How Nirvana Lyrics Reveal Kurt Cobain's Genius

Nirvana lyrics tell us a great deal about Kurt Cobain's approach to art, his inner world, and his ambivalence about fame. Discover the meaning behind popular Nirvana song lyrics like 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' 'All Apologies' and more.
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[@derekbilderoy7162]

He said himself in many interviews "my lyrics are just a bunch of contradictions". Mulato/albino Mosquito/libido Take your time/hurry up Choice is yours/don't be late As a friend/as an old enemy It's fun to lose Overboard/self assured We can plant a house/we could built a tree Etc etc

[@mrm2542]

As an old memoriam

[@x.gotham.x]

rape me/ my friend

[@mortusak4776]

Or he was high :)

[@aphenmcdonald6196]

@@mrm2542 lithium is literally the definition of oxymorons

[@carlostejada1479]

I'm worse at what I do best, and for this gift, I feel blesed

[@snttmstr5248]

Wish this would be longer

[@CultureCreature]

Thank you! I'm working on a new video about another iconic band right now. It'll be longer.

[@davidjanecoaker2974]

That’s what ShE SAID

[@blackbird5787]

There isn't more to say.

[@svfantom7776]

Yeah. Bigger, Longer, and Un-cut.

[@OHSSVOH-xm8nv]

GoogleJim rambling bunch of rubbish ^ ^ ^ 😂😂😂

[@teardropperkinz8823]

Kurt said music is Primary, lyrics are secondary.

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

Right on

[@giusepperadesca5131]

Once he also said that he consider himself more a songwriter than a guitarist

[@stephenfiore9960]

...and Fashion tertiary (just guessing)

[@llll7691]

@sabbracadabra he probably cared more about the music. Significantly

[@gwoptalk1268]

Where did he say this? Actually in one interview he said he’s more of a songwriter than a guitarist

[@myemodiaries901]

This is how I like to write my songs, it's more about the feelings of the word than a literal interpretation

[@MacroVisionify]

mmm yeah right

[@purplefloyd1513]

“This is how I like to write my stories”

[@weatheredtome]

Nobody cares.

[@lionforlambs9167]

@@weatheredtome I do

[@purplefloyd1513]

LION FOR LAMBS stop kissing ass

[@jonlanders4463]

His lyrics are better than any i've heard since. He's rarely thought of in this sense, but he was a great lyricist.

[@fauberkaupfmann982]

Because he doesn't compromise that much. He lets it flow naturally. Just a bunch of thoughts put into each other, with the appearance of cohesion.

[@G21H21]

Try death grips :D

[@tonioshea9870]

Perfect. A peek into Kurt's talent, alone. Wish there were more; this man's life was more than tragedy. Artistry, not heroin abuse, should carry more weight in his legacy.

[@williamthomas4125]

I'm pretty sure artistry is his legacy. He is the greatest song writer of my generation.

[@adami2140]

His heroin use was part of his artistry. His actual life was a piece of art. Though I feel for the ones he left behind. Well, whatever, nevermind.

[@Head318Hunter]

@@adami2140 Very true.

[@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081]

I do think heroin contributed positively to his talent. But also made him flame out extremely fast.

[@stevebradley1683]

The lyrics of In Utero are poetry.

[@idontlikesand7246]

That album is so good.

[@calvin3230]

Nirvana is the definition of modern art. it’s not for everyone but everyone can acknowledge it as unique.

[@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081]

I would say it’s a mix of modern art and classic art. He was a genius to combine a mix of the messiness of punk and the polish of pop like the Beatles.

[@painter5391]

“All apologies isn’t about anything” Lmao

[@Crushenator500]

Yeah I'mma call BS on that one lol

[@Crushenator500]

@@MajorCanada *All alone is all we are

[@dw6213]

@@Crushenator500 *All in all is all we are

[@Itsabellybuttonringgg10382]

Sometimes, I wish I could spend a day with Kurts mindset and thoughts. He inspires me with his music, even though I don’t plan on becoming a singer or musician (though I do sing for fun). I actually want to be an actress, and music helps me connect to people, my feelings, and the beauty in this world. I love it so much. I also like understanding the thoughts of other people, and Kurt is just one of a kind I believe. I wish I could understand how his mind works and what he thinks while creating art work. I find him so amazing...

[@rippelfamily]

I am an old guy who has heard about Kurt Cobain for years, but never took the time to read about him to find out why he was so popular. I appreciate your explanation. It helped. Thanks.

[@CultureCreature]

Thanks Chris!

[@Scyber_Official]

Kurt more than likely would've shrugged off people who tried to find a deeper meaning to his lyrics.

[@ltkreefer826]

Which is why i find it so odd that so many idolize him so deeply. He was a great man but just a man nontheless

[@ltkreefer826]

@@GGSOG but when you choose to write in that style, your lyricism becomes more malleable and syncopated allowing for more subtle interpretation which, in my opinion, has a larger impact

[@quiettraveller3287]

@@ltkreefer826 I think people idolize him for what he did with his music and how he presented nirvana. Not just how he did his music.

[@ahhwe-any7434]

Did you not listen? It's bc he's not a "loud" person. He may like art. But he just prob just found all the extra sh weird & uncalled for

[@ltkreefer826]

@@quiettraveller3287 i agree and appreciate the discretion of your reply unlike that other asshole lol

[@luiscypher1307]

Kurt was actually much more deliberate than he let on in interviews if you read his biographys & journals,his lyrics were at times abstract & sometimes deeply personal.

