Help Me I'm Hungry
Nirvana Lyrics


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"That's it"

Until my tensions
Feed me, I'm fucking hungry
Degrade me
I want my gun back

Like the fucking resume
Experience credentials
Experience the process
People freaking every day
White lights
Sitting inside
And you get sicker than another little pecker
Than a

Blasphemy

Hold me, I'm so pathetic
And study, all the sudden
Baby, suddenly find her
Daddy, exploring only

Like the fucking resume
Experience potentials
Experience the process
People freaking every day
White lights
Sitting inside
And you get sicker than another little pecker
Burn me
It's to potentially grade me
I'm fucking hungry
Feed me, the wells of comfort
Exzume me
I want my complex back

A wicked man
Picked off the scabs and fed them
To the pigeons
Help him, he is so cornered
Kill him, your mercy whore will

Lights are fucking around with me
Experience potentials
Experience the process
People freaking every day
White lights
Really inside
And you get sicker than ahhhhhhh
Help me, fucking hoses
Help me, until my tensions
Graise me, I'm really hungry
To gravy, I want my complex back





"Thank you and, good night"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Help Me I'm Hungry" by Nirvana appear to be about someone who is desperately seeking relief from their inner struggles. The opening lines suggest that this person is feeling intense hunger, possibly for something besides food, and is willing to degrade themselves to satisfy their cravings. This could be interpreted both literally, in terms of sexual or physical needs, or metaphorically, in terms of emotional or mental nourishment.


Throughout the song, the lyrics reference experiences, credentials, potentials, and processes, possibly hinting at a sense of competition, pressure to succeed, or a desire to achieve some external validation. The line "Like the fucking resume" suggests the singer feels trapped in a cycle of trying to prove themselves over and over again.


Mention of guns, blasphemy, and scabs being fed to pigeons creates a dark and disturbing atmosphere, suggesting themes of violence, self-harm, and a desire for release from pain. The repeating chorus of "Help me, until my tensions" further emphasizes this desperate plea for assistance.


Overall, "Help Me I'm Hungry" appears to be a raw and deeply personal reflection on the struggles of mental illness, drugs, fame, and the pressures of success. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, while the music's intense, grunge-driven sound creates a chaotic and overwhelming mood.


Line by Line Meaning

Until my tensions
I am filled with anxiety


Feed me, I'm fucking hungry
I have an insatiable craving that needs to be satisfied


Degrade me
I want to be humiliated


I want my gun back
I want to feel powerful and in control


Like the fucking resume
I am constantly judged and evaluated


Experience credentials
I have gone through trials and tribulations


Experience the process
I have been through hardships and have scars to prove it


People freaking every day
People are constantly struggling to get by


White lights
I am in a sterile and cold environment


Sitting inside
I am trapped and confined


And you get sicker than another little pecker
You feel weak and helpless


Than a
In comparison


Blasphemy
I am committing a sin


Hold me, I'm so pathetic
I am begging for comfort and reassurance


And study, all of a sudden
I am contemplating my situation


Baby, suddenly find her
I am searching for an answer


Daddy, exploring only
I am navigating life alone


Exzume me
I am trying to reawaken something within me


I want my complex back
I want to feel like myself again


A wicked man
There is someone who is causing harm


Picked off the scabs and fed them
Someone is causing needless pain and suffering


To the pigeons
They are indifferent to my pain


Help him, he is so cornered
I need rescuing because I am backed into a corner


Kill him, your mercy whore will
Even those who offer help are willing to abandon me


Lights are fucking around with me
I am being toyed with


Help me, fucking hoses
I need to be rescued from my situation


Graise me, I'm really hungry
I need something to sustain me


To gravy, I want my complex back
I want to regain my sense of self and identity




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@owenrick393

I like this live version with Tad better than the better known box set version. Lyrics are also slightly different in parts and are difficult to understand in parts.
This is what I've managed to make out from listening to the lyrics which I think is pretty close to what is being sang in this version of the song:-

Hold me, give some attention
Degrade me, I'm fuckin' hungry
Help me, I'm fuckin' cornered
Grade me, you may get my
Life on fuckin' reśumé
Aims, essentials, a serious bastard
People freakin' everyday
White lies do you say?
What do you want?
Help
Cold naked man, picked off his scabs
And fed them to the pigeons
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered
Grade him, you may get mine?
Life's a fuckin rèsumè
Aims, credentials, a serious bastard
People freakin' everyday
White lies she said "fuckin' love"
Hug me, fuckin' grab me
Help me, fuckin' help me
Hold me, fuckin' love me
Help me, what do you want?
Listen?
Naked man, you say you saw
Send him out to the pigeons
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered
Hate him, you may get bored
Write a fuckin' rèsumè
Is, I can't just, it's finished, what's up?
People freakin' everyday
White lie, she say "why you love?"
Hug me, fuckin' love me
Help me, a fuckin' love
Hold me, a fuckin' help
Aghhh, agh

That's as close as I can get up to now. But I feel it's pretty accurate in most parts.



