, a blonde guy “A mosquito” = Grohl, or any other light-weight member of early Nirvana “A libido” = Nirvana, our passion, our pleasure “I'm worse at what I do best” how the emotion to perform in front of the public makes one feel. “And for this gift I feel blessed” The fear that you are not going to perform good, makes the artist to practice more and more, which makes him blessed. “Our little group has always been And always will until the end” That is why this song should be simply titled Nirvana. “And I forget just why I taste Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile I found it hard; it's hard to find Oh well, whatever, never mind” Cobain, and many other artists, have passed a blocking moment on stage, when they forget a line or any of the chords. There comes improvisation, which makes an artist to taste. Later, when he recalls that moment, it makes him smile. Do not try to remember the forgotten lines or chords, just free yourself, improvise, and nevermind!
Nirvana will never be dead!
@rinz Ya man ur totally right music makes you immortal and if your good enough at music youll never die
@rinz wow, you wrote this when i was 5 yrs old...
The greatest and most influencial song ever written. The song was aimed at the people the band didn't want to listen to their music (jocks/preps) who wound up listening to the music anyways.
Let me first say, before I get bashed. That I am a HUGE Nirvana fan. I own every CD/DVD/Book.<br /> <br /> Smells Like Teen Spirit is Nirvana's sell out song. Yeah, here it comes. I know right. <br /> Smells Like Teen Spirit is in fact probably one of Nirvana's worst songs. Yet, people who hear this song on the radio, and then download Nevermind think it's the best thing since sliced bread. It's not. It's a fucking joke. Dont get me wrong. I love Nirvana, and I love Kurt. But this is a shit song. There are so many better songs by Nirvana, and people always say this is the best. It's not. You want some fucking talent. You go out and buy the Boxset. Buy fucking Bleach, buy everything they have. This song is a stab at Jocks, and preps, although they didnt have preps back then. You were right about that. But it is most certainly not the best Nirvana song. And it is definetley not the most influential song ever written. And it wasn't written. if you know anything about Nirvana/Kurt, you'd know he never really wrote songs until the last minute, often when they were in the studio about to record. The same can be said for SLTS. There are atleast 3 different versions, and lyrical wording to this song.<br /> <br /> Let the bashing begin. Cmon then.
Yeah, look at you being a cunt. This is the comments section, I can express whatever I feel here, aslong as it's related to the song. And that is related to the song. And yes, People do care, obviously if there's 1314 comments on this song alone. How's about you shut the fuck up.
Wow, look at you being cool using your cuss words. I see where this argument will lead to and I don't feel like dealing with it.
"how is about you shut the fuck up?"<br /> Illiterate AND a wanker. Congratulations, I mean it.
Everyone is entitled his or her own opinion. I'm not making a judgment as to whether the song is good or bad. Rolling Stone magazine considers it essential Nirvana listening: rollingstone.com/news/story/5937559/the_100_greatest_guitarists_of_all_time/11. If anyone was bashing, it was ZeroCoolCrashOverRyd.
you might want to check that your facts are straight before you go posting comments. preps have been around since the 1970's. if you got that wrong, who knows what else you got wrong.
i like how zero was like "well before i get bashed" and "i am a huge nirvana fan" and then five seconds after someone puts something up in reply he just spouts curses. very intelligent dude. good comeback!
I'm taking zerocoolcrashoverryd's side even tho I think the song is pretty good it's seriously overrated.
2nd favorite nirvana,Kobain was the best singer songwriter, in my eyes, ever, its a sahme of what happened but you can still listen to them so thats cool i guess!<br />
Ha. Yeah, it's a great song. Seriously, though, most influential song ever written? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Not even close. Not even a little. That's off base, off the reservation, out of town, overseas, and out in space. <br /> <br /> I like how this entire reply section somehow didn't even begin until like 8 years after the original comment. And the first reply was from a guy going by a username that references a movie that's 6 years older than even that (Hackers). Good movie though. Totally a tech-gen classic.
Nirvana...Arguably The Most Famous And Important Act To The Grunge Movement. You All Are Busy Arguing And Fighting About Your Opinions Like Its A War. This Is A Comment Board. A Comment Board Is Used To Express The Views, Ideas, And Opinions Of People From Around The World And Is Usually Directed At Another User Or Another User's Comment. The Sooner You People Stop Fighting, The Sooner You'll Realize What This Website Is Called And Why We Joined In The First Place... To Discuss (Not Argue Over) The Bands And Songs We Enjoy. I'll Give Credit As To Smells Like Teen Spirit Being A Good Song, But I Think It Should Be Looked At As Nirvana's Most Influential Song...Not Their Best, But Either Way It Is Still Good. That Is My Opinion, I Respect All Of Yours And Know You Each Have A Right To One, But I Do Ask You To Stop Having Virtual Disputes Trying To Prove Who's Opinion Is The Right One.
