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Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey

Yay

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey

Yay

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial

Overall Meaning

The song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana was released in 1991 and is widely considered one of the most iconic and influential songs in the history of rock music. The lyrics of the song capture the disaffected and rebellious spirit of the time period and deal with issues such as boredom, apathy, and the search for identity. The opening lines "Load up on guns, bring your friends / It's fun to lose and to pretend" speaks to the nihilistic tendencies of young people who were disillusioned with the political and economic system at the time.


The chorus of the song, with the repeated phrase "With the lights out, it's less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us," reflects the desire for entertainment and escape from the pain and chaos of the world. The reference to "a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido" is believed to be an inside joke by Kurt Cobain and refers to a friend who described himself in this manner. The line "I feel stupid and contagious" speaks to the feeling of helplessness and frustration that many young people experienced during the time period.


Overall, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song that captures the disillusionment and angst of a generation and continues to be celebrated as a seminal work in the history of rock music.


Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
Gather weapons and bring your accomplices


It's fun to lose and to pretend
It's enjoyable to have nothing and act like you don't care


She's over bored and self assured
She's extremely bored and full of herself


Oh no, I know a dirty word
Oh dear, I'm aware of a profanity


Hello, hello, hello, how low
Greetings, how are you feeling down there?


With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Having the lights turned off decreases the amount of risk


Here we are now, entertain us
We are present, so put on a show for us


I feel stupid and contagious
I feel unintelligent and like I can easily spread my feelings to others


A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A person with mixed race heritage, a person with no pigmentation, an insect that feeds on blood, my sexual drive


I'm worse at what I do best
I'm not very skilled at what I excel at


And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite this, I feel fortunate for this talent


Our little group has always been
Our small community has always existed


And always will until the end
And it will continue until the end


And I forget just why I taste
And I don't remember why I have this specific sensation


Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
Oh right, I suppose it causes me to grin


I found it hard, was hard to find
I struggled to locate it


Oh well, whatever, never mind
Oh well, it doesn't really matter anymore


A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
An inability to accept the truth




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Alexandre Pessi Cafer

Aos olhos da compreensão
Não existe aparência
Nem se faz forte o imponente
Só se faz presente

A emoção

Ver o belo
É vasculhar o desconhecido
É olhar de novo o que sempre esteve perto
É cultivar em si o amor

Doce sabor da vida !
Doce vida
Nós dá ilusão

Apreciamos outras formas
Aparências, objetos, animais
E negamos a nossa própria raça
Um olhar de afeto
De apreço

Acabamos por sermos cruéis
Conosco , com o semelhante
Impomos lógica
Estética 
Perfeição

Erramos dia a dia
Nos fechamos e nos fazemos de donos
Nos enganamos
E então cobramos felicidade 

Amarga é nossa felicidade
Preconceituoso o nosso alimento
Selvagem o nosso instinto
Inimigos já nascemos

Inimigos
Rivais
Desonestos competidores

Desobediente criação da natureza !
Oscilando entre os espinhos
E as flores

Alexandre P. Kaffer



All comments from YouTube:

MotoTales

No matter how you feel about nirvana, cobain, the 90's, grunge, or music in general... you just can't deny the power of this little song.

mara buchanan

Yep

DEMOCRACY! Daily

Its ok to not like grunge and Nirvana's music, but to dislike Nirvana as people seems weird to me. They are just so likeable and interesting

Yusuf E

@DEMOCRACY! Daily why wouldnt it be okay to dislike them? Basically drug addicts lol?

DEMOCRACY! Daily

@Yusuf E Not based on life choices but as people. I could talk with them for days and not get tired. I read so much about them and Kurt especially, still I want to know much more

Joe Schmoe

Kurt Kobain did Kurt Cocain and blew his Kurt Cobrains

199 More Replies...

April Adkison

I bought this album when I was 14. I remember playing this song and rewinding it over and over again. The 90's was the best decade.. It was the beginning of my teenage hood going into an adult and I had the best music to get me through it all. Was it ironic? No... It was Iconic!

Cheyenne Entertainment

It's insane to think the guy passed away when he was the age I am today. Left way too soon.

Heroes always get remembered, but legends never die.

RIP Kurt, we still love you

Daniel

"That's a nice quote.

Paranoize

So amazing ❤ you may like our songs 🤔

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