[@wvu05]

Yes! It is so frustrating when the fanboys pretend that they were just random words and incredulously believe everything that he said even after he admitted that he said some things to troll the press. I guess the idea of a primitive just randomly spouting words is something that some people find appealing.

[@luiscypher1307]

@@wvu05 Yup people love to romanticize the slacker poet archetype who just accidentally and effortlessly creates genius works of artistic expression without really trying. Nothing could be further from the truth,you don't get to be as good and as successful as Cobain without serious dedication,painstaking practice and indomitable drive. Luck and talent are obvious necessary components to that equation but it all starts with an uncompromising vision and pure unbridled will. The people closest to him say the same.

[@wvu05]

@@luiscypher1307 Indeed. I just dealt with one recently who insisted that those quotes were the gospel instead of an obvious attempt to get reporters off his back. I even asked how this person explained that "Polly" was inspired by a story in the newspaper and many of the details of the song matched the story in the paper, and how he came up with the lyrics from "Scentless Apprentice" based on his favorite book. The dummy even wrote off the lengthy rehearsal sessions that contradicted his statements on "musicianship" and even included a line about knowing the names of the chords. I gave my now-seven-year-old daughter a ukulele for Christmas when she was three, and she refuses to learn chords. You know what she does? Plays random sour notes. Yes, it is true that his music wasn't incredibly complex, but try to make up music that is simple and memorable and you'll find that is quite another story. Quite frankly, I think that Kurt Cobain did a huge disservice to his fans by refusing to admit the work involved because it gave them the false illusion that it was easy.

[@luiscypher1307]

@@wvu05 True,to a certain degree his inspiration was definitely detrimental in many ways but on the other side of that coin though it also had some undeniably positive outcomes too like the effect Nirvana's success had on the industry and the death of the hair metal 'hairspray queen' era of highly technical, mastabatory virtuoso guitarism. But yes your spot on as much as his music brought back Beetlesque melodic simplicity & raw unbridled emotive authenticity that resonanated with an entire disenfranchised generation it also perpetuated many hopelessly deluded daydreamers to believe they too could be the next overnight music sensation & all they would need is some flannel,passion and a cheap guitar. The reality though is musicians like Cobain are inately born with something the vast majority of the world is not...inexplicable talent,lol.

[@wvu05]

@@luiscypher1307 Indeed. In all honesty, looking at the Nirvana story, I think that the real unsung hero is Tracy Marander, because she's the one who paid the bills while he learned how to get better. I love his music and always will, but I just wish that he would have admitted, "I practiced several hours a day, listen to a lot of music, and have a skill for finding a melody and making specific stories sound universal." I get the slacker romanticism and feeling overwhelmed by it all, but I want _more_ people who write good songs and play good music.

[@JohnDoe-tm9wz]

Kurt was a genius

[@Mr_clean420]

HIS NAME IS NIRVANA

[@sallgoodman2323]

I'm worse at what, I do best And for this gift I feel blessed I found it hard, it was hard to find Oh well, whatever nevermind. My favorite lyrics, they're so damn poetic and flow phonetically and rhythmically. Brilliant artist

[@WVMothman]

He would have been 52 this year, it reminds me how old I'm getting?.

[@tdalb8985]

Yeah me too.

[@jamesbarker7788]

Kurt Cobain will Live Forever!,

[@talkingstone6308]

Me too, let's burn a Starbucks

[@rsohlich1]

we all are. I'm 35 now and seems like I was just 21. Life does this to most of us.

[@Goatchild90]

Rest in Peace Kurt Cobain

[@agent_ninety9]

I like the thought he left it up to the person for interpretation. He will forever be missed.

[@mishycrawford]

Honestly thought Daniel johns lyrics were already great , considering the kid was 15 when he started , but I totally understand the resemblance

[@kanedasrifle]

Johns would get wayyyyyyyyyy better as he got older , and he is a genius in his own right , but No more maybes , your babies got rabies , is hilariously bad , but yeah , teenagers eh.

[@Br4ndonnnn]

Man...I wish this was a 3 hour long video lol I could discuss Kurt’s lyrics for days!! Absolute genius!! Kurt was similar to Jim Morrison .. a COMPLETE artist. Could do many many Things at a very high level. RIP both.

[@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081]

You should make a video discussing Cobains lyrics for three hours. I’m sure many people would like to hear it.

[@TexasAllDay]

It’s been 25 years since Kurts death and I see Nirvana shirts being worn by Teenagers all the time. Do they really understand how great the band was, I don’t know, but it’s good to see the band is still remembered. I was a kid when he died but I slowly discovered them, it was like the first time I heard the Beatles. I’ll never forget that day.

[@ALLinALLgood]

"All in All is All we All are" ... or, ALL within the ALL is ALL we ALL are... Peace

[@gemeu1129]

It’s *all in all is all we are. “All in all is all we all are” is redundant.