Try My Version: In The Style Of Smells Like Teen Spirit<br /> <br /> Hello, My Name Is Kurt Cobain<br /> All Of My Songs, Drive Teens Insane<br /> Before I Died, I Made The Plunge<br /> Married A Bitch, And Founded Grunge<br /> <br /> But Now I'm Sad, For No Good Cause<br /> I've Made My Highs, I Made My Falls<br /> My Drummer Knew How To Foo Fight<br /> I Look Like A Bum But It's Alright<br /> <br /> Cobain, Cobain, Cobain, I'm Cobain<br /> Cobain, Cobain, Cobain, I'm Cobain<br /> <br /> I'm Cobain Man, Runnin' My Band<br /> Play Left-Handed, Mind Is Stranded<br /> Lost In My Head, My Blood Ain't Red<br /> 'Cause I Bleached It, With Acid & Lead<br /> I Feel Stupid, Guess That's Okay<br /> By Nirvana, Instead Of Green Day<br /> <br /> YEAH<br /> <br /> I'm Feelin' Sad All Of The Time<br /> I'm Rich & Famous In My Prime<br /> Nevermind Went Straight To Number 1<br /> One More Album, And Then I'm Done<br /> <br /> Cobain, Cobain, Cobain, I'm Cobain<br /> Cobain, Cobain, Cobain, I'm Cobain<br /> <br /> I Hate My Life, I Don't Know Why<br /> I Hate Everything, I Wanna Die<br /> My Wife Is Such, A Gold Digger<br /> Grab A Shotgun, PULL THE TRIGGER<br /> <br /> BAAAAAAANNGGGGGGG<br /> <br /> <br />
Before I get bashed, I would like to say I love Nirvana. Probalbly if I made a list they would be in the top 10 or 20. I have listened to over 500 bands so that is pretty high. Anyways, I would like to say this song is overatted. It is not one of the best in the 90s, but would I guess be better than a lot of songs. I would like to say that many people think Nirvana was the most influential in the 90s, but for me it is Modest Mouse. They were so underrated, and had many songs better than this one, but as I said before, this is a great band. Definetely one of my favorites.
ok first ZeroCoolCrashOverRyd this ISN'T a sell out this is how he was feeling after he got dumped and wrote from his heart and soul, so please tell me how writing from your heart and soul (which is how they did all the songs) is a sell out?<br /> <br /> second waitingtornever go fck yourself people have depression and bipolar and shit if it's not taken care of you can have a bad episode and kill yourself (a psychologist diagnosed me with both) and when you have depression like he did it's a happy then bam kill and whatever can get rid of the pain<br /> <br /> I LOVE KURT COBAIN he wrote from his heart and soul did whatever he had to for his music and I think he was murdered R.I.P. kurt cobain your daughter will remind us of you
Hey, MUSICorDEATH...I Don't Know What The Hell You Are Talking About...I Have Nothing Against Kurt Cobain. I Know About Bipolar And Depression But I'm Not Talking About Either Of Them...I'm Talking About The Song. I Respect Your Opinion And Only Stated What I Felt...As For The Little Jingle...I Was Just Fucking Around. I Make Fun Of Celebrities In General Whether They're Dead Or Not. I'm Waitingtornever Incase You Didn't Know...Just Had To Change My Account.
yo blogger et, well-spotted. i liked the Hackers reference too. Sick movie. I would also like to say that this song is quite overrated... but still pretty fun to play and sing. Cobain was one of the greatest songwriters ever.
waitingtornever: That was hilarious, dude!
tired of nirvana snobs crying about how smells like teen spirit is their worst song...i agree its not their best but come on its really good. its not a sell out song because kurt didnt write it to be famous. just happened that way. sorry nirvana couldnt be the indie band you wish it was.
ok, teen spirit was a good song, but the greatist....no. nirvana had songs the were way better than that and it pisses me off that when ever anyone thinks of nirvana they think of that song, and when ever some one plays a nirvana song the play that one. it was a good song, but personaly i think about a girl, pennyroyal tea, all apologies, something in the way, drain you, siver, heart shapd box, rape me, tourette's, ect ect, are better songs. anywho its "the denial" not "a denial"
I second the notion i like about a girl better and other good songs are deppressed,polly,and come as you are.
