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Northern Star Lyrics
And I cry and no one can hear
Inhale
The blinded eyes that see
The chaos
Bring the pitiful to me
Even though I'm wide awake, I will
End blackest night
And I will wait for you
It's cold in here, there's no one left
And I wait for you
And nothing stops it happening
And I knew I'd cherish all my misery alone
And I wait, staring at the Northern Star
I'm afraid it won't lead me anywhere
He's so cold, he will ruin the world tonight
All the angels kneel into the Northern Lights
Kneel into the frozen lights
And they paid, I cry and cry for you
Ghosts that haunt you with their sorrow
I cried cause you were doomed
Praying to the wound that swallows
All that's cold and cruel
Can you see the trees, charity and gratitude
They run to the pines
It's black in here, blot out the sun
And run to the pines
Our misery runs wild and free
And I knew, the fire and the ashes of his grace
And I wait, staring at the Northern Star
I'm afraid it won't lead you very far
He's so cold, he will win the world tonight
All the angels kneel into the Northern Lights
Feel their hearts, they're cold and white
And I want you
And blessed are the broken
And I beg you
No loneliness, no misery is worth you
I'll tear his heart out
Cold as ice
It's mine
And I wait, praying to the Northern Star
I'm afraid it won't lead you anywhere
He's so cold, raining on the world tonight
All the angels kneeling to the Northern Lights
And I pray, begging to the Northern Star
I'm afraid it won't lead you anywhere
He's so cold, he will rule the world tonight
All the angels, kneel into the Northern Lights
Kneel into the frozen lights
Feel their hearts, they're cold as ice
Inhale
The blinded eyes that see
The chaos
Bring the pitiful to me
Even though I'm wide awake, I will
End blackest night
And I will wait for you
It's cold in here, there's no one left
And I wait for you
And nothing stops it happening
And I knew I'd cherish all my misery alone
I'm afraid it won't lead me anywhere
He's so cold, he will ruin the world tonight
All the angels kneel into the Northern Lights
Kneel into the frozen lights
Ghosts that haunt you with their sorrow
I cried cause you were doomed
Praying to the wound that swallows
All that's cold and cruel
Can you see the trees, charity and gratitude
It's black in here, blot out the sun
And run to the pines
Our misery runs wild and free
And I knew, the fire and the ashes of his grace
I'm afraid it won't lead you very far
He's so cold, he will win the world tonight
All the angels kneel into the Northern Lights
Feel their hearts, they're cold and white
And blessed are the broken
And I beg you
No loneliness, no misery is worth you
I'll tear his heart out
Cold as ice
It's mine
I'm afraid it won't lead you anywhere
He's so cold, raining on the world tonight
All the angels kneeling to the Northern Lights
I'm afraid it won't lead you anywhere
He's so cold, he will rule the world tonight
All the angels, kneel into the Northern Lights
Kneel into the frozen lights
Feel their hearts, they're cold as ice
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Not all of Hole Songs or Love's solo songs are about Kurt. This one is one of the few that are infact about Cobain.
"Doll Parts", "Best Sunday Dress (1998 version)", "Dying", "Malibu", "Playing Your Song", "Honey", "Pacific Coast Highway" are about 100% about Kurt Cobain.
What about "Beautiful Son"?
What about "Beautiful Son"?
@NotStorage See I reckon Pacific Coast Highway is about Steve Coogan (shock horror !)
@NotStorage See I reckon Pacific Coast Highway is about Steve Coogan (shock horror !)
I read an interview after the album came out where Courtney swears the song is about Seattle (the Northern Star) and not about Kurt. However, I think she is either lying to the interviewer or to herself. Just listening to the pain in her voice and the rawness of the lyrics, it is obviously about Kurt. I think "Northern Star" can have a dual meaning - one being Kurt and one being Seattle and thus the changes in the chorus. It may also be about Seattle, but primarily Kurt:
"He's so cold, he will ruin the world tonight"
When people die, their bodies become cold. His death ruined her world and many believe ruined the world of music at that time. Also ruined the world for all of us that we will not get any more music from him.
