The riff from the song was used by British techno band The Prodigy at their track "Voodoo People" from the 1995 album "Music for the Jilted Generation", But rather than sampled it was played by a guitarist Lance Riddler
Very Ape
Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
The lyrics of Nirvana’s song “Very Ape” present a series of perplexing and enigmatic statements that can be interpreted in many ways. The first line of the song “I am buried up to my neck in contradictionary lies” suggests that the singer is trapped in a situation where conflicting information and expectations surround him. The line “I take pride as the kind of illiterature” points to the idea that the singer feels that his existence is characterized by a kind of ignorance or lack of knowledge. He revels in this lack of understanding because it sets him apart from others who are too invested in conforming to society’s expectations.
The second stanza of the song is a repetition of the idea that the singer is too busy pretending to be world-weary to admit his naivety to anyone else. He sees himself as an experienced traveler who has “seen it all” and is therefore skilled in the art of survival. However, his self-important posturing is betrayed by the need to ask for help when needed by someone else.
The chorus introduces a metaphorical motif that seems to suggest a kind of cyclical movement in the singer’s life. The progression from “out of the ground, into the sky” represents a kind of ascent towards enlightenment, while “out of the sky, into the dirt” represents a fall from grace. This pattern continues throughout the song, perhaps suggesting the singer's feeling of helplessness as he moves through life unaware of the forces that control his destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
I am buried up to my neck in
I am deeply immersed in
Contradictionary lies
conflicting and inconsistent falsehoods
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I boast about the type of ignorance I possess
I'm very ape and very nice
I resemble a primitive, yet am well-mannered
If you ever need anything, please don't
In case you require assistance, kindly refrain
Hesitate to ask someone else first
Delay before seeking help from another
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I'm preoccupied with appearing experienced
I've seen it all, I was here first
I've witnessed everything and arrived earliest
Out of the ground
Emerging from below
Into the sky
Ascending to the heavens
Out of the sky
Descending from above
Into the dirt
Plunging into the earth
Out of the ground
Emerging from below
Into the sky
Ascending to the heavens
Out of the sky
Descending from above
Into the dirt
Plunging into the earth
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@krtzcobain
I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
@ZeenmaGod
"I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt"
@CamInABand
“If you ever need anything please don’t, hesitate to ask someone else first”
Words can’t describe how much I love Kurt’s writing
@smartavocado8319
THIS GUITAR TONE IS A THING TO LIVE FOR 😍😍😩😩🤭🤭
@RepaidGold58
That drummer will never fight foo
Edit: guys you won’t believe this
@Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmm
The first fuckin thing I see too lmfao
@opiumBIGGESTFAN2
that foo was a fighter
@AshStudi0
No way guys he did it
@phillemon7664
He became the balls of lights seen frequently by fighter pilots on all sides of the conflict in WW2 themselves 🤟🏽
@SuperRetro64
I've heard he's got a pocket watch that runs late! 😉
@user-te6te8lg4k
En efecto la mejor banda de el mundo entero, esto es para ti Kurt te extrañamos
@krtzcobain
I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary lies
I take pride as the kind of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything, please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt