"…like if I was living under the bridge and I was dying of A.I.D.S., if I was sick and I couldn’t move and I was a total street person. That was kind of the fantasy of it."
Nonetheless, historians seem to agree that it was the Young Street Bridge which inspired this haunting composition, as Kurt would often hang out nearby and fish along the famous Wishkah River when he was a teenager. This location has become a sort of memorial for Nirvana fans and is commonly decorated with tributes to the late singer.
During the week ending March 26, 2022, “Something in the Way” debuted at #46 on the Hot 100 — over 30 years after its release. The song rose in popularity after appearing in the 2022 film The Batman.
Something In The Way
Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
It's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Underneath the bridge
Tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
It's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
Something in the way
Mm
Something in the way, yeah
Mm
The opening lines of "Something in the Way" describe a homeless person's dwelling place, under a bridge, where he has set up camp. The tarp has a leak, and the animals he's trapped have become his pets. The man is described as living off the grass and the drippings from the ceiling. The lyric then takes a strange turn, with the statement that it's okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings. This line has been interpreted in different ways, as some people think it reinforces the idea that the man is losing his grip on reality, or it could be seen as a sort of absurdist observation that depersonalizes life.
The repetition of the same lyrics throughout the song gives a sense of numbness and isolation to the lyric. It is as if the homeless person has nothing else to say and no one else to talk to except himself. The mournful melody and simplicity of the song add to the sense of sadness and despair. It's a song about being at the end of one's tether, where simple things like a leaky tarp and pet rats take on greater significance in the context of the person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the bridge
I am living under a bridge
Tarp has sprung a leak
The tarp I am using to cover myself has a hole in it
And the animals I've trapped
I have been trapping animals for food
Have all become my pets
I have become attached to the animals I have trapped
And I'm living off of grass
I am so poor that I am only able to eat grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
I collect rainwater from the ceiling for drinking
It's okay to eat fish
I justify eating fish because I believe they do not have emotions
'Cause they don't have any feelings
I believe that fish are not capable of feeling emotions
Something in the way Mm
Something is blocking my path and preventing me from living a normal life
Something in the way, yeah Mm
Something is burdening me and preventing me from living a fulfilling life
Something in the way Mm
Something is standing in between me and a better life
Something in the way, yeah Mm
Something is keeping me down and preventing me from living my best life
Something in the way Mm
Something is blocking my path and preventing me from reaching my goals
Something in the way, yeah Mm
Something is holding me back and preventing me from experiencing true happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oijani
Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass, and the drippings from my ceiling
It's OK to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass, and the drippings from my ceiling
It's OK to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
@angel_of_the_night8793
❓🦇"Fear is a tool. When that light hits the sky, it's not just a call, it's a warning."🦇❓
@kanyerahming
I like how you used "signal" instead of "call"
Edit: The original comment said signal instead of call, they changed it after the movie came out. Everyone who is telling me I'm wrong, stop. You weren't here first and literally would not know what the words said before the edit.
@jenniferb.9241
what???
@kochh
@@jenniferb.9241 The Batman
@jenniferb.9241
@@kochh oh I never even knew this was a thing lol
@natalymendez2256
@@jenniferb.9241 this song instrumental is in the new batman trailer
@FalloutPlays
"Dear Diary... today I caught a man jaywalking in downtown Gotham. I cornered him in an alley and broke 17 of his bones. As he lay there screaming, I couldn't help but think that this city is moving in the right direction, and ready for hope"
@TheResilient5689
Hey, at least Batman's not (intentionally) killing them like the Punisher, right? Haha.
@user-nn1fx1nc7e
@@TheResilient5689 The man had to live in a comatose state for 30 years
@TheBatman39
"Thursday, October 31st"