Smells Like Teen Spirit
♫ Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's 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
The lyrics to Nirvana's hit song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" capture the angst and disillusionment of the grunge era. The opening lines "Load up on guns, bring your friends/ It's fun to lose and to pretend" reflect a generation that is bored and disenchanted with the status quo, eager to escape into a world of rebellion and nihilism. The singer is aware of a "dirty word," a taboo that speaks to the darker impulses and desires of youth. And yet, the chorus of "hello, hello, how low" is simultaneously a greeting and a cry for help, a expression of the alienation and confusion that pervades the song.
The second verse continues this theme, with the singer celebrating the sense of community and belonging that comes with shared disaffection. The singer feels "stupid and contagious," but in a way that unites rather than divides. The famous line "a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido" seems to be a random assortment of words, but actually refers to the racial and sexual mixedness that was becoming more accepted in the 90s. The line "I'm worse at what I do best/ And for this gift I feel blessed" speaks to the paradox of being successful while feeling like a failure, a common experience for those struggling to find their place in the world.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a study in contradictions, capturing the simultaneous feelings of rebellion and nostalgia, hopelessness and community, ennui and excitement that characterized the grunge era.
Line by Line Meaning
Load up on guns, bring your friends
Get ready for a wild and dangerous time with the people you trust
It's fun to lose and to pretend
Sometimes it's exciting to give up control and act like things don't matter
She's over-bored and self-assured
This girl has nothing better to do and thinks she's better than everyone else
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Uh oh, I'm about to say something inappropriate
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Greeting an unseen, low, and/or depressed audience
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
When it's dark, it's easier to ignore danger and let loose
Here we are now, entertain us
We're here for a good time, so make it interesting
I feel stupid and contagious
I feel silly and like my energy is infectious
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Just a random collection of words that sound cool together, with a nod to sexual energy
I'm worse at what I do best
I'm not great at the things I'm supposed to be good at
And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite my shortcomings, I feel grateful for the opportunities I've been given
Our little group has always been
Our tight-knit community has been here for a while
And always will until the end
And we'll continue to support each other no matter what
And I forget just why I taste
I don't remember why I like this particular thing
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
Oh right, it just makes me happy
I found it hard, it's hard to find
It was a challenge to find something that truly resonated with me
Oh well, whatever, never mind
But hey, who cares? Let's just move on
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Repeatedly denying something that's true, perhaps making fun of the idea of denying reality
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chris Novoselic, David Grohl, Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Shawnofthe80s
"We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."
Here we are today and this proves that.
Thank you Kurt. A part of my growing up in the early to mid 90's until your untimely passing, I felt I was as one with your music. Your words. Your passion and pain in your voice. Even as a kid then, I knew and could feel every note. The world lost such a gem when you died.
Decades later, look at the impact you still have and will keep having forever and ever.
Rest easy Kurt 🙏
@IrisFlowerAndRainbow
I remember hearing this masterpiece song (and then record) as an 8 yr old girl in ´92.
My older sister was then 14 and she was listening to this song in her bedroom, and the rest of the family in the house cause she was playing it LOUD !!! 😅
I literally fell in love then with Nirvana, at 8 yrs old and the rest is history and now my son, who is well just turned 15 last week, he has been listening to Nirvana all his life.
( He´s born 07.07.07) 😉Sorry, just still amazed he came then into the world and I was "supposed" to deliver him on the 22. of July but he decided to just to come early on this amazing date 😇
My sister then let me listen to Metallica records also and I fell also in love with Metallica.
And my younger sister, she was 1 yr old at this time when I was 8, when she got a little older I introduced this great music to her as well.
I was raised listening to The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Neil Young ect....and I am so thankful for my parents, especially my dad´s great taste in music.
I raised my son and he has been blessed listening all his life to this great music combined and so much more and in my house there is always some great music, old and new and everything in between and all kinds also like old and new rap and hiphop, classic music and all genres I think I can say, playing and me and my son enjoying together ❤
Lots of love from Iceland to everyone here and be good to one another ❤
Kærleikur kostar ekkert ❤
@kadeeclymer3565
I love how this song was written in 1991 and there are literally comments from 10 minutes ago
@tuanbukhoribinnorsafian9000
Mozart: hold my beers
@rairai2582
@Tuan Bukhori Bin Nor Safian PFTTTT
@bbdi181
Ya i don't know what ti write but I know that I wanna so here I am
@akashinudlashi5640
yup
@salamadamadingdong
Seconds now 😂🏴
@meghanh2511
The fact that this was released in 1991 and my generation listened to this song in the early 2000's as kids/pre-teens and today teens are still listening to it, shows just how great of a song this is.
@nickbrewington4600
It is a great song.
@jasspperr
I love this song I’m only a teenager but it’s amazing I found it a couple years ago ( maybe like 3 years ago I think and I’ve loved it since )
@patlaw398
Listen to the DOORS...they were actually more talented than Nirvana n jim n cobain both died at 27 under questionable circumstances