It was also one of the few new songs Nirvana recorded onto a rehearsal tape the group sent to producer Butch Vig prior to the recording of Nevermind in 1991. The group recorded the song with Vig during album sessions at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, in early 1991. "Come as You Are" was selected as the second single from the album; it was anticipated that the album's first single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", would be a "base-building alternative cut", while "Come as You Are" would be able to cross over into other radio formats. However, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became a surprise hit and boosted the band's popularity.
The song's prominent line "And I swear that I don't have a gun" has also been interpreted to mean that Cobain "had nothing to hide from anyone." Cobain was known for writing using heavy metaphor in his lyrics, allowing fans to decide what the words meant to them. After the death of the song's author, the media paid much attention to the song's prominent line, and other songs on Nevermind that mentioned guns, though the album was written and recorded three years before Cobain's death and therefore it was taken as a mere coincidence.
According to the Come As You Are Songfacts, the chords in this song are a slowed down replica of Killing Joke's 1985 song Eighties. The songs were so similar that Nirvana considered holding off releasing this as a single. Killing Joke decided not to sue Nirvana, and in 2003, Dave Grohl helped them out by playing drums for them on an album.
The music video was directed by Kevin Kerslake, who later directed the videos for "Lithium," "In Bloom," and "Sliver." The video features the band in a dark room, where the appearance of falling water in front of the band distorts and blurs the band members' faces (an idea suggested by Cobain). Throughout the video, clips such as cells multiplying at an incredible rate, to a living organism in its embryotic stages are shown. The video clip also features Kurt Cobain swinging away on a chandelier throughout the room, and water begins to flow into the room. In addition, the video shows parts involving a dog wearing a cone collar. Images of a baby swimming underwater (a reference to the cover of Nevermind) and a gun floating appear. Towards the end, a clip of the band appears, with Cobain in the front, lying on the ground and kissing the camera. The band shot outdoor footage in a park in Hollywood Hills a few days prior to the main video shoot. Kerslake projected this footage in the background of many shots in the main part of the video.
Come as You Are
Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
Memoria (no I don't have a gun)
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
(Memoria, memoria)
The song "Come as You Are" by Nirvana is a track about the freedom of self-expression, and the idea that no one should change who they are to please someone else. The lyrics "Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be" has a deeper meaning that suggests the main intention of a person or situation should remain constant, regardless of the appearance. The lyrics further develop the idea of non-conformity with "take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late" illustrating that being true to oneself takes time and should be done at the individual's own pace.
Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and songwriter of the band, conveyed that the chorus of "Memoria, memoria" does not have a specific meaning, but instead resembles a chant or a mantra. The repetition and emphasis on these words aim to hypnotize and create a meditative state for anyone listening.
Interestingly, the lyrics "Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach" are phrased in a way that doesn't quite make sense. In reality, bleach cancels out mud or dirt rather than soaking it in, which can be interpreted with Kurt Cobain's desire to create a sense of confusion or contradiction through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Come as you are, as you were
Be yourself, as you were before
As I want you to be
Be yourself, not what someone else wants you to be
As a friend, as a friend
Be yourself, as a friend
As an old enemy
Be yourself, even if I see you as an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Don't rush, but don't be too late either
Choice is yours, don't be late
You have the power to choose, but don't let time slip away
Take a rest as a friend
Relax, like a friend would do
As an old
As someone I've known for a long time
Memoria, memoria
Memory, remembrance
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
Come as you are, no matter how dirty or clean
As a trend, as a friend
Be yourself, even if it goes against the trend
And I swear that I don't have a gun
I promise that I don't have a weapon
No, I don't have a gun
I truly don't have a gun
(Memoria, memoria)
(Memory, remembrance)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TOP100Classicalmusic
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an known enemy
--
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)1
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
@alexsalazar2230
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
@maelldo_7187
0% autotune
0% drugs
100% talent
Okay just a little bit of drugs
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
75% talent
25% drugs
\_( • _ •)_/
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
A LITTLE bit
@immodium4586
Yup
@yoda5436
0% drugs? Do you really believe that?
Oh there ya go
@immodium4586
Yoda r/wooosh
@Shekel-
Who else is watching this in 1776?
@Wglass90
I am. I saw General George Washington listen to it on his istone as he was signing the declaration of independence.
@d.jgutierrez768
Shekel Thief Sorry, I'm watching it in 1492.
@thotpolice9753
Poseurs! I was listening to this in 3200 BC!