Cobain and Nirvana were highly influential, popularizing what came to be known as "grunge music". In 1991, the arrival of Cobain's best known song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", marked the beginning of a dramatic shift of popular music away from the dominant genres of the 1980s: glam metal, arena rock, and dance-pop. The music media eventually awarded "Smells Like Teen Spirit" "anthem-of-a-generation" status, and, with it, Cobain ascended as the reluctant "spokesman" for Generation X. Kurt Cobain changed the course of music forever even though it was never his intention.
I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Kurt Cobain Lyrics
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Even if you have a cold still
You can cough on me again
I still havent had my fulfill
In the someday what′s that sound?
Broken heart and broken bones
Think of how a castrated horse feels
One more quirky cliche'd phrase
In the someday what's that sound?
- Spoken interlude in middle -
Most people don't realize
That two large pieces of coral,
Painted brown, and attached to his skull
With common wood screws can make a child look like a deer
The lyrics to Kurt Cobain's song I Hate Myself and Want to Die are somewhat controversial and have been interpreted in various ways by different listeners. On one hand, the lyrics might be seen as a reflection of the singer's dark and depressive thoughts, as he contemplates the futility and pain of existence. The lines "Runny nose and runny yolk/Even if you have a cold still/You can cough on me again/I still haven't had my fulfill" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's feelings of being unfulfilled, numb and desiring more sensation even if it's painful. The lines "In the someday what's that sound?/Broken heart and broken bones/Think of how a castrated horse feels/one more quirky cliche'd phrase/You're the one I wanna refill" could also be seen as a reference to the singer's feeling of being brokenhearted and full of pain, and yet still seeking out the same sources of hurt and disillusionment.
The spoken interlude in the middle of the song is perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the song. Cobain's ramblings about a child being made to look like a deer with coral pieces and wood screws is both puzzling and macabre. It is not clear what Cobain was attempting to convey with this, but it could be interpreted as another reference to the futility and absurdity of life, and how humans can manipulate or distort nature in horrific and bizarre ways.
Overall, the lyrics to I Hate Myself and Want to Die are a bleak and chilling reflection on the human condition and the dark inner-workings of a tormented mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Runny nose and runny yolk
I'm physically ill, and maybe also emotionally unstable
Even if you have a cold still
I don't mind if you spread your sickness to me, because I'm not doing well anyway
You can cough on me again
I'm so numb and sad that I don't care about my own health anymore
I still haven't had my fulfill
I'm dissatisfied with life and nothing seems to make me feel better
In the someday what's that sound?
I'm questioning the point of existence and what the future holds
Broken heart and broken bones
I'm both physically and emotionally hurting
Think of how a castrated horse feels
I feel powerless and like a part of me has been taken away
One more quirky cliche'd phrase
I'm tired of hearing meaningless phrases people use to try and make me feel better
You're the one I wanna refill
My only source of comfort at the moment is drugs or alcohol
Most people don't realize
I feel misunderstood and alone
That two large pieces of coral, painted brown, and attached to his skull
I'm being absurd and sarcastic to show how meaningless things can be
With common wood screws can make a child look like a deer
I'm making a joke to illustrate that people will believe anything, even ridiculous things
Writer(s): Kurt Donald Cobain
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.