Explanations to NIRVANA's Songs
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BLEACH
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Album produced by Jack Endino, Drums are Chad Channing except where
otherwise noted.
Blew (2:53)
- The whole song conveys themes of entrapment
Floyd the Barber (2:15)
- A song about a small town that goes bad, the title is taken
from a character on The Andy Griffith Show. Everyone turns out
to be a mass-murderer. The song also shows Freudian castration fears.
Drums: Dale Crover
About A Girl (2:46)
- A song written for Kurt's girlfriend Tracy, she threatened to
kick him out if he didn't get a job.
School (2:40)
- A song about the incestous Seattle Scene. The bands seem to
resemble high school cliques.
Love Buzz (3:33)
- A cover song from the group Shocking Blue
Paper Cuts (4:04)
- Part of the lyrics are based on a true story of a family that
Kurt was acquainted with, who locked their children in a room.
Other lyrics have to deal with parents and neglect.
Drums: Dale Crover
Negative Creep (2:52)
- the first person narrative from an antisocial person
Scoff (4:07)
- A song that's directed towards the people who didn't believe in
Kurt's musical aspirations.
Swap Meet (3:00)
- A battle of the sexes
Mr. Moustache (3:21)
- Speaks out against the stereotypical male macho image
Sifting (5:21)
- seems to take on authority figures
Big Cheese (3:40)
- This song is written about Sub Pop man Jonathan Poneman and the
pressures he put on the band.
Downer (1:42)
- Kurt's attempt at a political song.
Drums: Dale Crover
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NEVERMIND
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Produced by Butch Vig, Drums are Dave Grohl on all tracks.
Smells Like Teen Spirit (5:01)
- An attack on the apathy of our own generation
In Bloom (4:14)
- An attack on people who listen to certain music for the wrong
reason. Imagine the macho, gun toting guy who sings alone to
Nirvana, but has no clue what he's singing about.
Come As You Are (3:38)
- A song full of contradictions on how we act versus how we think
society thinks we should act.
Breed (3:03)
- Growing up and being trapped by middle class america.
Lithium (4:15)
- A first person narrative of a nervous breakdown, or an update
of the Marxist description of religion as 'Opiate of the masses'.
Polly (2:54)
- Based on the actual kidnapping of a 14 year old girl and
her torture.
Territorial Pissings (2:22)
- Multi-themed song that attacks macho men.
Drain You (3:44)
- A song about love. Highly medical theme.
Lounge Act (2:36)
- A song about having a certain vision and being smothered by
a relationship.
Stay Away (3:31)
- An attack on any conformist clique.
On A Plain (3:14)
- Many small lines of poetry having multi themes.
Something in the way (3:51)
- A song about Kurt's experiences living under a bridge when
he was kicked out of home.
Endless, Nameless (6:45)
-Previously called 'The Noise Jam'. An experimental song created
when one of the takes on Lithium went bad.
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INCESTICIDE
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Dive (3:53)
-????
Produced by: Jack Endino
Sliver (2:12)
-A semi-biographical song about being deserted by your parents
Produced by: Jack Endino
Drums: Dan Peters
Stain (2:37)
-????
Produced by: Jack Endino
Drums: Chad Channing
Been A Son (1:53)
-Song about a girl whose parents wanted a boy
From: BBC Sessions
Drums: Dave Grohl
Turnaround (2:17)
-Cover of a Devo song
From: Hormoaning
Drums: Dave Grohl
Molly's Lips (1:51)
-Cover of a Vaselines song
From: Hormoaning
Drums: Dave Grohl
Son of a Gun (2:47)
-Cover of a Vaselines song
From: Hormoaning
Drums: Dave Grohl
New Wave Polly (1:46)
-Faster recording of Nevermind's Polly
From: BBC Sessions
Drums: Dave Grohl
Beeswax (2:47)
-????
From: Kill Rock Stars compilation
Drums: Dave Grohl
Downer (1:47)
-See 'Bleach'
From: Bleach
Drums: Dale Crover
Mexican Seafood (1:52)
-????
From: Teriyaki Asthma compilation
Drums: ????
Hairspray Queen (4:12)
-????
Produced by: ????
Drums: Dave Grohl
Aero Zeppelin (4:39)
-????
Produced by: ????
Drums: Dave Grohl
Big Long Now (5:01)
-????
Produced by: ????
Drums: Dave Grohl
Aneurysm (4:36)
-????
From: BBC Sessions
Drums: Dave Grohl
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IN UTERO
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Album produced by Steve Albini, all drums by Dave Grohl.
Serve the Servants (3:54)
- An autobiographical song about the whole Nirvana experience.
Scentless Apprentice (3:47)
- Based on the novel 'Perfume' (Kurt's fave).
Heart Shaped Box (4:39)
- A song about Courtney and dependancy.
Rape me (2:49)
- In Kurt's words, the song is a sort of poetic justice. A guy
rapes a girl. He ends up in jail and is raped there.
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (4:07)
- A song about the story of Frances Farmer, who was declared
insane and lobotomized.
Dumb (2:20)
- Ignorance is bliss. There is a certain care-free happiness
involved in being dumb. Drug related themes dominate the song.
Very Ape (1:55)
- An Attack on the stereotypical macho man.
Milk it (3:52)
- A song about co-dependancy, it heavily carries the medical theme.
Pennyroyal Tea (3:36)
A song about abortion, the difficult choices around it,
and the guilt following it.
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (4:49)
- According to Kurt this song is a throwaway. A bunch of random
poetry lines thrown together.
tourette's (1:33)
- This song has no meaning at all. Kurt just screamed alot.
All Apologies (3:50)
- Contrary to popular belief, this song is not about Francis
and Courtney. He wrote it for them, but none of the lyrics
really apply.
Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip (7:33)
(Import version)
- This song was an improv. They made it up as they went along.
No real meaning
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UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK
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Album produced by Nirvana and Scott Litt, all drums by Dave Grohl.
About a Girl (3:38)
-See 'Bleach"
Come as You Are (4:14)
-See 'Nevermind'
Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam (4:37)
-A Vaselines cover
The Man Who Sold the World (4:21)
-A David Bowie cover
Pennyroyal Tea (3:41)
-See 'In Utero'
Dumb (2:54)
-See 'In Utero'
Polly (3:17)
-See 'Nevermind'
On a Plain (3:45)
-See 'Nevermind'
Something in the Way (4:01)
-See 'Nevermind'
Plateau (3:38)
-A Meat Puppets cover, performed with the help of "The Brothers Meat"
Oh Me (3:27)
-See above
Lake of Fire (2:55)
-See above
All Apologies (4:24)
-See 'In Utero'
Where Did You Sleep Last Night (5:06)
-A cover of the old blues song written by Leadbelly
