Stay Away
Kurt Cobain/Nirvana Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Monkey see, monkey do
(I don't know why)
Rather be dead than cool
(I don't know why)
Every line ends in rhyme
(I don't know why)
Less is more, love is blind
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Give an inch, take a smile
(I don't know why)
Fashion shits, fashion style
(I don't know why)
Throw it out and keep it in
(I don't know why)
Have to have poison skin
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

I don't know why
I don't know why

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Monkey See, monkey do
I don't know why)
Rather be dead than cool
(I don't know why)
Every line ends in rhyme
(I don't know why)
Less is more, love is blind
(I don't know why)

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

I don't know why
I don't know why

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Stay
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away
Stay away

Stay away
God is Gay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stay Away by Nirvana suggest a theme of rejecting conformity, commercialism and the fashion industry, and preferring individualism and authenticity. The opening line "Monkey see, monkey do" refers to people who imitate or follow trends without thinking for themselves. The second line "Rather be dead than cool" expresses the rejection of societal pressure to be trendy or fashionable, and that it is better to stay true to oneself even if it is not perceived as "cool". The line "Less is more, love is blind" suggests that what is important in life cannot be reduced to material possessions or appearances, and that love is blind to superficial differences.

The chorus "Stay away" repeatedly emphasizes a desire to stay away from society's expectations and superficiality. The line "Give an inch, take a smile" refers to the fashion industry's constant demand for new trends and the need to keep up appearances. The line "Fashion shits, fashion style" expresses a disdain for the fashion industry's changing trends and the idea that fashion is defecating on style. The line "Have to have poison skin" suggests a sense of self-loathing or perhaps the belief that being fashionable is toxic.

Overall, the lyrics urge people to reject conformity and the pressure to follow trends, stay true to oneself and avoid toxic influences.

Line by Line Meaning

Monkey see, monkey do
I don't understand why people blindly copy others without thinking for themselves.

Rather be dead than cool
I don't understand why people value being cool over being true to themselves.

Every line ends in rhyme
I don't understand why people feel the need for everything to be perfectly structured and sound good.

Less is more, love is blind
I don't understand why people think that less is always better and why love can make people ignore flaws in others.

Give an inch, take a smile
I don't understand why people think they can give a little and then take advantage of others' kindness.

Fashion shits, fashion style
I don't understand why people let fashion trends and styles control their lives and influence their identities.

Throw it out and keep it in
I don't understand why people throw out things that could be useful or keep emotions bottled up inside.

Have to have poison skin
I don't understand why people feel the need to put up a tough exterior when they might be hurting or vulnerable inside.

Stay away
This is my way of coping with all the things I don't understand and the people who embody them. I just want to be left alone.

I don't know why
This is a repeated phrase that emphasizes my lack of understanding of the world around me and the people in it.

God is Gay
This final line is a controversial statement that challenges traditional beliefs and perhaps highlights my frustration with mainstream society's views.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS