Smells Like Teen Spirit
Anka Paul Lyrics
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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
Anka Paul's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song that captures the ideas of apathy, disillusionment, and rebellion that were prevalent among the youth culture in the early 1990s. The song starts with the line, "Load up on guns, bring your friends," which can be seen as a call to arms for the lonesome and bored youth who were looking for a way to emerge from their dead-end reality. The idea that it's "fun to lose and to pretend" is an acknowledgment of the fact that the world is a dark and hopeless place, and the only way to cope with it is to escape reality.
The next line, "She's over-bored and self-assured," is most likely a reference to the idea that the youth were seen as lazy and indifferent by the older generation, who were themselves struggling to maintain control over their own lives. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Hello, hello, hello, how low," seems to echo the sense of detachment and lack of emotion that the youth were feeling at the time. The lines "With the lights out, it's less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us" reflect the sense of nihilism and irony that pervaded the culture of the time.
The song is a critique of the mainstream culture that was perpetuated by the media and the music industry, and it represented a new wave of alternative music that was challenging the status quo. Anka Paul's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came to define a generation, and it remains as relevant today as it was when it was first released.
Line by Line Meaning
Load up on guns, bring your friends
Let's get ready to cause trouble and have fun doing it, with the help of our friends and weapons.
It's fun to lose and to pretend
Sometimes it's more enjoyable to intentionally fail and pretend everything is okay, than to succeed and face the reality of life’s difficulties.
She's over-bored and self-assured
She's extremely bored with her life, but at the same time, she's confident and doesn't show her vulnerabilities.
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Although I shouldn't use it, I know a word which is considered inappropriate by many.
Hello, hello, hello, how low
I greet and acknowledge the present moment, even though it's not very good or low.
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
When everything is unclear and uncertain, it's easier to take risks without the fear of being judged or getting hurt.
Here we are now, entertain us
We're here and waiting for some kind of distraction or entertainment to keep us from feeling bored or depressed.
I feel stupid and contagious
I'm aware that I'm being foolish, but it's hard to control - it's almost like a sickness that's spreading.
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
I'm using these random words to describe different facets of my identity: my mixed heritage, my pale skin, my insignificant problems, and my sexual desires.
I'm worse at what I do best
Even though I'm trying my hardest at what I'm good at, I'm still not as good as I want to be.
And for this gift I feel blessed
Even though my talents aren't perfect, I still feel grateful for what I have and for the opportunity to share it.
Our little group has always been, and always will until the end
We've been through everything together, and we'll continue to be there for each other until the very end.
And I forget just why I taste, oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I'm enjoying something that usually doesn't taste good to me, and I'm not quite sure why - but I'm happy about it nonetheless.
I found it hard, it's hard to find, oh well, whatever, never mind
I'm feeling lost and uncertain about what to do next, but at the same time, I'm trying not to care and just go with the flow.
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial,
I'm in a state of denial about something that's bothering me, and I keep repeating it until it feels like the truth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chris Novoselic, David Grohl, Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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.
@cptharky552
@@danbrown67 as if he did
@kshitijn666
@@danbrown67 The song was written and put out by Nirvana in 1991 and then later covered by Paul Anka in 2005
@DarkLordBrannon
Finally! A sensible way to turn my senior citizen friends onto grudge rock staples!
@GeoffNelson
+Robert White I love jokes that start with "Finally!"
@DarkLordBrannon
Finally! Geoff Nelson became aware that it was all for him!
@djtbone001a
grunge*