Been A Son
Nirvana Lyrics


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She should have stayed away from friends
She should have had more time to spend
She should have died when she was born
She should have worn the crown of thorns

She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

She should have stood out in a crowd
She should have made her mother proud
She should have fallen on her stance
She should have had another chance

She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

Been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son
She should have been a son

She should have stayed away from friends
She should have had more time to spend
She should have died when she was born
She should have worn the crown of thorns

She should have been a son
She should have been a son




She should have been a son
She should have been a son

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nirvana's "Been A Son" are open to interpretation, but many fans believe the song is about gender roles and societal expectations. The line "She should have been a son" is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that the subject wished they had been born male instead of female. The other lines in the song explore the various ways this person should have lived their life differently. For example, "She should have stayed away from friends" implies that the subject had bad influences in their life. "She should have made her mother proud" suggests that the subject did not live up to their mother's expectations.


The lyrics are haunting and reflect the angst and dissatisfaction Kurt Cobain often felt with society and gender roles. The song is a testament to Cobain's ability to express deep social and personal issues through his music. The song's melody is upbeat, in contrast to the dark and gloomy lyrics, which could be a reflection of the music industry's demand for catchy tunes and upbeat tracks, regardless of their content.


Overall, "Been A Son" is a powerful track that showcases the depth and talent of Nirvana. It is a reflection on society's expectations and our dissatisfaction with our own lives.


Line by Line Meaning

She should have stayed away from friends
It would have been better if she didn't socialize much or got influenced by her peers.


She should have had more time to spend
If only she had more time, she could have accomplished more in her life.


She should have died when she was born
Perhaps it would have been better if she never experienced the pains of this world and died as an infant.


She should have worn the crown of thorns
The crown of thorns represents suffering, so this line implies that she should have endured more pain in her life.


She should have been a son
This line is a repetition of the chorus, and it implies that she feels like she would have been better off as a male.


She should have stood out in a crowd
She should have been more unique or distinctive from other people.


She should have made her mother proud
She should have done something that impressed her mother or earned her approval.


She should have fallen on her stance
This line is a bit ambiguous, but it could mean that she feels like she should have stuck to her beliefs more firmly or been more assertive.


She should have had another chance
Regretting missed opportunities, this line suggests that she should have been given more chances in her life.


Been a son
The title of the song and the repeated phrase in the chorus, 'been a son,' reflects her melancholic wish of being born a boy.


She should have stayed away from friends
Repeating the same line as the beginning of the song, Nirvana emphasizes the idea that having friends wasn't in her best interest.


She should have had more time to spend
Again, Nirvana repeats an earlier line to end the song, emphasizing the idea that if only she had more time, it would have been different for her.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Johnny


on Lithium

Nice

robin


on Stay Away

love this

CHR!S


on Drain You - Live (1991/Del Mar Fairgrounds)

a-side goes hard from their paramount set tho

El Hrubcová


on Endless, Nameless

That's crazy song! Oh my god...I can't listen it!!!

El Hrubcová


on Territorial Pissings

It's dangerous... That's my drug!! <3

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