[@ALLinALLgood]

Yes, _"all in all is all we are"_ is one version. Believe me, I paid close attention to that [Buddhist-like] praise. *All in All is All we All are* is also used in other live recordings. Its not redundant from a deep eastern philosophical perspective. See below example. *ALL within the ALL is ALL we ALL are. Peace.* Breakdown: *ALL* (finite beginning-ending/changing matter) *within the ALL* (Infinite Beginningless-Endingless/Non-Changing Spirit) *is ALL we ALL are,* therefore you and I are smaller consciousness finite fragments/specks/part and parcel of god, but we are NOT the Supreme Infinite Spirit Realm Supernatural Consciousness Summit that is Godhead while we exist as lower awareness finite realm material beings. *Peace.* Now do you realize you, I, we, are all specks of god. *A Complete Macrobiotic Yin Yang Philosophic Understanding Combined With Its Practical Dietary Discipline Is Timeless Universal Law. All Other Teachings Are Incomplete. ― Herman Aihara, Michio Kushi & Master George Ohsawa* ☯ ✞ ∞

[@gemeu1129]

Orange-Cat-Bad lol dude I get the straight forward meaning in one of the most straight forward lines of a nirvana song. Most of us do. Not that deep. Just good writing from existing and reading etc,. What I was saying is those aren’t HIS lyrics for the song. He probably knew that saying and broke it down so it made sense to him and the song. It doesn’t go much further than saying we are all of the all. He just chose his own way of saying a very straight forward statement.

[@ALLinALLgood]

Nirvana meaning: (in Buddhism) a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism. *All in All is All we All are* fits very well with ancient eastern Buddhist philosophy. But so does the short version you say, as does *All in One is One is/in All* and *All in All is what we are* etc. Under *Published on Sep 21, 2012* is an explanation of an early written and late 1991 live performance version of All Apologies with some very different lyrics. Like I already said: I've heard the *"All in All is All we All are"* in a live performance and the 8D multidirectional (posted below) being repeated over and over which is different from this listed below very different ending. All in all is all we are All in one is one is all All in all is what we are All in one is one in all All is one is one in all All is one and one is all All in one is one in all All in one is one in all *Nirvana - All Apologies (Early Version) [Lyrics]* - Incesticide23 channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp6rg62OnbRkgNE Next, down below, though the printed lyrics show it as you say, it is very clear and especially so to the end that Kurt is saying *All in All is All we All are.* Even Sinead O'connor clearly sings it as All in All is All we All are... Thus, from Kurt himself, there are changed renditions of these lyrics. Nirvana - All Apologies | 8D Audio *multidirectional* - yourmusicwaves channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6KnoHR_i7h_Z5o

[@flyinghighagain7712]

Holy shit! That just hit me.

[@arkhamnights]

"imagination" such a simple yet on-point explanation to understanding Kurt's music. Why there will never be another person quite like him. It's something that can't be taught but can be appreciated and be inspiring.

[@ksi8276]

Kurt was an untaught philosopher. He provided form with his lyrics and everyone could insert their own meaning in his songs

[@thiccmcchicken550]

Why does nirvana look like Beavis and Butthead in this artwork

[@captainobvious5177]

DOLL STEEEEEAAAAAK, TEST MEEEAAAAAT

[@esh4036]

@Doll Steak dang

[@tdalb8985]

Nicely puts into words why people are still talking about Nirvana. Why they are so much more relevant than the hairbands. motley crue, kid rock are already nearly forgotten, but you still see young people with Led Zeppelin and Beatles shirts. I predict we will still see Nirvana shirts 20 years from now.

[@Head318Hunter]

Spot on comment. Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Beatles.. Nirvana is also timeless. Soundgarden, AIC were also great bands. The 80s Hair bands were all so fake, cheap, shallow. The difference between Art and Business could never be more obvious.

[@Chmurauke]

I hope one day kids will be learning in school about him and his art

[@auad8923]

Many people buy the shirt without even knowing it is a band.

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

@@Head318Hunter corporate rock still sucks...🐢 and that is why alot of the bands today and the last 15 - 20 years ain't be remembered... I can think of a few but that's it...

[@justtrumpem4849]

Silverchair never gets the respect they deserve.. Daniel Johns wrote songs at the age of 12 for the album frogstomp. they definitely had their own style..

[@adami2140]

I grew up in Newcastle Australia at the time, Silverchair would enter band competitions and other mainstream crap, that is how Sony found them on the back of Kurt's death. It was all just a corporate set up to make money and be 'famous'. They did have some catchy tunes but they cannot be compared to Nirvana who pioneered a movement even though it was unwanted.

[@justtrumpem4849]

@@adami2140 definitely wasn't comparing them. I just find it pretty cool that they wrote and played their own stuff at such a young age. Whether they came up organically or in a mainstream way,I still respect them,or at least use to. Have you seen what Daniel is doing now? Some weird boy George techno mess. It's horrible.

[@ahhwe-any7434]

I like nirvana. But I like more bush songs. Fewer silver chair songs. No other reasons, other than me being attracted to words.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

The "Kathleen" the narrator referenced as being the inspiration for the title to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" wasn't just any random friend of Kurt's, she in the Riot Grrrl band Bikini Kill and was a creator of the Kill Rock Stars indie label.

[@edwinhernandez9276]

Random word salad goes good with Ranch dressing. 🥗💁‍♂️

[@cs292]

He had a shitty childhood, parents fighting all the time. and was bounced around different family members. I was too, you feel disconnected all the time and that no one really wants you around. You feel like an after thought and it makes just not want to be close to anyone because they will just leave or drop you off somewhere. What you wanted to do was indifferent to everyone, no pat on the backs no encouragement. Everything I think he did was out of sure will and sadness…trying to be something relevant to someone…and then when he achieved it, he couldn’t recognize it because it was so foreign to him….I deeply relate to this guy for some reason…just my 2 cents.

