Smells Like Teen Spirit
Anka (Paul) 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 in Anka's (Paul)'s song Smells Like Teen Spirit are full of ambiguity, which makes it difficult to decipher their meaning precisely. However, the song is often interpreted as an anthem for the disgruntled youth of the early 1990s who were frustrated with their mundane life and felt detached from the mainstream society. The opening lines, "Load up on guns, bring your friends. It's fun to lose and to pretend," is a sarcastic take on the Gulf War at the time, where young Americans were enlisting to serve their country, but none of them were sure why they were doing so. It's an expression of the angst and apathy that many young people felt about their future.
The chorus, "Hello, hello, hello, how low," is an interesting phrase because it does not seem to hold much meaning. It's believed that the phrase is a nod towards the traditional rock and roll greeting of a band to their audience. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the phrase serves a much darker purpose. The lines "I feel stupid and contagious" and "A denial, a denial," suggest a feeling of hopelessness and being stuck in a cycle of nihilism. This sense of hopelessness is amplified with the line "And for this gift, I feel blessed," which seems to suggest that the singer has accepted this state of being as the best they can hope for.
Overall, the song is an iconic piece of grunge rock that captures the spirit of teenage angst and rebellion that was dominant during the early 1990s. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they communicate a sense of frustration and disillusionment that many young people were experiencing during that time.
Line by Line Meaning
Load up on guns, bring your friends
Come prepared and well-armed, with your comrades by your side
It's fun to lose and to pretend
It can be enjoyable to let go and indulge in fantasies
She's over-bored and self-assured
She is both bored and very confident in herself
Oh no, I know a dirty word
I am aware of a taboo word that is considered inappropriate to say
Hello, hello, hello, how low
A greeting, followed by a rhetorical question about how depressed one is feeling
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Turning off the lights can make risky behavior seem less threatening
Here we are now, entertain us
We are here, ready for someone else to provide us with amusement
I feel stupid and contagious
I feel foolish and as if my negative mood can infect others
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A list of seemingly unrelated words that serve to emulate nonsense lyrics
Yeah, hey
A basic interjection, meant to add emphasis to the prior statement
I'm worse at what I do best
I am not very skilled at the activities that I excel in, paradoxically
And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite my shortcomings, I still feel grateful for my talents
Our little group has always been
My social group has been consistently small and loyal
And always will until the end
I have faith that my friends will stick with me until the very end
And I forget just why I taste
I am unsure why I am experiencing a certain sensation
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
Limited context for why the sensation brings a feeling of happiness
I found it hard, it's hard to find
I have difficulty locating what it is that I am searching for
Oh well, whatever, never mind
I am resigned to an outcome or action, using a meanspirited tone
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Another list of repetitive, nonsensical words for artistic purposes
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Continues repetition of gibberish for artistic effect
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SuperGhost145
A truly good song can be played in any genre.
@kylewalsh9475
+brandon mcgaw except disco!!!!
@danielb.metallo2129
+News watcher Good point. = )
@XxDjinn420xX
+brandon mcgaw This isn't a dig at the song at all mind you but Swing can turn even a shit song into gold.
@manictiger
+Enoch Thompson
I don't know about that.
Try Swingifying: Soulja Boy Tell'em - Crank That.
@mutsuhanma7807
already done....and it sounds classy
@hsafee
huge nirvana fan here. this is an amazing cover, great work Paul Anka
@danbrown67
Paul Anka wrote the song originally.
@shaunfisher4165
Nirvana "sampled" this song.
@snicka8173
Shaun Fisher So the band got the vinyl and sample this song? You got the wrong term down vato.