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.
Lithium
Kurt Cobain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've found my friends ...
in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you ...
broken mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care ...
And I'm not scared
Light my candles, in a daze
Yeah Yeah Yeah
I'm so lonely, but that's okay, I shaved my head ...
And I'm not sad
And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard ...
But I'm not sure
I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there ...
But I don't care
I'm so horny, but that's okay ...
My will is good
Yeah Yeah Yeah
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
I'm so happy 'cause today
I've found my friends ...
in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you ...
broken mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care ...
And I'm not scared
Light my candles in a daze ...
'Cause I've found god
Yeah Yeah Yeah
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
The lyrics of Kurt Cobain's song "Lithium" are full of contrasting emotions and themes. At first, the song starts with a positive note with Cobain expressing happiness and excitement about finding friends in his head. However, he also remarks on his own appearance and that of his friends, calling themselves "ugly." The reference to broken mirrors is a powerful metaphor for shattered self-image and self-esteem. Cobain then sings about how everyday feels like Sunday morning to him, which can be perceived as a religious reference to the idea of finding salvation in something less traditional, such as music. Cobain then sings about lighting his candles "in a daze" because he's found God. These lyrics are interesting because Cobain often used religious symbolism in his music, although he never followed any organized religion himself.
The next section of the song expresses some darker themes. Cobain sings about feeling lonely and having shaved his head, which could be interpreted as a way of distancing himself from society. He then questions whether he's to blame for anything he's heard, but he's not sure. The lyrics then suddenly shift and Cobain expresses excitement about meeting someone, but he doesn't care. He also sings about being horny, but that's okay because his will is good. The final section of the song is a repetition of the opening, with Cobain singing about being happy because he's found his friends in his head, finding comfort in the idea of broken mirrors, and expressing that he's not scared because he's found God.
Overall, "Lithium" is an introspective song with a mix of optimistic and gloomy themes. The lyrics suggest that Cobain was struggling with his mental health and sense of self, but also found solace in his music and the idea of finding his place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so happy 'cause today
I've found my friends ...
in my head
The singer has found happiness in his mind by imagining that he is surrounded by friends who understand him.
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you ...
broken mirrors
The singer recognizes that society views him as unattractive, but he feels comfort in the fact that others may feel the same way. The metaphor of broken mirrors reflects how societal standards of beauty have shattered his self-esteem.
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care ...
And I'm not scared
The singer doesn't care about societal norms and is not scared to embrace his own way of living.
Light my candles, in a daze
'Cause I've found god
Yeah Yeah Yeah
The artist is experiencing a spiritual awakening and enlightenment, leading him to embrace religion.
I'm so lonely, but that's okay, I shaved my head ...
And I'm not sad
The artist recognizes his feelings of loneliness but has come to terms with it. Shaving his head is a symbol of letting go of his past self and finding inner peace which keeps him from being sad.
And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard ...
But I'm not sure
The singer realizes that he may have contributed to the negative thoughts people have about him, but he's not entirely certain of this.
I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there ...
But I don't care
The singer is excited to meet someone or something, but he doesn't care about the consequences of this meeting, whether positive or negative.
I'm so horny, but that's okay ...
My will is good
Yeah Yeah Yeah
The artist acknowledges his sexuality but asserts that he has good intentions and can control his desires.
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
The artist is expressing his determination to maintain his mental stability and resist any negative emotions or thoughts, including those related to liking, missing, loving, or even harming someone.
Writer(s): Kurt Cobain Copyright: Primary Wave Tunes, The End Of Music
Contributed by Keira M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FiresBZ
El1aZ V I never said lithium was used to cure addiction. Addicts generally have depression when they withdraw.
"You are quite right that lithium is primarily known for its use in bipolar disorder, where it has been shown to be quite effective in treating manias and moderately effective in preventing/treating depression and in keeping people's moods stable over long periods. But it also has been known for years to rapidly convert antidepressant nonresponders to responders and to do so at doses lower than are required for optimal treatment in bipolar disorder. No one knows for sure how it works as an augmenting agent, but many scientists suspect that its effects may trace to an ability to increase activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin." (Raison, 2010)
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/expert.q.a/06/15/lithium.depression.raison/index.html?eref=rss_latest
Other sources:
http://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2006/09/06/how-does-lithium-act-as-an-ant/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1065-lithium.aspx?activeingredientid=1065&activeingredientname=lithium
Just because potatoes are used for mashed potatoes doesn't mean they can't be used for chips (irrelevant fact: U.S. chips refer to U.K. crisps and U.K. chips refer to U.S. fries; they're both made of potatoes).
@ih4177
Producer : How many Ye-
Kurt : YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHH
@mlodydawid7764
This not funny I H
@mamaefaleicomfome2413
Zero (got it? xD)
@punkzblood5654
I H ITSSTISTYOSYOYIDHPSLYSGOSKGDGGZGKYKDYORUODYIRYETORPUYROFY
@sunshineandstarlight
Yeaaaaaaahhhh!!! I like it. I'm not gonna crack!
@nocniportir
YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHH
@88Sneeder14
Me: Damn I look good today!
Kurt: you’re ugly
Me: im ugly
@dim6066
There's no cute and ugly out there. We're all the same, being "ugly" is just a stereotype that society has created. Back in the 50s 60s people found different things on women attractive than they do now
@JackNyx
Just covered this song on my channel and I'd appreciate it if you came to watch it, cheers.
@ResponsibleBread
@@JackNyx came to watching it*?