Paper Cuts
Nirvana Lyrics
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She'd push food through the door
I crawl towards the crack of light
Sometimes I can't find my way
Newspapers spread around
Soaking all that they can
A cleaning is due again
A good hosing down
The lady whom I feel maternal love for
Cannot look me in the eyes
But I see hers and they are blue
And they cock and twist and masturbate
Why? I said so
I said so
I said so
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
Black windows of paint
I scratch with my nails
I see others just like me
Why do they not try to escape?
They bring out the older ones
They point at my way
They come with their flashing lights
And take my family away
And very later I have learned to
Accept some friends of ridicule
My whole existence is for your amusement
And that is why I'm here with you
To take you me with
Your life
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
The lyrics to Nirvana's song "Paper Cuts" depict a bleak image of a person trapped in what seems to be a mental institution. The first stanza sets the scene, as the singer describes their feeding time and the confinement they experience, crawling towards the light and surrounded by newspapers soaked with their own waste. The second stanza introduces the character of a woman who seems to harbor some form of affection for the singer, but refuses to make eye contact. Despite this, the singer notes that her blue eyes persist in twisting and masturbating, perhaps indicating a sexual tension that is doomed to release in one-sided ways.
The third and final stanza takes a more macabre turn, as the singer describes their mental institution mates and wonders why they do not try to escape, as well as observing the arrival of new patients and the taking away of their "family." The final lines suggest that the singer has learned to accept ridicule and being viewed as an object of amusement, as they are resigned to their existence and willing to submit to being taken along with their audience on this journey through life.
Overall, "Paper Cuts" is a song that portrays the horrors of mental illness and the frustration and helplessness that comes with being confined to an institution. The repeated chant of "Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana" throughout the song might be interpreted as the singer searching for some form of enlightenment or release from their circumstances, but ultimately being denied any form of escape.
Line by Line Meaning
At my feeding time
During the time I am fed
She'd push food through the door
Someone would push food into my room through the door
I crawl towards the crack of light
I move towards the small amount of light coming through a crack
Sometimes I can't find my way
Occasionally, I get lost and cannot locate where I am
Newspapers spread around
Newspapers scattered on the floor
Soaking all that they can
Absorbing everything around them
A cleaning is due again
It is time for the area to be cleaned
A good hosing down
Using a hose to spray water everywhere to clean
The lady whom I feel maternal love for
The woman who I feel a motherly connection to
Cannot look me in the eyes
She avoids looking directly at me
But I see hers and they are blue
I see her blue eyes
And they cock and twist and masturbate
Her eyes move in odd and inappropriate ways
Why? I said so
Reasoning behind an action that may lack explanation
I said so
I commanded it to be so
I said so
I declared it to be so
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
An emphasis on the band Nirvana
Black windows of paint
Window panes painted black
I scratch with my nails
Using nails to scratch something
I see others just like me
Other people with similar experiences
Why do they not try to escape?
Questioning why they have not attempted to leave
They bring out the older ones
They take out the older individuals
They point at my way
They direct others to my location
They come with their flashing lights
Emergency services come with their lights on
And take my family away
They take my family members with them
And very later I have learned to
Eventually, I came to understand
Accept some friends of ridicule
To tolerate those who mock me
My whole existence is for your amusement
I am here solely for your entertainment
And that is why I'm here with you
That is the reason I am with you
To take you me with
To take you along with me
Your life
Your existence
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
An emphasis on the band Nirvana
Nirvana, nirvana, nirvana, nirvana
An emphasis on the band Nirvana
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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