Smells Like Teen Spirit
Amanita Lyrics


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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

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana are widely considered to be a commentary on the disaffected youth of Generation X in the early 1990s. The first verse, "Load up on guns, bring your friends / It's fun to lose and to pretend" suggests a sense of boredom and apathy among young people, who turn to reckless and numbing behavior as a means of escape. The line "She's over-bored and self-assured / Oh no, I know a dirty word" could be interpreted as a criticism of the privileged and entitled attitudes of many young people at the time.


The chorus of the song, "Hello, hello, hello, how low / With the lights out, it's less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us / I feel stupid and contagious" seems to capture the nihilistic and self-destructive tendencies of youth culture, as well as the desire for stimulation and entertainment. The repeated phrase "mulatto, albino, mosquito, libido" has been interpreted as a nod to the diversity of the Gen X generation, as well as a reference to Kurt Cobain's own identity as a bi-racial person.


The second verse of the song, "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" further emphasizes the sense of disconnection and alienation felt by young people at the time. The final repetition of the word "denial" could be seen as a denial of responsibility or accountability for the problems facing society.


Overall, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has come to be seen as a defining song of the 1990s, and a reflection of the cultural and social climate of the time.


Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
Get ready to confront your problems along with your peers.


It's fun to lose and to pretend
Experiencing losses can be just as thrilling and imaginary as winning.


She's over-bored and self-assured
The subject of the song is extremely dissatisfied and confident in herself.


Oh no, I know a dirty word
The artist knows a term that is looked down upon by society.


Hello, hello, hello, how low
A repeated greeting with a monotone tone, indicating a lack of happiness.


With the lights out, it's less dangerous
When everything is dark, it's simpler to avoid negative incidents.


Here we are now, entertain us
The singer desires for someone or something to keep them distracted.


I feel stupid and contagious
The artist is ashamed and spreading their negative feelings to others.


A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
The subject describes a diverse group in a rhyming manner and finishes with a mention of their own sexual desire.


I'm worse at what I do best
The artist is losing proficiency in their strong skills.


And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite their struggles, the singer is grateful for their abilities.


Our little group has always been, and always will until the end
The people they care about are always together.


And I forget just why I taste
The singer is uncertain about the feeling they are experiencing.


Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
The sensation, despite being unclear, seems to bring joy to the singer.


I found it hard, it's hard to find
The feeling they had sought was challenging to locate.


Oh well, whatever, never mind
The poet has resigned themselves to not figuring it out.


A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Repetition of the word denial to highlight the pushback against facing challenges.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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