Here is a quite literal reference to "his grave"
"And I knew, the fire and the ashes of his grave" - which makes sense since he was creamated and she carried some of his ashes with her in a stuffed bear.
There is also a lot of resentment in the song. This song is amazing on so many levels and like all good art, it can mean different things to different people. That is the beauty of good art. To me, the U2 song "Walk On" will always be about 9/11. However, the album was released months before 9/11. I just happened to be listening to that song on the way home from work (we were sent home early).
I also agree about the line "run to the pines" - i never thought that was a coincidence that Nirvana's MTV performance ended with "Where did you sleep last night" which contains the line "in the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine" etc.
Such a sad song. Glad someone mentioned 'the pines'; still have my Nirvana Unplugged album, with their cover of 'In the Pines' & I thought of that track straight away. The song's great but in the grim aftermath of '94 it was /is too much, the imagery of the cold, dark pines, knowing he was now gone; I find it unbearable. Havn't listened to it since the 1st play, tho' it's in my head anyway if someone mentions it.. Kurt's death cast a heavy shadow for many who'd never even met him - tho' I was twice in the same...
Such a sad song. Glad someone mentioned 'the pines'; still have my Nirvana Unplugged album, with their cover of 'In the Pines' & I thought of that track straight away. The song's great but in the grim aftermath of '94 it was /is too much, the imagery of the cold, dark pines, knowing he was now gone; I find it unbearable. Havn't listened to it since the 1st play, tho' it's in my head anyway if someone mentions it.. Kurt's death cast a heavy shadow for many who'd never even met him - tho' I was twice in the same gig venue as Nirvana ;)
*I can't hear 'Adagio for Strings' without seeing the footage of 9/11; seemed to be the popular choice for TV news? - I once went for a facial, they leave you to relax with music, but that track came on..
This song is absoulutely beautiful, as Lahdee said, i never have forgotten the first time i heard it. Driving to my grandpa's on Christmas Eve during a snowstorm. The way she chants this song is amazing, and i have yet to hear a song quite like it.
this song is incredible. she has such a powerful voice, i can't stand it when people say that she can't sing. i love listening to this song becasue you can just feel all of the pain that she has gone through. I have so much respect for courtney love because of how shitty her life has been, yet she still continues to make amazing music and show how she feels inside.
This song is partly about Edward Norton and Kurt Cobain. It's really funny looking under all these things and seeing people write "I think this song is about Kurt." I don't know. It just makes me laugh.
@orangeslice laugh all you want but this song has nothing to do with Ed Norton. The reference “run to the pines” proves this is about Kurt Cobain. I suppose Playing Your Song isn’t about Kurt either.
@orangeslice laugh all you want but this song has nothing to do with Ed Norton. The reference “run to the pines” proves this is about Kurt Cobain. I suppose Playing Your Song isn’t about Kurt either.
I love this song. I love the imagery of it. Once you hear this song, you will never forget it. Ever. Its the greatest thing to listen to when you're depressed and feeling left alone. I'm fairly certain it was written by Courtney after Cobain offed himself....... that would explain why its such a desolate song anyhow.
Definatly about Kurt with referances to "Where did you sleep last night?" which was the last song Nirvana ever played on tv. Also the whole northern star thing refers to how he was the star from the northwest, just my opinion
Wow these lyrics put me on the verge of tears... it's surely about Kurt and how much she misses him and about both how they were together and where he is now.
It's a dirge: a song to play at a funeral. She's angry and grieving. She's not even sure if she liked him ("he's so cold, he will ruin the world tonight"), or maybe it's her anger at him for dying on her. When I was going thru a bad divorce I played this song A LOT. BTW, does anyone else besides me notice the ambiguity in the second line "Inhale" instead of the expected "in hell"?
yes RL it is a very clever play on words - you expect it to be "in hell" but "inhale" is just brilliant - i LOVE that part! sometimes when performing this song live courtney chants "we are terrified, we are naked, we are walleyed, i'll see you on the other side, if you dare, cause baby, I will be there, you know all of us, we all die, yeah" it's definitely worth the time to youtube - peace, kat