It was also one of the few new songs Nirvana recorded onto a rehearsal tape the group sent to producer Butch Vig prior to the recording of Nevermind in 1991. The group recorded the song with Vig during album sessions at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, in early 1991. "Come as You Are" was selected as the second single from the album; it was anticipated that the album's first single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", would be a "base-building alternative cut", while "Come as You Are" would be able to cross over into other radio formats. However, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became a surprise hit and boosted the band's popularity.
The song's prominent line "And I swear that I don't have a gun" has also been interpreted to mean that Cobain "had nothing to hide from anyone." Cobain was known for writing using heavy metaphor in his lyrics, allowing fans to decide what the words meant to them. After the death of the song's author, the media paid much attention to the song's prominent line, and other songs on Nevermind that mentioned guns, though the album was written and recorded three years before Cobain's death and therefore it was taken as a mere coincidence.
According to the Come As You Are Songfacts, the chords in this song are a slowed down replica of Killing Joke's 1985 song Eighties. The songs were so similar that Nirvana considered holding off releasing this as a single. Killing Joke decided not to sue Nirvana, and in 2003, Dave Grohl helped them out by playing drums for them on an album.
The music video was directed by Kevin Kerslake, who later directed the videos for "Lithium," "In Bloom," and "Sliver." The video features the band in a dark room, where the appearance of falling water in front of the band distorts and blurs the band members' faces (an idea suggested by Cobain). Throughout the video, clips such as cells multiplying at an incredible rate, to a living organism in its embryotic stages are shown. The video clip also features Kurt Cobain swinging away on a chandelier throughout the room, and water begins to flow into the room. In addition, the video shows parts involving a dog wearing a cone collar. Images of a baby swimming underwater (a reference to the cover of Nevermind) and a gun floating appear. Towards the end, a clip of the band appears, with Cobain in the front, lying on the ground and kissing the camera. The band shot outdoor footage in a park in Hollywood Hills a few days prior to the main video shoot. Kerslake projected this footage in the background of many shots in the main part of the video.
come as you are
Nivana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest, as a friend, as an old
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
Come, doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend, as an old
And I swear that I, don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun, no, I don't have a gun
-ria, memoria, memoria, memoria (No, I don't have a gun)
Well, I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun, no, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun, no, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
The lyrics to Nirvana's "Come As You Are" are open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the song is about being accepted for who you are, flaws and all. The opening lines of "Come, as you are, as you were, as I want you to be" suggest that the singer is welcoming someone to be themselves, even if they're not perfect. The repetition of "as a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy" could represent the idea that even people who have been enemies in the past can come together and be friends, as long as they are true to themselves. The lines "Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late/Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memoria" could be interpreted as the singer urging the listener(s) to be themselves and take the time they need to make their own choices, but also offering to be there for them as a friend.
The chorus of "Come, doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be/As a trend, as a friend, as an old memoria" continues the theme of embracing one's imperfections and unique traits. The reference to being "doused in mud, soaked in bleach" suggests that the singer accepts the listener(s) no matter how dirty or clean they are, and the repetition of "as a friend" reinforces the idea that the singer is open to a friendship. "Memoria" is a Spanish/Italian/Hindi word that means "memory," and its repetition at the end of each verse and in the chorus could represent the idea that memories are a part of who we are, and we should accept them as such.
The lines "And I swear that I, don't have a gun/No, I don't have a gun, no, I don't have a gun" have been interpreted by some as a nod to the controversy surrounding gun control in the United States. Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's lead singer and songwriter, was known to be politically outspoken and critical of aspects of American culture, so it's possible that these lines were meant to be read as a commentary on gun violence.
Overall, "Come As You Are" can be seen as a song about accepting people for who they are, regardless of their flaws or past disagreements. The repetition of certain phrases and the use of the word "memoria" give the lyrics a dreamlike, surreal quality that adds to the song's overall mood of acceptance and inclusivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, as you are, as you were, as I want you to be
You can be yourself, the way you were or the way you are now, just as I accept you
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
I may have known you for a long time, as a friend or as someone I had a conflict with, but regardless, I welcome you
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
You have the freedom to decide your actions, but don't waste time because life is precious
Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
You can take a break and relax, whether we are friends or we have a history together, memories of the past may linger
Come, doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
You can come as you are, messy or clean-cut, it doesn't matter to me
As a trend, as a friend, as an old memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
You can be following what's popular, or being a loyal friend, but memories of the past may still remain
And I swear that I, don't have a gun
I promise you that I am not dangerous, and I have no intention to harm you
No, I don't have a gun, no, I don't have a gun
I am reiterating my statement that I am not a threat to you
-ria, memoria, memoria, memoria (No, I don't have a gun)
Reiterating that I am not violent, and reminiscing about the past
Well, I swear that I don't have a gun, No, I don't have a gun, No, I don't have a gun
I staunchly emphasize that I am not a threat, and I have no access to any sort of weapon
Memoria, memoria
Reflecting on memories of the past
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TOP100Classicalmusic
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an known enemy
--
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)1
--
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
--
Memoria, memoria
@alexsalazar2230
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
@maelldo_7187
0% autotune
0% drugs
100% talent
Okay just a little bit of drugs
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
75% talent
25% drugs
\_( • _ •)_/
@EduardoGarcia-to4gg
A LITTLE bit
@immodium4586
Yup
@yoda5436
0% drugs? Do you really believe that?
Oh there ya go
@immodium4586
Yoda r/wooosh
@Shekel-
Who else is watching this in 1776?
@Wglass90
I am. I saw General George Washington listen to it on his istone as he was signing the declaration of independence.
@d.jgutierrez768
Shekel Thief Sorry, I'm watching it in 1492.
@thotpolice9753
Poseurs! I was listening to this in 3200 BC!