Smells Like Teen Spirit
Flyleaf Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
Its fun to lose
And to pretend
Shes overboard
Myself assured
I know I know
A dirty word

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out its 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
Yea

Im 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 (x 16)

With the lights out its 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
Yea

And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out its 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
Yea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Flyleaf's cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" explore themes of rebellion, confusion, and identity. The first verse encourages the listener to "load up on guns" and "bring your friends," indicating a sense of rebellion and a desire to rebel against societal norms. The line "It's fun to lose and to pretend" also showcases a disregard for consequences and a willingness to engage in risky behavior. The second verse includes the iconic lines "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido," which have often been interpreted as nonsensical, but could be seen as embodying the concept of self-identity.


The chorus repeats the phrase "Hello" 16 times, which could be interpreted as a way of seeking attention and making oneself noticed. The line "With the lights out, it's less dangerous" suggests a desire for anonymity and a sense of safety in darkness, perhaps reflecting feelings of fear or anxiety. The repeated phrase "Entertain us" implies a sense of boredom or a lack of fulfillment, and the subsequent line "I feel stupid and contagious" expresses feelings of insecurity and self-doubt.


The final verse includes the lines "I found it hard, it's hard to find / Oh well, whatever, nevermind," indicating a sense of apathy or resignation toward the difficulties of life. Overall, the lyrics to Flyleaf's version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" explore complex themes of rebellion, identity, and disillusionment, painting a picture of a confused and disenchanted youth culture.


Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns
Get ready for a fight


Bring your friends
Bring backup, it's more fun to fight as a group


Its fun to lose
Sometimes it's entertaining to not win


And to pretend
Acting like you don't care can be amusing


Shes overboard
Someone has gone too far


Myself assured
Feeling confident in oneself


I know I know
Realizing the situation


A dirty word
Something inappropriate or taboo


Hello (x 16)
Repetitive greeting


With the lights out its less dangerous
Being in the dark can make things seem less scary


Here we are now Entertain us
We're here, please entertain us


I feel stupid and contagious
Feeling foolish and like you might be spreading negative energy to others


A mulatto
A person with mixed racial heritage


An albino
A person with a lack of melanin in their skin or hair


A mosquito
A small, irritating bug


My libido
My sex drive


Yea
Agreement or affirmation


Im worse at what I do best
I'm not very good at what I'm supposed to excel at


And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite my flaws, I feel grateful for my talents


Our little group has always been
Our small circle of friends is constant


And always will until the end
We'll always stick together


And I forget
Sometimes I lose track


Just what it takes
Exactly what is needed


And yet I guess it makes me smile
Despite the confusion, it somehow makes me happy


I found it hard
It was a struggle


Its hard to find
Not easy to locate


Oh well, whatever, nevermind
Oh well, let's not think about it anymore




Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@Maddie-bk5kw

What makes this so great is that this band has an amazing vibe. Lacey doesn't care if her voice sounds perfect, she's just trying to feel the song and understand the lyrics.

There's a reason why Flyleaf were so successful. Their music and stage presence was so honest and never felt artificial. They were happy just to have their words heard.

@dudewithlaptop8663

if her voice was perfect on this song I'd be pissed. she's covering kurt cobain

@LotharXjorn

agreed alot of emotion out of Macey and Flyleaf , you cant help but appreciate the talent.

@vasocreta

well said

@sammijo_syko

Maddie this cover is shitty just plan out horrible i cant even get through it just please stop insulting the memory of kurt with this shit

@ualiglasses2146

Maddie give this girl a raise

1 More Replies...

@yogawarriorgirl

Lacey's voice was PERFECT for a female cover of this song! She's great for grunge songs like this.

@camskii

Amanda Lockridge Tori Amos does the best cover by a fucking enormous long shot

@SHOBBYVILLIAN

Grunge is a shit! But i love Lacey sz

@jackmcmullin8616

I hate it

More Comments

More Versions