come as you are
|Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
(Memoria, memoria)
The song "Come As You Are" by Nirvana is open to multiple interpretations. It could mean different things for different people, but some of the common understandings drawn from the lyrics are suicide, depression, and social acceptance. The opening lines of the song when Kurt Cobain sings, "Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be," suggest that he is accepting someone the way they are without judging them for their past. The following lines mention "friends" and "old enemies," which could mean everyone is welcome, regardless of their past experiences.
The next stanza talks about taking one's time and a choice being left up to the individual. This could mean the song is about individuals who are struggling with depression and how they can choose between asking for help or dealing with everything on their own. The last stanza of the song and the chorus contain the line "and I swear that I don't have a gun" repeated several times, which could indicate an attempt to distance oneself from acts of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Come as you are, as you were
Be yourself, don't try to be someone you're not or pretend to be different than you were before
As I want you to be
Be yourself, but also be what I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
I welcome you as a friend, someone I trust and care for
As an old enemy
I also welcome you as someone who may have been an enemy in the past, but I am willing to let bygones be bygones and move forward as friends
Take your time, hurry up
Take all the time you need, but also hurry up and come to me as soon as possible
Choice is yours, don't be late
You have the freedom to choose, but don't wait too long to make that choice
Take a rest as a friend
Relax and take a break from your troubles, knowing that you have me as a friend to rely on
As an old
Continuation of the previous line, suggesting that the subject can rest assured and rely on me as a friend
Memoria, memoria
Repetition of this phrase serves to emphasize the feeling of nostalgia or bittersweet memories associated with the situation and the person being addressed
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
Come to me as you are, with all your flaws and troubles (mud), but also with a willingness to cleanse and start anew (bleach)
As a trend, as a friend
You can come to me conforming to the latest trends, or as a genuine friend, either way I will accept you
And I swear that I don't have a gun
I want to reassure you that I don't pose a threat to you, or to myself
No, I don't have a gun
Further emphasizing the previous line, and suggesting that the song's message is about peace and acceptance, rather than violence or aggression
(Memoria, memoria)
Repetition of this phrase serves to intensify the focus on memories and emotions associated with this situation
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TOP100Classicalmusic
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an known enemy
--
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)1
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
@alexsalazar2230
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
@maelldo_7187
0% autotune
0% drugs
100% talent
Okay just a little bit of drugs
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
75% talent
25% drugs
\_( ā¢ _ ā¢)_/
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
A LITTLE bit
@immodium4586
Yup
@yoda5436
0% drugs? Do you really believe that?
Oh there ya go
@immodium4586
Yoda r/wooosh
@Shekel-
Who else is watching this in 1776?
@Wglass90
I am. I saw General George Washington listen to it on his istone as he was signing the declaration of independence.
@d.jgutierrez768
Shekel Thief Sorry, I'm watching it in 1492.
@thotpolice9753
Poseurs! I was listening to this in 3200 BC!