Stain

I'd never thought about the meaning of this song until recently. I thought it was another of those Burroughs influenced "cut and paste" writing techniques (note that Cobain even collaborated with Burroughs on at least one song).

Most recently, I can say that I agree entirely with the commenter who mentioned that the narrator in the song is lamenting on his guilt and not having been 'manly' enough in his youth to please his father.

"He never bleeds and he never fucks" and "He never leaves because he's got bad luck" because he's overly sensitive to criticism and afraid to take risks. "He never reads and he never draws" because he's trying to avoid the disapproval of his parents who'd rather that he be pursuing more masculine hobbies. "He never leaves because he's got back luck" is another indication of someone who would rather stay in an abusive position rather than risk failure on his own. "He never sleeps because he's got bad blood" is a reference to the antiquated belief system that physical and mental disorders were caused by bad 'humors'. This suggests that he feels like there is something inherently wrong with him. Additionally, these lines are a reference to someone who is afraid to sleep because of the "bad blood" between himself (and perhaps another family member) that keeps him awake at night.

ah but of course. and lets not forget 'serve the servants' either my friend.

this songs about kurt being useless or 'a stain' in his life, many of his songs state how he hated his parents and how they didnt care (serve the servants) or how he was useless (even in his youth) i am a huge nirvana fan and you should read 'heavier than heavan' if you like to read about kurt, its an awesome book and tells you a lot about there earlier stuff

"He's got bad blood" is WRONG.

It's "He's got back luck"

You all are analyzing lyrics that are not in the song.

floyd the barbers sister.

Well.. I want to add something rather small. "Well he never reads and he never draws" This is guilt built up from not spending enought time building up logic and creativity. Left Lobe, Right Lobe. So therefore, they feel stupid in everyway. (Not always true.) "And he never sleeps 'cause he's got bad blood yeah" Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Kurt Anemic? I only bought the albums, I don't study the band's biography.

you are rigth, david, hes talking about himslef, its a great song with the best solo, its one of my favorites

This is about Kurt as a child. he saw himself as a disppointment to his father in particular, a "stain" on the family name. family and childhood come up frequently in cobains writing - "been a son" is a highlight.

You can't forget about "Even In His Youth."

kurt is may saying that he is the blavk sheep of the family, or something like that best solo ever RIP kurdt cobain