Stay Away
░Nirvana░ Lyrics


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Monkey see, monkey do
(I don't know why)
Rather be dead than cool
(I don't know why)
Every line ends in rhyme
(I don't know why)
Less is more, love is blind
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Give an inch, take a smile
(I don't know why)
Fashion shits, fashion style
(I don't know why)
Throw it out and keep it in
(I don't know why)
Have to have poison skin
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

I don't know why
I don't know why

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Monkey See, monkey do
I don't know why)
Rather be dead than cool
(I don't know why)
Every line ends in rhyme
(I don't know why)
Less is more, love is blind
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

I don't know why
I don't know why

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away




Stay away
God is Gay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nirvana's "Stay Away" are a critique of conformism and the pressure society puts on individuals to follow trends and act a certain way. The opening lines "Monkey see, monkey do" describe how people blindly imitate what they see others do without questioning it, and the lyric "Rather be dead than cool" shows how society values being perceived as "cool" over being true to oneself. The repetition of "I don't know why" at the end of each verse is a reflection of the confusion and lack of understanding the singer feels towards this social pressure.


The lyrics also criticize the fashion industry and its often superficial nature. The line "Fashion shits, fashion style" implies that trends and styles come and go and are ultimately meaningless. The contradiction in "Throw it out and keep it in" highlights the constant contradiction in societal expectations and makes it difficult for individuals to know what they should do or be. Finally, the lyric "Have to have poison skin" suggests that there is an expectation to be tough and resilient, even if it means sacrificing one's true self.


Overall, "Stay Away" is a commentary on the pressure to conform and the difficulty in remaining true to oneself in the face of societal expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

Monkey see, monkey do
Copying one another mindlessly without thinking critically.


Rather be dead than cool
Preferring death over compromising one's values for the sake of being popular or fashionable.


Every line ends in rhyme
The artist has a natural inclination toward putting together lyrics that rhyme.


Less is more, love is blind
Simplicity can be more impactful than complexity or excess, and love often makes people overlook flaws or negative qualities.


Stay away
A warning or plea to stay away from certain things or people that are perceived as harmful or negative.


Give an inch, take a smile
People will take advantage of your kindness or generosity if you let them.


Fashion shits, fashion style
Trends and fashion are arbitrary and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.


Throw it out and keep it in
Sometimes it's better to let go of something, but other times it's better to hold on and hide it away.


Have to have poison skin
Metaphorically, needing to be tough or resistant to negative influences or criticism.


I don't know why
A sense of confusion or disbelief regarding the things being mentioned in the song.


God is Gay
An inflammatory and controversial statement that challenges societal norms and religious beliefs. It could be interpreted as a rejection of traditional values or an affirmation of non-heteronormative identities.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Davie504

heartbreaking news

Bizon

What's the point tho you sussy

giannisxxx

" Gary Thain " great rock bassist, look for him you are look like him 0.0

Maxine Loto

so heartbreaking

Стас Зайцев

3 ))

hyōketsu

Amongus

129 More Replies...

~cheese_breeze~

If you play bass, you're a bassist.

If you race cars, you're a raci-

ElusiveX

racer*

Someone

Yeah he totally meant that

luke-of-lukes

This logic is flawed. Play bass - bassist; race cars - carist

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