SLIVER
Nirvana/Musicfire.in Lyrics

The lyrics to Nirvana/Musicfire.in's "Sliver" tell the story of a small child who is left with their grandparents while their parents go out to a show. The child is unhappy about being left behind, and protests by kicking and screaming, pleading with his parents to take him with them. When they finally leave, the child is left to contend with a difficult meal of mashed potatoes and tough meat. His grandmother suggests he go outside and ride his bike instead of crying, which he does, unfortunately injuring his toe in the process. After dinner, the child has ice cream and falls asleep watching TV. The song ends with the child waking up and being comforted by his mother, but still longing to be taken back to his grandparent's house.

One way to interpret these lyrics is as a kind of snapshot of childhood experience. The child in the song is bored and uncomfortable; he doesn't want to be left behind, but he also doesn't enjoy the experience of being with his grandparents. His disappointment with the food he is served ("mashed potatoes and stuff like that") speaks to the fussy and unsatisfiable nature of young children. At the same time, the song reflects Nirvana's punk rock ethos, with its focus on rejecting authority and questioning power structures. The child's desire to be taken home reflects a desire to be free from the control of his parents and grandparents.