Silver
Nirvana Lyrics


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Mom and dad went to a show
They dropped me off at Grandpa Joe's
I kicked and screamed, said please don't go

Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home

I had to eat my dinner there
Mashed potatoes and stuff like that
I couldn't chew my meat too good

Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home

She said, well, don't you start your crying
Go outside and ride your bike
That's what I did, I killed my toe

Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home

After dinner, I had ice cream
I fell asleep and watched TV
I woke up in my mother's arms

Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home




Grandma take me home
I wanna be alone

Overall Meaning

The song "Silver" by Nirvana is a poignant and melancholic reflection about childhood, specifically about being abandoned by parents and left with grandparents. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a young boy’s experience of longing to be back home with his mother as he’s stranded with his grandparents. The repetition of the line "Grandma take me home" serves as a stark reminder of the yearning and desperation felt by children when they experience parental separation.


The song is narrated by the perspective of the boy, who is processing a range of emotions, including insecurity, anger, disappointment, and abandonment. The boy is not entirely comfortable with the company of his grandparents and is forced to eat food he dislikes. He ultimately goes outside to ride his bike and accidentally hurts himself by "killing his toe" - further emphasizing his frustration and resentment towards being left with his grandparents.


The climax of the song occurs when the boy falls asleep while watching TV and then wakes up to find himself in his mother's arms. While the experience is comforting, the repetition of “Grandma take me home” at the end of the song reveals the underlying sense of loneliness and isolation that the boy feels.


Overall, "Silver" is a poignant and powerful portrayal of childhood trauma and abandonment. The song highlights the deep-rooted pain and longing that children feel when they are left alone and powerless.


Line by Line Meaning

Mom and dad went to a show
My parents went to an event.


They dropped me off at Grandpa Joe's
They left me at my grandfather's place.


I kicked and screamed, said please don't go
I expressed my displeasure and begged them not to leave.


Grandma take me home
I yearned for my grandma to come pick me up and take me away.


I had to eat my dinner there
I had to consume my meal while there.


Mashed potatoes and stuff like that
The food I ate consisted of mashed potatoes and similar items.


I couldn't chew my meat too good
I had difficulty biting through my meat.


She said, well, don't you start your crying
She told me not to cry and upset myself.


Go outside and ride your bike
She encouraged me to go out and enjoy myself by cycling.


That's what I did, I killed my toe
I heeded her advice and had an accident that hurt my toe.


After dinner, I had ice cream
I consumed ice cream after eating dinner.


I fell asleep and watched TV
I dozed off while viewing television.


I woke up in my mother's arms
I regained consciousness being held by my mother.


I wanna be alone
I desire solitude and separation from others.




Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@SuperWowstyle

those eyes are so pretty..makes me wanna cry :-(

@nophilter1642

I agree 2:06 is beautiful

@beastatrix9222

Phil Jefferson lol nice 1

@johnnysaldana1053

Stoooopid

@wild_burn

superWOWstyle! KURT COBAIN'S MICROPHONE

@IAmHomeless69

Nirvana wasn't about "how beautiful Kurt was" it was about music and raw emotions. He even tried to look and dress ugly so that people will not talk about his appearance.

78 More Replies...

@ashleymarie290

Fun fact: Kurt cut two armholes in a box so he could hold up frances bean and help her to dance like a baby go go dancer. lol

@crazysilly2914

was that his kid?

@ashleymarie290

@@crazysilly2914 Yes. Courtney was off doing something and he was at home with Frances the day the rest of the band came over to shoot the video. Kurt decided he wanted a set up that looked reminiscent to his old apartment and they sort of recreated that with a lot of random things that Kurt had stored away.

@crazysilly2914

@@ashleymarie290 I take it ‘Courtney' was his wife/girlfriend?

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