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

I miss him.. Its been a while since I've listen to nirvana n I just Had a good hour listening to live stuff, and Goddamn.. Its sad, he was and is still One of my heros.

[@ChadRockwell]

Wow, I didnt realize how much I could relate to him. Always loved Nirvanas music but never really looked beyond that much. Great video.

[@GuitarHeroPhenomSux]

My heart is broke, but I have some glue. Help me inhale, mend it with you. We'll float around and hangout on clouds, then we'll come down and have a hangover. Don't tell me what I want to hear. Afraid of never knowing fear. Experience anything you need. I'll keep fighting jealousy, until it's fucking gone. Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you.

[@rickyrichreacts9667]

Blows my mind how you guys idolize Kurts lyrics like they were some great profound philosophy. Kurt even said his lyrics were NEVER that deep. Just words that would rhyme together so no real thought or meaning would go into his song writing.

[@loud6037]

I'm glad someone said this, because it blows mine too.

[@jellyfishrock-hers7888]

Exactly he himself was a high school drop out.

[@loud6037]

@Doll Steak Idk what alternative meanings you find in lyrical content like 'you're back in highschool' x7 'no recess' x4 or 'Pee-pee in my face, I die smothered in Andy's butt' and maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time finding anything to relate to in that. As for the second lyric, I don't really have any particular desire to find those words relatable in any context. Maybe you need a LOT more imagination than I possess to interpret Nirvana, idk.

[@ChristopherJ655]

Thats just what he said..... He wrote INCREDIBLE lyrics.

[@c.f.9271]

I love those pictures of Kurt. When people draw Kurt, many times it become like way too dirty and funny unless it's realistic photo-like illustration. But these pictures reveal his beauty and "grunge style" at the same time, and it's expressed in pop kind of style, staying it's style as an anime illustration. That's very cool

[@RobinOnYew]

I think what Kurt tried to achieve is that the songs are always heard personally and differently by different individuals. because its connected to a place of raw emotion, that simply the listener can interprate through their world's view. that's why it was a band that represented the generation.

[@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081]

Kurt downplayed himself a lot, probably due to low self esteem, but don’t be fooled the guy was literally a musical genius. Too bad we didn’t get to see the music he would have made if he stayed around longer. There’s a chance he was just entering his prime at 27.

[@solastacey127]

i wish this video was an hour long lol i love learning about the meaning behind certain lyrics

[@nathanbranson9149]

Yeah, I'd listen to the Pixies "Doolittle."

[@sumtingwong5963]

I love debaser man im still new to the rock scene only ever listened to grunge like soundgarden and nirvana if you can tell me any bands that i most certainly wouldnt know or many bands off your head I'd love that alot

[@notatall2237]

@@sumtingwong5963 Some lesser known bands with grungy sound are: Failure, Dinosaur Jr., Polvo, Into Another, Heatmiser, PJ Harvey, Slint, Sebadoh, The Smashing Pumpkins and No. 2. (Most are not labeled as grunge, I just think they can sound like that sometimes.) And of course check out: Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. I know you didn't ask for grunge in particular, but still that's a couple of bands you might grow to like.

[@DTAY45]

I just listened to the whole album today, they really paved had some good stuff

[@nathanbranson9149]

@@sumtingwong5963 The Pixies songs that may have influenced Nirvana(my guess): "I Bleed" "Tame" "Crackity Jones" "Bone Machine." Lots of screaming, slow build ups, quiet and a panic attack.

[@surfdigby]

@@sumtingwong5963 Debaser is one of the greatest songs ever for getting drunk with friends and dancing like an idiot to.

[@FreddieHg37]

I feel I got a why instead of a how…

[@cringeworthycontent7513]

What makes me feel crazy his last song was called you know you were right

[@kieronreilly6713]

Frogstomp and nevermind were my first two CD's.

[@ryry2402]

Frogstomp, nevermond here too... also the eurythmics and Johnny Farnham but I managed to lose those ones fast.

[@kieronreilly6713]

@@ryry2402 I was in grade 7 and my uncle let me pick any 2 CD's. I still love these albums

[@ryry2402]

@@kieronreilly6713 I was... jeez... sorta the same. Nsw aus. I sorta fell away from this kinda music. had more influence on me than I'm happy to admit. Old years old now on a nostalgia trip. Trying to get my daughter's interested in music made with actual instruments. After overhearing them recite awful whoreish lyrics from a Billie eilish girl realising maybe our generations mopey musical hero's weren't too bad after all.

[@kieronreilly6713]

@@ryry2402 Qld Australia. I feel ya

[@thisguy1890]

Frogstomp is the album every 16-year-old wishes they could make but could never pull it off

[@luiscypher1307]

"A mosquito,my libido" is a subtle reference to heroin imo A mosquito is like a needle drawing blood and sucking vitality & heroin diminishes sex drive.Actually i find a lot of vague veiled references to drugs in Cobains lyrics that only people with an inside understanding may pick up on like "Doused in mud soaked in bleach" from Come as you are on 'Nevermind' is another reference to needles or more precisely cleaning them or "Easy in an easy chair,poop as hard as rock" from Mr Mustache on 'Bleach' is about nodding off & constipation both symptomatic of opiate use. There are many more that i wont bring up but im guessing Cobain wrote about what he felt,experienced and knew like most decent writers do,drug use being just one of those things he was synonymous for plus he also enjoyed being quite cheeky & provocative.

