In Bloom
Kurt Cobain/Nirvana Lyrics


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Sell the kids for food
Weather changes moods
Spring is here again
Reproductive glands

He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
And I say he's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
And I say yeah

We can have some more
Nature is a whore
Bruises on the fruit
Tender age in bloom

He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
And I say he's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
And I say yeah

He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
And I say he's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
Knows not what it means




Knows not what it means
And I say yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of In Bloom by Nirvana seem to be a commentary on the way that mainstream culture and society often have a surface-level appreciation for artistic expression, without truly understanding or respecting it. The opening lines "Sell the kids for food" and "Weather changes moods" suggest that there is a level of desperation present, with people willing to do whatever it takes to survive. This is followed by the observation that "Spring is here again/Reproductive glands," indicating that life is perpetuating itself regardless of the struggles of individual people.


The chorus of the song is where the commentary becomes most pointed. The singer is singing about a person who enjoys "pretty songs" and singing along to them, as well as shooting their gun. This appears to represent a sort of superficial engagement with music and art, without truly understanding its meaning or purpose. The line "But he knows not what it means" is repeated throughout the chorus, emphasizing this idea.


In contrast, the singer seems to be suggesting that there is a deeper level of meaning to be found in art, as evidenced by lines like "Nature is a whore/Bruises on the fruit" and "Tender age in bloom." These images suggest a darker side of life, one that is perhaps not as easy to digest as superficially pleasing music. The repetition of the chorus in the song's outro reinforces the idea that there is something important and meaningful that is being missed by those who do not truly appreciate art.


Line by Line Meaning

Sell the kids for food
The desperation of poverty may lead some to do unthinkable things.


Weather changes moods
The environment we inhabit can greatly affect our emotional state.


Spring is here again
Renewal and hope come with the changing of the seasons.


Reproductive glands
A reference to the fundamental human need for procreation and the biological drive that fuels it.


He's the one Who likes all our pretty songs And he likes to sing along And he likes to shoot his gun But he knows not what it means Knows not what it means And I say he's the one Who likes all our pretty songs And he likes to sing along And he likes to shoot his gun But he knows not what it means Knows not what it means And I say yeah
The contradictory nature of the human experience, where one can enjoy beauty and art while also possessing a desire for violence and destruction. The repeated line emphasizes the importance of this message.


We can have some more Nature is a whore Bruises on the fruit Tender age in bloom
A critique of the exploitative nature of humanity and its disregard for the natural world. The final line could refer to the vulnerability of youth and the dangers faced by those who are not yet fully mature.




Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ecmoraes86

"I guess you guys aren't ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it."

@reysharp

Back to the future throwback!

@Contemplation9

@@reysharp yes

@12joaoo

what u talkin bout, i love it and my parents loved it lol

@lunavolenec5775

@@12joaoo is a quote from ā€œback to the future ā€œ

@12joaoo

@@lunavolenec5775 i know, but it makes no sense at all here lmao

213 More Replies...

@tylertuncer

This is probably the best Beatles song

@idontlikeseeinglongusernam4589

If they WERE around in the 1960s then they would of been as big as the Beatles.
if not then bigger

@garethjones3227

Don't agree on that one dude, i think they would have been to avant garde for that early on in music history. The worlds ears just wasn't ready back then. Just take the pixies as an example, they were way ahead of thier time and would have been better recieved between 95-05' imho.
It's the whole back to the future johnny b goode scenario.

@clowntrooper61

No they wouldn't. They weren't british.

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