Curmudgeon
Nirvana Lyrics


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I can't hide, no on the mantle
I'm not sad until I'm home
It's the season I'm all reason
I have seen all I have grown

Sheared at the seams
Cheat on me, cheat on me
Cheat on me and not seen
And not seen and not seen
Cheat on me at the seams

I'm a lantern, I'm a planter
I set something in the garden
In the handle, on my mantle
I love Santa, I met God

Sheared at the seams
Cheat on me, cheat on me
Cheat on me, cheat on me
At the seams, at the seams
At the seams, cheat on me

I'm a lady Can you save me?
It's the sulfur, I have grown
'Tis the season, I'm all reason
I have fleas so run on home

Sheared at the seams
Cheat on me, cheat on me
Cheat on me, cheat on me
Cheat on me, cheat on me




At the seams, at the seams
Cheat on me

Overall Meaning

Nirvana's song Curmudgeon is a cryptic and introspective track, filled with haunting lyrics that reveal the band's layered thoughts about life, love, and the complexities of human nature. The song opens with the lines "I can't hide, no on the mantle, I'm not sad until I'm home", which can be interpreted as the struggle to put up a brave facade in public, but only finding true solace in the safety of one's own home. The lyrics then continue on to describe a sense of frustration and disillusionment, as the singer grapples with their own inner demons: "It's the season I'm all reason, I have seen all I have grown". The song suggests that despite acknowledging one's problems, one can still feel helpless in overcoming them.


The chorus of "Cheat on me, cheat on me, cheat on me and not seen" expresses a sense of betrayal and dishonesty, with the singer feeling as if they have been deceived and wronged. The final verses touch upon themes of hopelessness and despair, with lines such as "I'm a lady can you save me, it's the sulfur I have grown", and "I have fleas so run on home". These metaphors hint at the sense of being weighed down by one's problems, and finding oneself in a state of desperation and loneliness.


Overall, the song's lyrics suggest a complex and layered stream of consciousness, as if the words are the product of a mind grappling with existential questions and struggling to find a way forward. It conveys a sense of frustration, anger, and ultimately, despair, which are all hallmarks of Nirvana's style.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't hide, no on the mantle
I am unable to conceal my emotions, so they are out in the open like a decoration on a mantle


I'm not sad until I'm home
I don't truly feel sadness until I'm in the comfort of my own home


It's the season I'm all reason
During this time of my life, I am particularly rational and practical


I have seen all I have grown
I have experienced everything that has contributed to my growth and development


Sheared at the seams
I am falling apart at the seams, as if I have been cut or ripped


Cheat on me, cheat on me
I feel betrayed and untrusted, like my partner is cheating on me


Cheat on me and not seen
They may cheat on me with someone else, but they won't realize what they've lost with me


And not seen and not seen
They still don't understand the consequences of their actions


Cheat on me at the seams
The betrayal has caused me to fall apart even more


I'm a lantern, I'm a planter
I am both a light for guidance and growth for those around me


I set something in the garden
I have intentionally planted something to nurture and cultivate


In the handle, on my mantle
I cherish something so deeply that I keep it close at hand as a way of displaying it


I love Santa, I met God
My belief system is rooted in both the secular and the divine


I'm a lady Can you save me?
Despite my strength and independence, I still need help and support from others


It's the sulfur, I have grown
The unpleasant experiences in my life have contributed to my growth and development


'Tis the season, I'm all reason
At this particular time of my life, I am using logic and reason to make decisions


I have fleas so run on home
I'm dealing with something unpleasant and I don't want to burden anyone else with it - it's best to leave me alone




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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