Excatly MAN!!!!<br /> <br /> (LOVE all apoligies and Drain You)
yeah you are so right, this is the most famous, not the greatest.<br /> i agree with kurt. the song thats about people who listen to music they dont understand became just one of those songs. ironic. <br /> <br /> i love the fact that kurt sometimes changed the lyrics when he sang this live to prove that no one really bothered to really listen to it.
No, actually it is "A Denial" But yes, i agree with WhoKilledBob, there are atleast 3 different recorded versions, lyric-wise, that is.
happens with manny artists, the commercial songs become more famous even though they arent the best
i agree with you...nirvana didnt even like that song and didnt intend on getting big off of that song. it was just supposed to get their name out there
yup...nirvana didn't really like the song...they thought it sounded too much like THE PIXIES(the band)..its a good song but but there are much better and meaningfull songs other than this like-DUMB,SERVE THE SERVANTS,SOMETHING IN THE WAY,DIVE,POLY...ETC..<br /> <br /> NIRVANA RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /> KURT COBAIN R.I.P
it was and still is he greastest
yeah. I think this song is overrated. I mean, it's good. but it's not they're best. like everyone said. and there are better songs than this --"Sliver" "Something in the Way" "All Apoligies" "Drain You"-- and it goes on. But, frankly, it disgusts me how this is really the only song a lot of people know him for. He was better than this.
I third that. "Something in the Way", "Lithium", "All Apologies", and "In Bloom" are all much better. Still an awesome song.
I agree. Most Nirvana songs are better than this major hit. The melody of this song is not Nirvanas anyway. But I would place about a girl as the worst song, at least it is the worst Nirvana song to play on the guitar cos it is to simple and you get bored of it. But the lyrics is far from the worst.
Whether or not this song is their greatest is debatable, but it was definitely the most influential. This single song completely revolutionized the music scene in the nineties.
oh well, whatever, nevermind
@dieforkurt personally i luv negative creep
@dieforkurt This is their greatest song because it's the most transcendent. The other songs you mention are great, but they're not as good because they didn't resonate with popular culture the way this one did. You think that doesn't count for anything but it does!
@dieforkurt <br /> But the best song is papercuts. <br /> Or you know you're right
i think this song is about fitting in in school, and what kurt thought about it, see,where it says "Load up on guns bring your friends It's fun to lose and to pretend She's over bored and self assured Oh no, I know a dirty word"
he's talking about all the crazy thing's kids do to fit in with the rest of society (which is why i am anti-government and anti-society... and atheist, it's my opinion, rant about it all you please, it's a choice just as Hinduism, Judaism, and christianity to beleive in one's self to be the higher being in their life and to not rely on another being to solve their problems) anyways, and when he say's
"I'm worse at what I do best And for this gift I feel blessed Our little group has always been And always will until the end"
and
"And I forget just why I taste Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile I found it hard, it was to find Oh well, whatever, nevermind"
he's saying that he support's the "little groups" that think for themselves and he feels blessed that he is one of those and that he "forgets" just why he is one of them, and then he say's that he is because it makes him happy knowing that he is an individual, kurt was an individual, there was and to this day is no one like him, kurt lives within me forever. a friend told me that he just B.S.ed about 90% of this song while they were recording off the top oh his head, so i dont know, it's just my opinion.
I don't understand why some of you argue over whether this is the best or the worst song. The great thing about this SongMeanings website is that people have the chance to speak intelligently and emotionally about music, but its hard to understand that the people who post comments don't realize that what is important isn't how great a song is in general, but what it means to you.
Personally, I find the sex interpretation to be a stretch. Yes, "how low" might refer to a blow job, and alternatively it could refer to a low between taking heroin. But it has so many possible meanings -- depression, for example. And since "hello" comes before it, you could even take it to mean the depression, emptiness and ugliness inherent in a teen world where teens are forced to be polite to the older generation, even though they don't want to -- when teens are forced to be something they're not.
I think, in general, this song is just about teen life. MrSkaPunk is probably right; Kurt didn't put much effort into the meaning of the lyrics, but what he wrote down can nonetheless be analyzed. And I think that its best taken as a multitude of emotions, actions, diversity (mulatto, albino), acceptance, rejection, and the ups and downs of teen life.
