Heart-Shaped Box
Feed The Biirds Lyrics

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She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I′ve been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black

Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint

Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice

Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Cut myself on angel hair and baby′s breath
Broken hymen of Your Highness, I'm left black
Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back

Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey, wait, I got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice

Your advice
Your advice

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana are rich in symbolism, and can be interpreted in a variety of ways. At a basic level, the song seems to be about the singer being trapped in a relationship with someone who has a powerful hold over him, represented by the heart-shaped box. The "Pisces" reference could indicate the fragile and emotional nature of the singer, as Pisces is a water sign in astrology. The "magnet tar pit trap" could indicate the suffocating and inescapable nature of the relationship.

The lyric "I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black" is particularly interesting, as it could be interpreted as a desire to take on someone else's pain and suffering in an attempt to alleviate it. The line "Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet" adds to the sense of darkness and despair, indicating that there is no easy way out of the situation.

The repeated "Hey, wait, I got a new complaint" line could indicate that the singer is constantly discovering new issues in the relationship, but feels compelled to stay despite it all. In the end, the song seems to be about the struggle to break free from a toxic and destructive relationship, while also acknowledging the difficulty of doing so.

Line by Line Meaning

She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
When I am vulnerable and exposed, she looks at me with a piercing gaze, like that of a Pisces, a symbol of intuition and depth.

I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks
For weeks, I have been confined within the metaphorical container that is your heart-shaped box, unable to escape or break free.

I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I have been helplessly pulled into a trap of your making, like tar that entraps anything that comes too close to its magnetic pull.

I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
I wish I could absorb and eliminate the negative and destructive aspects of your personality and behavior, symbolized by cancer, when they become overwhelming.

Hey, wait, I got a new complaint Forever in debt to your priceless advice Hey, wait, I got a new complaint Forever in debt to your priceless advice Hey, wait, I got a new complaint Forever in debt to your priceless advice Hey, wait, I got a new complaint Forever in debt to your priceless advice Your advice
Repeatedly, the artist expresses a new complaint, acknowledging that they owe a great debt to the valuable advice and guidance provided by the person addressed.

Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
The natural world can be unforgiving, as demonstrated by meat-eating orchids that devour anything that falls within their grasp, yet they have yet to forgive anyone.

Cut myself on angel hair and baby′s breath
Despite being delicate and light, even angel hair and baby's breath can be sharp and dangerous enough to cause injury and pain.

Broken hymen of Your Highness, I'm left black
The artist has lost their virginity to someone of high status or royalty, symbolized by 'Your Highness', and is now left feeling damaged and empty.

Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back
The artist pleads for the person addressed to provide them with a lifeline, or a way to reconnect with them and escape the situation they find themselves in.

Your advice Your advice Your advice
The song ends with a repetition of the acknowledgement of the debt owed to the person's invaluable advice.

Writer(s): Kurt Cobain

Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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