I've visited this site for years, but I thought it's time I should register. It annoys me how some of you state things as fact when they are not! You really shouldn't do that, it's a really bad thing to do! If you want to say what you think it means to you, go ahead. But don't tell the world what it means when it's your opinion, because most of the time those opinions are wrong.
I'm talking to you sudopinion, but other people do it too.
This song is not about the death of Cobain. Dave wrote this song before Cobain had even died. In fact, most of the songs on that album were written while Grohl was still in Nirvana. Personally I think a lot of what this song talks about, is understood better if you know what happened nearer the end of Nirvana, and how Grohl fitted in to it all. The fact is that Grohl was very unhappy near the end of Nirvana, and all their friendships fell to pieces in some ways. Grohl felt pushed out, and he and Novoselic had a falling out with Cobain over royalties. Grohl also felt unwanted/under appreciated, and said he didn't know why Kurt didn't just get a drum machine.. At the same time, Cobain had become unhappy with Grohl's playing for whatever reason, so it was clear that the two had issues and Cobain was giving Grohl a hard time / cold shoulder, and because they were passive aggressive (Cobain's words..), Grohl was never asked to leave, but instead just made to feel unhappy by Cobain. So with that in mind, this is my interpretation of the words:
"they knew all along
they're not dumb they were so wrong"
I think this is about how Novoselic and Cobain wanted to try a different direction with Nirvana, and they assumed Grohl wouldn't have fitted with that, or wouldn't have wanted to do it. I think Grohl would have done it, and would have done well with it.
"she's not always fun"
I think this Grohl talking about Cobain. He says she to disguise who he is talking about, which is an extremely common thing to do, and also something Cobain had done in the past.
Not always fun, meaning, he looks like a fun guy in interviews and they are joking around a lot, but in reality he isn't always a fun guy to be with. Read about the first time Cobain and Grohl met and you will understand that. And that was at their happiest time... So if Cobain was difficult to be around then, imagine how bad it could be when Cobain had grown to dislike Grohl, was unhappy with him, had all kinds of personal problems, and was stressed with the band situation.
"hate it now call when I'm done"
I think this is about how Grohl isn't enjoying the band any more. He doesn't want to be there out of choice because he is enjoying it, he is there only out of duty now. "Call when I'm done" meaning, just tell me know when I can go home...
"head is on
I want out"
Head is on meaning, "I'm thinking straight", and "I want out" is self explanatory.
"I'm alone and I'm an easy target"
Cobain and Novoselic were best friends, and were the founders of Nirvana. Grohl came much later and was just one of many drummers. So in a 3 piece, he was alone, the easy target, and was outnumbered 2 to 1 in any band decision.
"metronome
I want out"
Metronome is how he felt. Just someone there to keep the beat. A glorified metronome.
"tear at the seams"
Probably talking about either the Nirvana bubble bursting, or Cobain/Grohl starting to tear at the seams.
"he don't feel so good, don't feel bad
not that he should
i don't feel so good, don't feel bad
not that i should"
I think this is talking about how Cobain didn't feel good. He had a lot of trouble with his stomach condition. Whether or not that was real or made up to cover for Cobain's other problems, he clearly didn't feel good one way or another. "Not that he should" probably meaning, that it's understandable considering everything.
And then the "I don't feel good" is probably Grohl talking about himself, and saying, "Yeah you don't feel good but neither do I". And again, "Not that I should", saying that it's understandable too.
"did you ever listen? get out."
Not entirely sure, but I am guessing this is what Grohl feared hearing the most, from Cobain.
It's hard to know if any of this was a good interpretation, but everything I said about the band situation at the start is true. So my interpretations are based off that.
I've visited this site for years, but I thought it's time I should register. It annoys me how some of you state things as fact when they are not! You really shouldn't do that, it's a really bad thing to do! If you want to say what you think it means to you, go ahead. But don't tell the world what it means when it's your opinion, because most of the time those opinions are wrong.
I'm talking to you sudopinion, but other people do it too.
This song is not about the death of Cobain. Dave wrote this song before Cobain had even died. In fact, most of the songs on that album were written while Grohl was still in Nirvana. Personally I think a lot of what this song talks about, is understood better if you know what happened nearer the end of Nirvana, and how Grohl fitted in to it all. The fact is that Grohl was very unhappy near the end of Nirvana, and all their friendships fell to pieces in some ways. Grohl felt pushed out, and he and Novoselic had a falling out with Cobain over royalties. Grohl also felt unwanted/under appreciated, and said he didn't know why Kurt didn't just get a drum machine.. At the same time, Cobain had become unhappy with Grohl's playing for whatever reason, so it was clear that the two had issues and Cobain was giving Grohl a hard time / cold shoulder, and because they were passive aggressive (Cobain's words..), Grohl was never asked to leave, but instead just made to feel unhappy by Cobain. So with that in mind, this is my interpretation of the words:
"they knew all along they're not dumb they were so wrong" I think this is about how Novoselic and Cobain wanted to try a different direction with Nirvana, and they assumed Grohl wouldn't have fitted with that, or wouldn't have wanted to do it. I think Grohl would have done it, and would have done well with it.
"she's not always fun" I think this Grohl talking about Cobain. He says she to disguise who he is talking about, which is an extremely common thing to do, and also something Cobain had done in the past. Not always fun, meaning, he looks like a fun guy in interviews and they are joking around a lot, but in reality he isn't always a fun guy to be with. Read about the first time Cobain and Grohl met and you will understand that. And that was at their happiest time... So if Cobain was difficult to be around then, imagine how bad it could be when Cobain had grown to dislike Grohl, was unhappy with him, had all kinds of personal problems, and was stressed with the band situation.
"hate it now call when I'm done" I think this is about how Grohl isn't enjoying the band any more. He doesn't want to be there out of choice because he is enjoying it, he is there only out of duty now. "Call when I'm done" meaning, just tell me know when I can go home...
"head is on I want out" Head is on meaning, "I'm thinking straight", and "I want out" is self explanatory.
"I'm alone and I'm an easy target" Cobain and Novoselic were best friends, and were the founders of Nirvana. Grohl came much later and was just one of many drummers. So in a 3 piece, he was alone, the easy target, and was outnumbered 2 to 1 in any band decision.
"metronome I want out" Metronome is how he felt. Just someone there to keep the beat. A glorified metronome.
"tear at the seams" Probably talking about either the Nirvana bubble bursting, or Cobain/Grohl starting to tear at the seams.
"he don't feel so good, don't feel bad not that he should i don't feel so good, don't feel bad not that i should" I think this is talking about how Cobain didn't feel good. He had a lot of trouble with his stomach condition. Whether or not that was real or made up to cover for Cobain's other problems, he clearly didn't feel good one way or another. "Not that he should" probably meaning, that it's understandable considering everything. And then the "I don't feel good" is probably Grohl talking about himself, and saying, "Yeah you don't feel good but neither do I". And again, "Not that I should", saying that it's understandable too.
"did you ever listen? get out." Not entirely sure, but I am guessing this is what Grohl feared hearing the most, from Cobain.
It's hard to know if any of this was a good interpretation, but everything I said about the band situation at the start is true. So my interpretations are based off that.