Curmudgeon
Nirvana Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@dcm_r

I can't hide no, on the mantle 
I'm not sad, till i'm home

It's the season, and I'm all reason 
I have seen, and I have grown

 She's at the seams 
She don't need 3x
In the seams 3x
She don't need 
Not the seams

 I'm a lecher, I'm a planter 
I put something, in the garden

 In the handle, on the mantle 
I'm not Santa, I'm not God

in the seams
she dont need 4x
at the seams 3x 
she dont need

 I want a lady, can you save me 
It's the sulfur, I have drunk

 Tis the season, I'm all reason 
I have fleas, so run on home

 She's at the seams
She don't need 5x
At the seams 2x
She don't need



@cavalrycome

For anyone still coming here for lyrics, these are much more accurate (though probably still not quite right):

I can't handle all the metal
(When) I'm all sad, mentally I'm home
It's the season, rhyme or reason
I have seeked an' I have growed

Shift at the seams
She don't need
She don't need
She don't meet
At the seams
It all seems
At the seams
She don't meet
At the seams

I'm a lecher, I'm a badger Imma lecture, Imma badger
Access all day, here's our card
Get my handle on the mental
I know Santa, I meant 'God'

Seize this seam
She don't need
She don't need
She don't need
She don't meet
At the seams
At the seams
At the seams
She don't meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

A malady, can you save me?
Is this sulfur I have drunk?
'Tis the season, rhyme or reason
I have fleas, you know I'm home

Seize the seams
She don't need
She don't need
She don't need
She don't need
She don't need
She don't meet
At the seams
At the streams
She don't meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet



@saintrambone

Do you remember when father slammed us for that first scofflaw jaw bubble gum from grandma joes convenience store ?

That spanking one feigned slap. A tickle to the rear while mothers whip broom brush belt slap left marks where there none before.

Lessons. Fathers warning of Mace to the face requires bandage. Mothers warning. I should have split to the Uk when my sister princess Diana died.

John Spencer earl of Althorp needs a two week London quarantine host. Enjoy navigation and want Cyprus voyage.

Kurt Brown Saintrambone Mobile Audit Club



All comments from YouTube:

@delphinbringsby6768

Noveselic doesn't get enough respect as a bass player. He's driving the whole thing, playing descending notes on the "solo". What a guy. I got to see Nirvana in New Orleans, 1991. It was loud as all Hell.

@joshuayettou3552

Totally agree and as a bass player myself I concur!

@danielnugent7046

I was there at Uno, Dec 93

@brandtsavoy6123

Damn. They played the UNO lakefront arena? Guess yea as the biggest band they would be selling out stadiums. I was a kid when Nirvana came out and i liked them and Social Distortion and STP alot. Also had older siblings that helped. Ive seen STP at Voodoo and Social D at House of Blues on Decatur st. I was 7 or 8 when Kurt died and my sister tild my older brother and iwas shocked. Couldn't understand someone shooting themself. I dont know. It was a weird day for me. I was a weird kid

@delphinbringsby6768

​@Brandt Savoy Yes at Uno, and it was very loud, yet not loud enough. Was it '93? I remember it being before "Nirvana-mania". I don't think I'm wrong.

@brandtsavoy6123

@delphin bringsby well Nirvana Mania started very late 91 and into late 92.93 was when InUtero came out. I like the addition of Pat and a cello.

11 More Replies...

@krisfrederick5001

Their scraps from the table are better than some bands main course.

@kidpoker9408

most scraps are better than main course's

@krisfrederick5001

@Kid Poker Sure, because that's the point. Thank you Webster. Please follow me around there are sure to be more corrections to be made. Despite my best efforts at eloquence. Mind your capitalization by the way.

@jeffreygilmour8778

Well said boss!!

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