[@donnix768]

He actually DESPERATELY wanted to be a huge rock star, when this actually happened he backed away from these early aspirations because he also wanted to retain some underground punk credibility.

[@TestMeatDollSteak]

Yep. Just more examples of his internal contradictions.

[@donnix768]

Reflex I think he realized that the level of fame he had achieved would never allow him to reconnect with punk rock underground culture. Ironically, Nirvana breaking into the mainstream lead to hundreds of thousands of people discovering melvins, black flag, descendants, and the bad brains. People were so interested in this music that he would mention in interviews that they were inclined to dig deeper and hear these legendary groups that they otherwise would not have discovered.

[@donnix768]

Reflex 80s and 90s hip hop was by far the greatest. Punk and hip hop both started as underground genres. The Beastie Boys started out a hardcore punk outfit before transitioning to hip hop. Check out a record they did called Aglio y Olio.

[@echase416]

He wanted to be famous, as far as getting his music out there, but he was an introvert who didn’t want to be a big rockstar persona. Media junkets and stalker fans get draining for people with an introvert personality. He was more interested in preserving his integrity and not being a sellout.

[@jukaisea7262]

true, he hated that the punk rock underground scene rejected him after Nevermind success, he suffered when the Olympia Festival rejected his request to play for free

[@lbear2842]

Your videos look like you put a lot of effort into them and you don't get enough credit (.)

[@BoneCK15]

We could climb a home, we could build a tree.

[@ryanduray1]

*we could plant a house, we could build a tree

[@poopooodoodie5929]

BlackDogsMatter 😂

[@mikemurray3962]

Lmao

[@echoholicskltn]

Been obsessed with Nirvana for 2 decades now

[@SarahStephanieLandry]

Totally agree that Kurt Cobain was a lyrical genius- but want to point out that so is Daniel Johns of the band silverchair, shown at the end as a "copycat." Dude wrote amazing grunge tunes when he was just 13 years old, and has gone on to have one of the most eclectic, surreal and sometimes shocking music careers ever.

[@sirphineasluciusambercromb9114]

But you're Australian. Obviously you think that.

[@maointeresao898]

you deserve more views

[@tonioshea9870]

My thought, exactly. Nice to get a glimpse of Kurt's genius, without the distraction of his shortcomings. I'm so sick & tired of it; Courtney Love & a syringe were not an integral part of his artistry. He was an artist from day one.

[@raym.778]

I don't know how genius it is per se, but that's basically what you get when you learn how to write stream of consciousness. I'm pretty sure lyrics by Babes in Toyland, Pixies, Veruca Salt and countless other 90s bands were like that as well.

[@chimpman5584]

Basically, just say shit...it doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound good. As long as you do that, the world will idolise you and try to find a deeper meaning to something that has no meaning at all.

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

Basically, if that's what you got out of this, you're a simpleton.

[@chimpman5584]

@@nicholasmaxwell9899 well why don't you enlighten me with all your wokeness oh intelligent one.

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

@@chimpman5584 Okay sure. So basically, art is at its best when its universal. When anyone who ever lived could or could have relate to it in some way. When one makes art that is too direct and specific, less people can relate to the sentiments that are being expressed. So it's not that Kurt's approach to art was to "just say shit" that doesn't have to make sense, even though he claimed to do so in an effort to troll the casuals like you, but rather his approach was to create art that contains enough ambiguity to resonate with anyone. This kind of art tends to be more timeless because you can twist and bend the meaning to your liking, for whatever situation you're in, qnd whatever emotion you happen to be feeling. Virtually all the great artists have done the same. Bob Dylan's lyrics can be very cryptic. The greatest painters used ambiguity. Shakespeare as well. But you can go back to thinking that the objective is to "just say shit". The rest of us will enjoy the incredible work these artists have left to us!

[@chimpman5584]

@@nicholasmaxwell9899 OK, I see what you're saying and I used to subscribe to that concept in my teens and even early 20s, however, sometimes that feels like a cop-out. In no way am I saying Nirvana didn't make great music, heck some of their stuff is still unmatched to this day, but I do feel that Kurt was waaay to young to write anything meaningful, and once I read some of his random scribbling before his death, I realised he was a very naive and confused young man who didn't know how to express his thoughts in any meaningful way linguistically speaking, so he expressed them through sound conveying emotion. Kudos to him for that, the sound resonates with me too. But what I won't do is sit here and read deeply into the meanings of words that when strung together have no meaning at all. I remember whilst studying psychology I read about Sigmund Freud. He would come up with his whacky theories about fancying your mother and always follow them up with: but you'll never know because it's all in the subconscious. To me that's just a cop-out, very much like artists who create their art and say well what does it mean to you? It's like, bruh...you created the shit....how about you tell me what you meant instead of deflecting from the fact that you evidently don't know either.

