I see that many people around say that this song has no meaning. It is not true! This song is one of the most meaningful songs of Nirvana. It represents the band so well that it should have the title "Nirvana", instead of "Smells like teen spirit".
I think it is about the beginnings of the band, when they were at high-school.
"Load up on guns; bring your friends
it’s fun to lose and to pretend"
it gives a picture of the teenage guys in high-school, who usually gather in gangs with guns, fighting each other.
"She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word"
These lines are clearly for the high-school girls, who want to look older by acting like they are bored by life, and want to give the impression that they are self-assured. The dirty word for sure is BITCH!
“Hello, hello, hello, how low”
Now imagine the high-school gym hall, filled up with the students we described above, that are waiting to listen to a rock band from their school. The first word in the microphone, to salute and also to test the audio system, is “Hello”. It echoes through the loudspeakers “hello, hello, hello, …”
“With the lights out, it's less dangerous”
It is the title of one of their first songs. Maybe they had practiced it so much that: With the lights out, it’s less dangerous to fail.
“Here we are now; entertain us”
the crowd seemed to say.
“I feel stupid and contagious”
how the band leader felt in front of so many people. And “contagious” for the other band members.
What the crowd sees:
“A mulatto” = Novoselic, with black hair, black beard, big face, who looked like a mulatto
“An albino” = Cobain, a blonde guy
“A mosquito” = Grohl, or any other light-weight member of early Nirvana
“A libido” = Nirvana, our passion, our pleasure
“I'm worse at what I do best”
how the emotion to perform in front of the public makes one feel.
“And for this gift I feel blessed”
The fear that you are not going to perform good, makes the artist to practice more and more, which makes him blessed.
“Our little group has always been
And always will until the end”
That is why this song should be simply titled Nirvana.
“And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard; it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind”
Cobain, and many other artists, have passed a blocking moment on stage, when they forget a line or any of the chords. There comes improvisation, which makes an artist to taste. Later, when he recalls that moment, it makes him smile. Do not try to remember the forgotten lines or chords, just free yourself, improvise, and nevermind!
I see that many people around say that this song has no meaning. It is not true! This song is one of the most meaningful songs of Nirvana. It represents the band so well that it should have the title "Nirvana", instead of "Smells like teen spirit". I think it is about the beginnings of the band, when they were at high-school. "Load up on guns; bring your friends it’s fun to lose and to pretend" it gives a picture of the teenage guys in high-school, who usually gather in gangs with guns, fighting each other. "She's over-bored and self-assured Oh no, I know a dirty word" These lines are clearly for the high-school girls, who want to look older by acting like they are bored by life, and want to give the impression that they are self-assured. The dirty word for sure is BITCH! “Hello, hello, hello, how low” Now imagine the high-school gym hall, filled up with the students we described above, that are waiting to listen to a rock band from their school. The first word in the microphone, to salute and also to test the audio system, is “Hello”. It echoes through the loudspeakers “hello, hello, hello, …” “With the lights out, it's less dangerous” It is the title of one of their first songs. Maybe they had practiced it so much that: With the lights out, it’s less dangerous to fail. “Here we are now; entertain us” the crowd seemed to say. “I feel stupid and contagious” how the band leader felt in front of so many people. And “contagious” for the other band members. What the crowd sees: “A mulatto” = Novoselic, with black hair, black beard, big face, who looked like a mulatto “An albino” = Cobain, a blonde guy “A mosquito” = Grohl, or any other light-weight member of early Nirvana “A libido” = Nirvana, our passion, our pleasure “I'm worse at what I do best” how the emotion to perform in front of the public makes one feel. “And for this gift I feel blessed” The fear that you are not going to perform good, makes the artist to practice more and more, which makes him blessed. “Our little group has always been And always will until the end” That is why this song should be simply titled Nirvana. “And I forget just why I taste Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile I found it hard; it's hard to find Oh well, whatever, never mind” Cobain, and many other artists, have passed a blocking moment on stage, when they forget a line or any of the chords. There comes improvisation, which makes an artist to taste. Later, when he recalls that moment, it makes him smile. Do not try to remember the forgotten lines or chords, just free yourself, improvise, and nevermind!