Load up on guns, bring your friends It's fun to lose and to pretend She's over-bored and self-assured Oh no, I know a dirty word
(Guns are a metaphor for defense mechanisms. He is saying bring your shields, bring your armor, come with your friends. Think of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Dylan. For him it was fun to be the opposite of what he felt to be oppressive: jocks, school, authority, conformity. There was a satisfaction in being a "loser," and "pretending." A great lyricist knows the value of puns. Overboard, over-bored, selfish, self-assured. I feel shame, and also exileration, but it's still a dirty word.)
Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello
(building the charge, building the charge).
With the lights out, it's less dangerous Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain us A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido Yeah, hey
(with the lights out...so true, great line, it really is less dangerous. Then comes the resentment..entertain us. I feel stupid and.." how he felt in high school, which is very, very relevant. Those feelings and experiences in high school. You remember them? They are a stamp on the narrative/script of our life. If you don't believe me, think back to your high school life. How much of who you took yourself to be are you reenacting today? Mulatto/Albino/Mosquito/Libido. Great imagery. A mixed raced person, a mixed gene person, a metaphor for sucking/draining, and sexual power. Together they empower someone who is different, someone who doesn't fit in).
I'm worse at what I do best And for this gift I feel blessed Our little group has always been And always will until the end
(For someone who never had a family/tribe, his group would embody this for him, until death do us part. What he does best is nonconformity, which is worse in the eyes who want him to conform. This is a blessing, of a kind, for your opinion of me is evidence of my authenticity).
And I forget just why I taste Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile I found it hard, it's hard to find Oh well, whatever, never mind
(Taste indicates feeling, a numbness forgotten. But when it comes, though it's hard to find, it makes me smile none the less).
Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello
(building the charge, building the charge).
With the lights out, it's less dangerous Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain us A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
(Please, for the love of God, validate my experience).
Everything that Kurt ever wrote was about shame, rejection, mood swings, abandonment and self hatred. He suffered immensely, which is why he chose heroin over life. But there is another way, though it may not feel like it now. You may justify it now. Your life may feel awful now, like Kurt felt his life was. But this is an illusion. How you feel now, what is meaningful today, may be completely different from how you fee tomorrow. Don't throw your life away for a transient feeling.
God Bless you man! Thanks for the song meaning! I love that the meaning could have its own little meaning to everyone, so even though this song has a specific meaning to it, any one can put there experiences into the meaning and make it there own. This is one of the reasons why I love music! This may be a sad/hopeless feeling, angry, rejecting, high intensity song, but it still covers someones feelings RIGHT NOW!!! I listen to this song, if I feel this way. I really like songs written like this, and songs that relate to how I feel! People you are not alone! And keep listening to music it really helps!!
@solaris2013 <br /> God bless you. <br /> Thank you for recogizing and appreciating the puns. They are his genius signature.
That was the greatest song ever written, or at least since the Beatles. The song name comes from the deodorant. Kurt was partying with one of the chicks from Bikini Kill and she kept on saying he smelt like teen spirit. Kurt didn't even know what teen spirit was when he wrote the song. He just thought it sounded good. At least that is the story about the title of the song that I have read about in several differnet places.
yes, this is true. She also wrote 'Kurt smells like teen spirit' on his wall, and he thought that would be a good song title
even if it was the song that got me hooked up n nirvana when i was 9, i wouldnt exactly call it the greatest song. kurt didnt even like playing it.
No, it wasn't the chicks from Bikini Kill. The story goes. Krist's girlfriend came over to Kurt and Krist's apartment. She hugged kurt, and shortly after used the bathroom. While in there, she wrote in lipstick on the mirror "Kurt smells like teen spirit" and yes, he did know what it was when he wrote the song, because seeing as Kurt and Krist were basically poor at the time. He was using his girlfriend, Tracy's deodorant, which happened to Teen Spirit. Hence, Smells Like Teen Spirit.<br /> <br /> Good day.
yup dats rite...but krist's girlfriend sprayed a women's spray/perfume which was called-"TEEN SPIRIT"...so she said KURT SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT...he wrote the song...then they told him he just wrote a song about a perfume...then he was like-"I DID?"
doesn't matter if he knew or not what the teen spirit was, that's just how it works. Creative inspiration, whatever gives us words and ideas, in other words, to the point where your own creation instructs even you and time is nothing if not spiral, or whatever. Although, an-anti-marketing (of deoderant) message would be all-Kurt.
yeah he actually thought she meant that we was an influential personal to the youth of the time. but she really meant he smelt like the deoderant. i listened to an interview where he said that.
@Mace It's better than the beatles man, come on! The beatles were great but Nirvana was greater!