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

@@chimpman5584 You made some good points, and so I think the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. He was definitely young and naive and he did write a lot of random lyrics because as you said, I think he was more concerned with the sound and attitude of his music. However, I think if you were to go song by song, you would be surprised by how many of his songs do have tangible themes and sensible lyrics. It's not all "a mosquito, my libido" gibberish. Kurt Cobain was very young, angry, and naive. But he was also super intelligent in an artistic way, and he was an absolute visionary. He did everything for Nirvana, wrote the music + lyrics, did all their artwork, made all their business decisions. And maybe sometimes artists use ambiguity as a cop out, but I don't think that was the case with Kurt. When I read his lyricism and hear him talk about writing, I can tell that cryptic style of writing is just his personal taste. It's what he enjoys more. I can totally relate to it because I'm the same way. I like when the artist let's me interpret things in multiple ways. Bob Dylan, widely regarded as the greatest lyricist ever, likes his art that way too. Some artists may use that as a cop out, but others like Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, etc.. use it as a way to give their listeners a chance to be creative themselves within their interpretations. I think it usually means something to them, but by leaving it somewhat cryptic or open ended, any single human being can use their interpretation to mold it into something they can connect with. I think that's very powerful.

[@Spooky_515]

I enjoy almost all of his lyrics but really like the ones that gives us a look into his tragedies. Heart Shape Box, Something In The Way and Dumb to name a few

[@gregthackray]

Kurt was a genius musician and lyricist. He could use opposites n contradictions in his lyrics n music to inspire a feeling of wholeness!? Almost like the yin/yang symbol which becomes a whole circle! As pple we tend to see stuff in polarity. Even our brains are split into 2 hemispheres! We tend to judge things as right/wrong, us/them, left/right, black/white n Kurt's genius let him use that polarity to paint a gray picture with multiple interpretations! Combined with the music though, which could also convey so many different emotions (sometimes in the same song such as sad/happy like in Lithium!) it would leave me feeling more whole, energised n at one with myself!

[@Sayedelamin]

He has also stated that he’s more interested in knowing what we think. It’s all there.

[@TheSCARYshow1]

That bit at the end, with Bush and Silverchair was really unfair. It sours the whole video for me.

[@Dwolfmusic]

malandr0bem same

[@Steaminlidz]

It’s a totally fair call. Both bands were utterly derivative, at least at the start.

[@olivierdube8110]

@@Steaminlidz and now they're both irrelevant bands, end of story

[@Steaminlidz]

@@olivierdube8110 I thought that they (and Stone Temple Pilots) were pretty irrelevant back then as well.

[@derekbilderoy7162]

They were ripoffs though and their music sounds dated now because they were not original

[@pandemic7]

People really oversell the Pixies influence, on Kurt. They were an influence, but not the end all be all that people portray.

[@lukeyoung5201]

pandemic7 Kurt literally said that he was trying to copy them. He even used the same producer as them lol.

[@pandemic7]

@@lukeyoung5201 It's one thing to make an off the cuff comment about an influential band you admire, but it's quite another to say they are the main inspiration for doing what he did. If anything, he was a bigger fan of the Kim Deal and The Breeders, look it up. If you want a true major influence on Nirvana it's the Beatles. Just listen to the music, it's unmistakable.

[@andrepereira744]

pandemic7 He mention many bands influenced him during his life time,some of them are easier to see and more direct than others,on Nirvana's music.(young marble giants for ex.). Tad Doyle from Tad said that when Gang of Four did some shows in America to present the"Entertainment"album,he went to see them with Kurt (this was pre Nirvana),and that concert changed both their lifes forever. Now about The Pixies,from the weird,cryptic and nonsence lyrics,to the"quite-loud"type of song writing,not forgeting the raging raspy screams from Frank Black,there's plenty of that in Nirvana. Damn,Kurt even said once that all he wanted was to have a band who sounded like them(pixies). He never said that about the Beatles. The only time Kurt was near to meet Frank,he ran away feeling embarrased. He never knew Frank. Sure his admiration for the Beatles was public as his taste for melody and pop bands. But sometimes he's clearly mention them to shock the"all-noise-punk-rockers"that he also was tired off. And to be fair, a band that use pop in their work,to mention The Beatles is almost a certain thing,is like the Metal people mention Black Sabbath. You just can't avoid some names. There's Beatles in Nirvana but their sound is a lot more Pixes.

[@nomchowski8297]

Very insightful. Though Kurt prolly would have laughed if someone said that about someone explaining his lyrics. Personally his lyrics often made me laugh out loud and smile when I first understood them. For example the combination of uptempo punkrock wit 'just because you're paranoid, don't mean (etc)'. Combined its just super funny to me.

[@carlarecaido6951]

I think his lyrics in "all apologies" is pretty relevant today. The lines "what else should i be all apologies" in my perspective means people are constantly making us feel like shaming ourselves for who we are and quite imposing here and there what we should be. "What else should i write , i dont hav the right"

[@pyntaman-7410]

He was simply the BEST ! IM STILL FIGURING HIM out . Started in 1992

[@thereaper964]

For me i always cry if i got scold, confuse by my words, frustrated, or angry i cry, so i have This thoughts i dont want to cry easily cause i feel weak and have low self esteem. So crying on command is great because i can control it

[@roshanbasu2732]

Amazing video man! Well put and great talk. Definitely deserve more subscribers. (even though 500 is a lot)

[@VolvoImpala]

I think that Kurt's biggest lyrical influence was Black Francis. Francis already had what appeared to be a highly original style and what Kurt was doing was like that only with a little more feeling. He did draw out seemingly genuine feelings and then satirized that right in the next line. I also think he figured out a way to write songs that would be both original and easy. And that was all helped by him being a good guitarist. There were other guitarists in the band but when it came to recording it was all Kurt's guitar.