@tomu7212

@feluk Ill make it even more accurate

Hold me, get some attention
Degrade me, I'm fuckin' hungry
Help me, I'm fuckin' cornered
Grade me, you make me barf
Life's a fuckin' resume
Experience, credentials, experience, process
People freakin' everyday
White lights you decide
What do you want?
Ho-
Cold naked man, picked off his scabs
And fed them to the pigeons
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered
Grade him, you make me barf
Like a fucking resume
Experience, credentials, experience, process
People freakin' everyday
White lies you decide, I don't know
Hold me, Fucking grade me/I'm fucking hungry
Help me, I'm fucking hungry
Hold me, I'm fucking hungry
Help me, (gibberish)

Naked man, you say you saw
Send him out to the pigeons
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered
Hate him, you make me barf
Life's a fuckin' resume
Experience, credentials, experience, process
People freakin' everyday
White lies sitting inside, well I don't know
Hold me, I'm fucking hungry
Help me, I'm fucking hun-
Hold me, ah fucking hell
Aghhh, agh



@cavalrycome

A lot of the lyrics to this version are the same or very similar to the KAOS Radio recording, where the words are a bit clearer. The KAOS version was recorded a couple of years earlier (April 17, 1987) so by the time this Vienna version was recorded (November 22, 1989), the form and sequence of the verses had evolved, but listening to them side by side certainly helps to figure out what the lyrics are in this version. Below is my best guess. I've attempted to fill in lyrics that I couldn't figure out by comparison with the KAOS version by repeatedly listening to the song with high quality headphones at a reduced playback speed, but I doubt I've got the words completely right. I've marked the lines that are the same or similar to lines found in the KAOS recording. Finally, people who say they're sure of what the lyrics really are in this recording, or what, if anything, the band officially called this song, are I think fooling themselves.

Lyrics to "Help me, I'm hungry" (Live in Vienna, 1989):

Hold me, get some attention. [KAOS version cuts in with "...some attentions"]
They grade me, I'm fuckin' hungry. [KAOS uses "degrade me" instead of "they grade me"]
Help me, I'm fuckin' cornered.
Grade me, you might get bored.

Lied on your fuckin' resume. [=KAOS, Could also be "Liked your fuckin' resume" in both versions]
Experience: he's been good at seeing impostors
People freakin' every day. [=KAOS]
White lies, eatin' inside, whatever you want [KAOS line begins "White lies, eatin' inside..." then deviates]
Oh.

Old naked man, picked off his scabs [=KAOS]
And fed them to the pigeons. [=KAOS]
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered.[=KAOS]
Grade him, you might get bored.

Lied on your fuckin' resume
Experience, credentials, serious prospects [KAOS line has extra words "...WITH serious GOOD prospects"]
People freakin' every day. [=KAOS]
White lies, suicide, want it all [Uncertain about "want it all". The phrase is used again later]

Hold me, I'm fuckin' tragic
Help me, somebody help me.
Hold me, I'm fuckin' hungry.
Help me, then when you aren't here, crack. [The most difficult line in my opinion. Probably not correct]

Break it man, then say it's not
He sent them unto the pigeons
Help him, it's not your fault
Hate him, you might get bored.

Lied on your fuckin' resume
Experience, potentials, imperious impostor [=KAOS]
People freakin' every day. [=KAOS]
Bright lights, dead inside, want it all

Help me, fuckin' help me
Help me, I'm fuckin' up.
Hold me, oh fuckin' hell.
Ah-ah, ah.



@BoxxyBoi

I Think I Got It! will be posting finalized on Genius under "Help Me, I'm Hungry!/Vendetagainst (Live in Vienna)"

[Verse 1]
Hold me, to some attention
Degrade me, I'm fucking hungry
Help me, I'm fucking cornered
Gag me, You mercy mourner!

[Chorus]
Life's a fucking resume!
Experience, credentials, experienced, bastard!
People preaching every daaaay!
White lies sitting inside,
What do you want?

Help!

[Verse 2]
Cold, naked man, picked off his scabs, and
Fed them, to the pigeons
Help him, he's fuckin' cornered
Kill him, you mercy mourner!

[Chorus]
Life's a fucking resume!
Experience, credentials, experienced, bastard!
People preaching every daaaay!!
White lies sitting inside,
What do you--

[Post Chorus]
Hold me I'm fucking hungry!
Help me I'm more than hungry!
Hold me I'm fucking hungry!
Help me I make it harder

Cr--

[Verse 3]
Naked man, you say you saw
Sent bread, out to the pigeons
Help him, he's fucking cornered
Hang him, you mercy mourner!

[Chorus]
Life's a fucking resume!
Experience, credentials, experienced, impostor!
People preaching everyday
White lies sitting inside
What do you--

[Post Chorus]
Hold me I'm fucking hungry!
Help me I'm fucking hungry!
Hold me I'm fucking h- aaah
aaaaaaargh, aah



All comments from YouTube:

@B3RGMAN7

This song captures the essence of nihilism and punk better than any ive heard before

@ghos7fiction

You should listen to Flipper.

@nowhirr8135

@Solzhenitche yes! This track sounds so much like Flipper

@tomu7212

@nowhirr any flipper songs youd recommend that sound like this

@nowhirr8135

@Tom U I Saw You Shine is a killer track. Everything off Generic is really good

@jules8159

I couldn’t agree more, ‘life’s a fucking resume/and then you get sicker than another little pecker’ (flipper is amazing too)

1 More Replies...

@nickfinamori9992

probably my favorite nirvana song…the nirvana that everyone needs to hear

@Just9Dresden

I agree

@soulessvalleys8404

💯

@pdvas30

This is definitely my favorite nirvana song ever.

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