She should have stayed away from friends
She should have had more time to spend
She should have died when she was born
She should have worn the crown of thorns

She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

She should have stood out in a crowd
She should have made her mother proud
She should have fallen on her stance
She should have had another chance

She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

Been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

She should have stayed away from friends
She should have had more time to spend
She should have died when she was born
She should have worn the crown of thorns

She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son


Lyrics submitted by AhmedAR94, edited by Mellow_Harsher, icky

Been A Son Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Been a Son song meanings
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145 Comments

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  • +11
    General Comment

    This was about his sister. According to the biography, this was about his siter who was gay, and told kurt instead of her parents because she didn't think they would understand.

    joe865on April 08, 2009   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    I think this is about Kurt, how he could never live up to his dad's expectations. How he was a 'little girl' in his dads eyes. How his dad wanted him to be more masculine, but Kurt veered from that direction. Being an artist and hanging out with drug friends. 'she shoulda stayed away from friends' She, meaning kurt, should have not hung out with the "losers" he was hangin with and should have hung around pops more. She should of had more time to spend'. 'She should have died when she was born' 'She should have worn a crown of thorns'. SHe should have been a son.

    macdadeeon January 19, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Despite some people's belief, this is definetely NOT about Frances Cobain.

    NINirvana69on January 25, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    It's obviously not about Frances Bean Cobain since it was written before she was born.

    It's actually about Kurt's sister.

    ArsMoridenion October 15, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    what the fuck is every1's prob with courtney he loved her she loved him. she had nothin 2 do with his death so let it go

    wendyclearon July 02, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    its not about frances bean, its about a family who kurt knew who wanted a boy but got a girl

    KIM04on May 13, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    it's like you all knew him personally... sigh

    Karmapaxon July 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Kurt loved courtney!! Fuck, stop ignoring that fact, even if it would be nice to have someone to blame of kurt's death (well there are a lot of people, but not only courtney).

    Just look into the CD cover of incesticide, for exaple. Take a look at Kurt's suicide letter. It's obvious.

    annion July 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    i love this song, this is what nirvana was like back before all kurts heroin/courtney problems. i think incesticides the best cd but nevermind comes really close. anyway the songs just about a girl whos never been accepted by her family. everything shes ever done, every choice shes ever made has been wrong in her parents eyes, even the fact that shes a girl. hence the "she should have been a son" chorus

    SludgeGarden13on January 13, 2009   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    its about how kurt's father wanted a jock kid and instead got kurt who was more neutral than masculine, so he's joking by using the word she because his father thought he was way too feminine.

    yutsion June 17, 2009   Link

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