[@ANT1989]

And this is why Nirvana is still relevant til this day. Because no one knows the EXACT meanings of their songs, so you constantly listen to try to figure it out, but you never will. You just take what you think it means and run with it. __________ For example, here's my take on just the first line for the lyrics to "In Bloom": "Sell The Kids For Food" Meaning: In my opinion that could mean going to the sperm bank to donate your sperm or "sell the kids" for money to buy food because you're broke. ____________ "Weather Changes Moods, Spring Is Here Again, Reproductive Glands" Meaning: So the song is called "In Bloom", and what time does things begin to "Bloom"? Spring. And the weather does change your mood doesn't it? Rain could mean sadness or for others it could mean peaceful/relaxing. "Spring Is Here Again, Reproductive Glands" Since it's spring, the plants and flowers are reproducing, using their "Reproductive Glands" because they're "IN BLOOM". __________ See how genius Nirvana is? See how abstract that art of writing lyrics is? The amazing part is that was just MY OPINION on what I think "In Bloom" is talking about. That's the mystery of Nirvana, because everyone has their own interpretation to what their songs are talking about, but because it's so abstract, you'll never get to the bottom of it and thus it's 2021 and WE KEEP ON LISTENING to Nirvana til this day.

[@kyledaydreams2020]

kurt has said many times his lyrics don't really mean anything and often times would scribble them out the night before a recording session

[@derekbilderoy7162]

Exactly. It's punk rock. It's supposed to be easy, off the cuff, little thought put into it. Simple enough that anyone can play it.

[@bjnwright]

'I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends, they're in my head'. I remember thinking the same thing when I started taking anti-depressant medicine. All of a sudden, I was talking to people i normally wouldn't and who normally wouldn't talk to me. I remember thinking - 'these people haven't changed, ive changed, so these 'friends' are in my head' and wondering if Kurt had started writing Lithium (an antidepressant drug) based on a similar realization? Maybe, maybe not.

[@Iceman99992]

bjnwright I like this

[@bjnwright]

@@Iceman99992 cheers. I like the name:) awesome.

[@keepsake4454]

I’m intrigued by what you said but a little confused as to what you mean. Do you mean there was no genuine friendship and the idea of the friendship was all in your head?

[@bjnwright]

@@keepsake4454 I just meant that i was suddenly engaging with people, who I would have normally tried to avoid. They weren't friends per say, just colleagues at work. But in that moment I remember thinking to myself 'huh, I wonder if Kurt experienced the same thing'? Make sense? It's kind of hard for a bad writer like me to explain.

[@emmettd.kobain8787]

1967-1994 R.I.P Kurt Donald Cobain

[@rasta8612]

silverchair didint know what nirvana was at the time they started as far as i know.

[@tylerschneider4628]

rasta yea they certainly weren’t copy cats. daniel just looks like kurt

[@SkrvnHiptR77]

I like Daniel johns and silverchair's music. If anything looked or seemed to be "copying" nirvana would probably be more of manager or label promotion's doing! To try and join the money train! Anyways I love nirvana and I am fan of silverchair's music too!

[@MrLump]

rasta they knew nirvana

[@andrepereira744]

rasta I guess you don't know much far. Who the hell in 92 didn't knew Nirvana's music? Beside,they used to play Nirvana covers before Silver Chair was formed. From song writing,tone and tuning( the use of drop d),some mannerisms and image,those first 2 album are all about the Seatle thing.

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

They knew nirvana...

[@thebigbopper6000]

Silverchair played well.. But i think the label vampires pressured them to be like nirvana during the Frog Stomp album which by the way wasn't even close to being as good as a nirvana album, but i do think Neon Ballroom was a decent album and they found their own sound.

[@deadroses19]

down in the dumps Lmao frogstomp sounds NOTHING like nirvana ever made

[@thebigbopper6000]

@@deadroses19 You don't read well friend.. Thats actually what i said. But was still a good album and especially for being 15years old when it was recorded

[@Head318Hunter]

I was so pleasantly surprised to see BUSH pointed out as "Copy Cats" 😂🤣 I never could stand that band for some reason. Now I have a reason. TY

[@clockwork914]

Ditto

[@joeellislive]

The songs meant something but the lyrics are the furthest from that, they were just sounds that flowed together nicely and maybe some coincidence made them seem like they meant something. I think kurt was a true painter of "vibe". Each song is a vibe. Nothing more.

[@joeellislive]

The lyrics meaning something would've been part of the joke, and paradox, that was the overall style and meaning of nirvana

[@lennonbudd4490]

Smells like teen spirit was what someone said about kurt in an article it wasn’t from his friends

[@adami2140]

I'm glad you mentioned the copycats. 'My whole existence is for your amusement, that is why I am here with you'. KC.

[@krzysztofgolubiewski8387]

This is really good.

[@CultureCreature]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@krzysztofgolubiewski8387]

No, seriosly video quality is very good and content is very interesting. And on the video i see Kurt Cobain.

