If You Must
Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can breathe, proven fact
Bless my greed, crease unfold
Is it me, or my ego
Write some words, make them rhyme
Pieces for assembly line
Set the mood, something new
Is it me, or my attitude
If you want, to belong
And you miss, the extremes
The extremes, act it out
Practicing
Perfecting
Pressuring
Unto to me
I will wade, in the fire
To explain, your asylum
Idle times, analyzing
We'll compare, all our sightings, come on!
I speak to hear my voice
The lyrics in Nirvana's song If You Must convey themes of self-reflection, the struggle with greed and ego, and the desire to be understood by others. The opening lines express the singer's basic abilities and his preoccupation with greed that he acknowledges encompasses his ego. The line "Is it me, or my attitude" represents a self-analysis of his actions and thoughts.
The chorus begins with an invitation to belong, but the implication is that true belonging requires a willingness to replicate or act out extreme behavior. The lines "Practicing, Perfecting, Pressuring, Unto to me," suggest that while the singer may be frustrated by these societal expectations, he is also willingly caught up in them.
The final verse takes a more introspective turn, with the singer expressing his willingness to "wade in the fire" to help others understand what he sees. He then makes a cryptic statement about "analyzing" and "comparing" in "idle times" to perhaps suggest that his own self-reflection isn't always productive. Ultimately, this song reveals Nirvana's frontman Kurt Cobain's deep struggles with self-doubt, societal pressures, and his place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I can read, I can write
I possess basic literacy skills.
I can breathe, proven fact
I am alive and can breathe, which is an observable fact.
Bless my greed, crease unfold
I am acknowledging and embracing my own selfishness and desires, without shame.
Is it me, or my ego
I'm questioning whether my actions are driven by my true self or my inflated sense of self-importance.
Write some words, make them rhyme
I am creating something by putting words together in a way that sounds pleasing to the ear.
Pieces for assembly line
I am creating something that can be mass-produced or replicated.
Set the mood, something new
I am trying to evoke a particular feeling or atmosphere, perhaps by doing something different or innovative.
Is it me, or my attitude
I am again questioning whether my behavior is influenced by my true feelings or a misguided mindset.
If you want, to belong
I am addressing a hypothetical person who desires to be part of something.
And you miss, the extremes
I'm suggesting that whoever I'm talking to craves the most drastic or adventurous experiences.
The extremes, act it out
I'm advising the person to act out those intense feelings.
Practicing, Perfecting, Pressuring
I'm providing a list of actions that will help the person achieve their desired sense of fulfillment.
Unto to me
I'm implying that I'm the one with the power to make this happen.
I will wade, in the fire
I am willing to endure difficult or dangerous situations to help the person understand their own mind.
To explain, your asylum
I want to help the person make sense of their thoughts and feelings.
Idle times, analyzing
I'm suggesting that we take some time to reflect on our lives and think critically about our actions and motives.
We'll compare, all our sightings, come on!
I want to have an open, honest conversation about our shared experiences.
I speak to hear my voice
I am speaking simply for the sake of talking, without any particular aim or goal in mind.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
abby
on Marigold (B‐side)
dont hesitate to listen to Marigold, like seriously.
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