Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over-bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey, yay

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey, yay




And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial

Overall Meaning

The song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana was released in 1991 and is widely considered one of the most iconic and influential songs in the history of rock music. The lyrics of the song capture the disaffected and rebellious spirit of the time period and deal with issues such as boredom, apathy, and the search for identity. The opening lines "Load up on guns, bring your friends / It's fun to lose and to pretend" speaks to the nihilistic tendencies of young people who were disillusioned with the political and economic system at the time.


The chorus of the song, with the repeated phrase "With the lights out, it's less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us," reflects the desire for entertainment and escape from the pain and chaos of the world. The reference to "a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido" is believed to be an inside joke by Kurt Cobain and refers to a friend who described himself in this manner. The line "I feel stupid and contagious" speaks to the feeling of helplessness and frustration that many young people experienced during the time period.


Overall, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song that captures the disillusionment and angst of a generation and continues to be celebrated as a seminal work in the history of rock music.


Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
Gather weapons and bring your accomplices


It's fun to lose and to pretend
It's enjoyable to have nothing and act like you don't care


She's over bored and self assured
She's extremely bored and full of herself


Oh no, I know a dirty word
Oh dear, I'm aware of a profanity


Hello, hello, hello, how low
Greetings, how are you feeling down there?


With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Having the lights turned off decreases the amount of risk


Here we are now, entertain us
We are present, so put on a show for us


I feel stupid and contagious
I feel unintelligent and like I can easily spread my feelings to others


A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A person with mixed race heritage, a person with no pigmentation, an insect that feeds on blood, my sexual drive


I'm worse at what I do best
I'm not very skilled at what I excel at


And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite this, I feel fortunate for this talent


Our little group has always been
Our small community has always existed


And always will until the end
And it will continue until the end


And I forget just why I taste
And I don't remember why I have this specific sensation


Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
Oh right, I suppose it causes me to grin


I found it hard, was hard to find
I struggled to locate it


Oh well, whatever, never mind
Oh well, it doesn't really matter anymore


A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
An inability to accept the truth




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@TalonsFangs

50 reasons to live

1. To see nature
2. To bungee jump
3. Trampoline parks
4. Long car drives at night
5. Pizza
6. Chapell Roan
7. Coloring
8. School
9. 2:24 this part
10. Food
11. Sleep
12. To feel loved
13. To be beautiful
14. Self care
15. The movie Elf
16. Teenage years
17. Oxygen
18. Swimming
19. The beach
20. Sports
21. Summer
22. Winter
23. Fall
24. Spring
25. Plane rides
26. Family
27. Laughing with friends
28. Music
29. Supporting small businesses
30. Memories
31. Animals
32. Zoos
33. Roller coasters
34. Cake
35. Baking
36. Roblox
37. Cute babies
38. Candy
39. Reconciliation
40. Baptism
41. Religion
42. Painting
43. Pain
44. Happy accidents
45. Laughter
46. Swings
47. Skincare
48. Car races
49. Crafts
50. JESUS CHRIST!!!


30 likes for pt. 2- 50 MORE reasons to live



@kelseygordon2282

Load up your guns, bring your friends it's fun to pretend she's over-board and self-assured oh no, I know a dirty word
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello,
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entrertanin us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey hey
I'm the worst at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
A little group has always been
And always been until the end
Hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello,
When the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entrertanin us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey hey
And I forgot just why I taste
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, was hard to find oh well, whatever, never mind
hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello,
With the lights out, it's less dangerouse
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entrertanin us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, A denial, A denial, A denial
A denial, A denial, A denial,



All comments from YouTube:

@vicnunez6753

That guitar in the beginning just sets the whole freaking song. This song is so good !! RIP Cobain ❤

@NIRVANA123-w6p

fr tho rip

@og_go0ber

rip, will be remembered for centuries to come, if me, a 12 year old knows him

@sabcano1

Yeah we will miss him

@og_go0ber

@@sabcano1 forever.

@Piccolo444

Didnt like him but dam does his music hit hard

21 More Replies...

@Jerryisntthecodgod

By far the hardest task known to man, deciphering the lyrics to this song

@AaliyahLawal6

Real

@dakotamayer1820

Or even possibly understanding what the hell they are supposed to mean haha

@DOI_ARTS

Cobain was trying to F his then GF and she was using a deodorant brand Teen Spirit. The deeper meaning we will never know guy shot himself to make us all wonder and ask "How and Why?"

More Comments

More Versions