Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana渀 Lyrics

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Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey, yeh

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido

A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial

Overall Meaning

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the lead single from Nirvana’s second album Nevermind released in 1991. The song became Nirvana's biggest hit, and came to be considered the anthem of Generation X. The lyrics are a reflection of Cobain’s frustration with the media representation of the band, as well as a statement about the apathy of the youth at the time.

The first line, “Load up on guns, bring your friends, it's fun to lose and to pretend” sets a rebellious tone for the song. The line is referring to how people in a society with a decaying sense of morality and boredom, may find guns to be a source of entertainment. The lyrics highlight the sense of confusion and anger that existed among the youth during the early 1990s. “Hello, hello, hello, how low” is possibly a reference to how Nirvana felt like they were being presented through media, as monkeys or zoo animals.

The chorus consisting of “Here we are now, entertain us, I feel stupid and contagious” expresses the nihilistic perspective of the youth. The idea that the youth felt as if they had nothing to offer the world, and that they were only good enough for entertainment. The line “a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido” is a reference to the band’s diverse fan base.

Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
Gather your weapons and bring your companions

It's fun to lose and to pretend
Losing and pretending is enjoyable

She's over-bored and self-assured
She's bored and overly confident

Oh no, I know a dirty word
Acknowledging the knowledge of an obscene term

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Greeting with a low intonation

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
With the lights off, it's safer

Here we are now, entertain us
We're here, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious
I feel foolish and infectious

Here we are now, entertain us
We're here, entertain us

A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
List of different things, including a mixed-race person, an albino, a mosquito, and one's sexual drive

I'm worse at what I do best
One's best skills are not their strongest