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..
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..