Come As You Are
Émilie Simon Lyrics


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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
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old memory

Memory, yeah (4x).

Come dowsed in mud,
Soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend,
As a friend,
As an old memory

Memory, yeah (4x).

And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun.
No I don't have a gun.

Memory, yeah (4x).

No I don't have a gun.
No I don't have a gun.





Memory, yeah (4x).

Overall Meaning

The song "Come As You Are" by Émilie Simon is an interesting blend of conflicting emotions and messages. The opening lines, "Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be," seem to portray a sense of acceptance and welcoming, encouraging the listener to be themselves. However, the following line, "As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy," suggests that this acceptance may be conditional or wary, hinting at a complicated history between the singer and the listener. The urgency of "Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late," also creates a sense of pressure and tension.


The next verse introduces another layer of confusion, with the potentially paradoxical lines, "Come dowsed in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be, as a trend, as a friend, as an old memory." The contrasting imagery of mud and bleach suggests a desire for authenticity and purity, while the references to being a trend and an old memory suggest a willingness to conform or to be forgotten. The repetition of "memory, yeah" throughout the song further emphasizes the theme of memory and the past.


The final lines, "And I swear that I don't have a gun, no I don't have a gun," add an ominous tone to the song. The repeated denial of having a gun could be interpreted as a reassurance or a warning, depending on the listener's interpretation. Overall, "Come As You Are" is a complex, thought-provoking song that invites multiple interpretations.


Line by Line Meaning

Come as you are,
Be yourself and don't try to be someone you're not


As you were,
Return to how you were before, back to the past


As I want you to be
I accept you the way you are and want you to be comfortable


As a friend,
Be here for me as a companion


As a friend,
Be here for me as a companion


As an old enemy
Even though we had our issues, I am willing to move forward and let bygones be bygones


Take your time, hurry up
Take all the time you need, but don't be late


The choice is yours, don't be late
You have the free will to choose, so make a decision before it's too late


Take a rest as a friend
Rest, take a break and relax, while being a friend to me


As an old memory
Let the past remain a memory, and move forward with our friendship


Memory, yeah (4x)
Reflecting on past memories and experiences, reminiscing about the past


Come dowsed in mud
Arrive dirty, unclean, or imperfect


Soaked in bleach
Cleaned and purified, without any blemishes


As a trend,
Don't follow the crowd, I accept you for who you are, not what is trendy


As a friend,
Be here for me as a companion


As an old memory
Let the past remain a memory, as we move forward with our friendship


Memory, yeah (4x).
Reflecting on past memories and experiences, reminiscing about the past


And I swear that I don't have a gun
I promise that I am not here to harm you or cause any damage


No I don't have a gun.
I reassure you that I am not armed with any weapons


No I don't have a gun.
I reassure you that I am not armed with any weapons


Memory, yeah (4x).
Reflecting on past memories and experiences, reminiscing about the past.




Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

GroovyBulls

I've been a Nirvana fan for years, Kurt ruled my life in the 90's. This cover is just great, Emilie Simon hits exactly the right spot with this cover, she understands exactly what this song is about!!!!

Amethyst

J'aime beaucoup Nirvana, mais j'ai été extrêmement impressionnée par cette reprise, particulièrement le refrain... Vraiment une excellente reprise.

Sephyr ArtCore

One of my favorite female artists I must admit. She is great on stage, her shows are really unique. I wish for the next time she comes in Montreal, I absolutely have to go see her. Her voice is amazing, and God is she beautiful.

Sadi Loto

Hacer un cover a Nirvana es complicado. Ella le da otro tipo de sentimiento, me encanta :)

T K

Oh Wow! I love this! It's an absolutely beautiful cover of the song! Well done to Emilie and R.I.P. Kurt, we miss you.

Kazama Blood

I think Kurt would have liked this cover a lot. It gives a new dimension to the song. It just gives a different feel.

chalger

I honestly cried at the first "I swear I don't have a gun", sooo great interpretation.

Sephyr ArtCore

Epic cover. Love this artist

Nick Reese

She is the only person who could do this right, Perfect.

BloodyMiky

A cover isn't just a copy/paste work; it would simply be useless. Emilie Simon replays Nirvana's song with her own musical universe and sensitivity, it's a tribute to express how she felt the song, how it meant to her. In this case, any comparison with Kurt would be unrelevant. That is what makes a true artist.

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