[@AthenaTheWolf]

After dinner I had ice cream

[@jamesbraun2855]

Music comes first lyrics are secondary "kurt Cobain 😱

[@genienichols3954]

Very interesting, I wish this was longer❤😊

[@CultureCreature]

Here’s a note for viewers who are dismayed at my description of Bush and Silverchair. When Nirvana rose to international popularity, record labels rushed out a wave of bands intended to capitalize on the ‘grunge’ trend (grunge is a term that went stale almost immediately but was used heavily at the time). Bush and Silverchair were among the bands that were suddenly in heavy MTV rotation, and teenagers like me gobbled up their albums and tickets to their shows. I’m not even criticizing the talent of those bands. I’m just saying that prior to the release of Nevermind, there was no place for Bush, Silverchair and their ilk, and immediately afterwards, those bands were packaged and marketed in a commercial trend that Nirvana spearheaded (it's also worth noting that Daniel Johns was twelve years old when Nevermind was released). Some bands, like Silverchair, consciously differentiated themselves from that trend later. That said, listen to the lyrics on ‘Sixteen Stone’ and tell me that Gavin Rossdale wasn’t aping Kurt’s dadaist lyrical style.

[@martijntalma]

He is the one, who likes all our pretty songs. And he likes to sing along, but he dont know what it means. I so liked this part. Because it was aimed at "the jocks" that all suddenly were in to nirvana, because they were popular. I read somehere when they played this song and these lyrics were only sung by the jocks, the fans who understood the music, just shut up. So that the jocks sing along with a song, not knowing they were singing about themselves. Genius, straight genius.

[@Walshy16]

I wish people would stop saying Silverchair copied nirvana, they always had heavier riffs and heavier drums. Daniel Johns Also incorporated a lot more things that orchestrated their Sound, just because both bands dressed a certain way as the record labels would have told them to do that, were a three piece band and had blonde singers they sound the same! Actually listen to both bands albums then comment on them

[@faremo666]

Silverchair wasn''t a copycat

[@filterscape]

Hard not to see the opportunistic similarities.

[@faremo666]

@@filterscape they were 15 when frogstomp came out, of course they had similarities because their roots where very mainstream at the time

[@ShadeATV]

The art looks like a wikihow article

[@bobbiebodily6563]

Krist looks abso-fucking-lutely insane in the thumbnail

[@codyjohnson4174]

I’ve always said since I was little it’s just how you interpret it, doesn’t matter how Kurt interrupts it. Anders friden of in flames has the same philosophy and is quite the poet himself. People, especially nowadays, try to dissect every little thing about anything (especially song lyrics) whether it be on a podcast, in the comment section like this, or just talking to somebody or a friend. It’s human nature to want to/think you know a lot when sometimes people are looking too much into something that’s not even there. Just enjoy yourself and the lyrics n trust me, it’ll make sense, it does for me anyways (and marijuana helps not gonna lie lol) but get outside n breath in the air, turn your phone on silent, and the world seems a little less complicated and peaceful

[@Pennyroyal_T.]

Voice is an instrument, words are notes and, as he knew how to create IMAGES through canvas & painting, so he did through music & lyrics.

[@orangetoes223]

you're thinking to hard about nothing at all

[@herointhemaking2057]

Agreed

[@bluesolace9052]

Yeah, but I can still enjoy his unusual lyrics simply enough

[@euandyer]

You're not thinking hard enough about how to spell 'too'

[@ThiagodMoraes]

That sounds funny to me today. I learned how to play guitar and sing due to Nirvana, never had interest in look deep into his lyrics. But i came from Punk rock scene where that type of thing is common. Now that I am able to fully understand English and I am an adult, i can see it. Kurt was for the most part mocking, buzzling around with his lyrics. He didn't expect people to take it too seriously as they did. He said it publicly many times. There are a lot of bands who songwriting style were like that in rock, so i feel okay with it. The Ramones, Stooges, MC5, The Melvins, Mudhoney, Pixies, The Beatles,Stones..All big Nirvana influences as we know!!

[@josemontano7767]

Good video. Nice artwork.

[@CultureCreature]

Thank you!

[@allaboutdatGDA]

This was very enjoyable, thanks!

[@radrcer]

Kurt said their lyrics aren’t serious like REM or dumb-happy like Van Halen - they want to be both.

[@michaelromefelt762]

i love bush and Silverchair but that's one fucking good uppercut to grunge hahah

[@tylerxking186]

Kurt Cobain is forever a legend RIP💖

[@leofarias1029]

Amazing!! Kurt was to Smart

[@rsohlich1]

He got the cut/paste method from Beat writer William Burroughs.

[@johnnyrayvibe318]

Very nice well put together video

[@dougbull9549]

People pi it so much in there lyrics.even Kurt said sometimes he would toss in anything that would would good.half his songs are just life and items in like like he sang about his turtle.gpingntongrandmothers just life it's crazy to take that and make the boring issues in life and make a beautiful song from it

[@zobazoba69]

I thought you were gonna talk about Lithium's circular lyrics which is just pure artistic genius.

[@bentuu816]

This guy deserves wayyy more subs than he has

[@faunuscancerous7102]

Aero zeppelin is my fave, it explains today’s culture and Downer to

[@zayyjayy3232]

You guys should have 1 million subs wtf I’m dead ass