Smells Like Teen Spirit
Sara DeBell Lyrics

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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

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

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 lyrics to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are a reflection of teen angst and apathy, with a touch of irony. The opening lines "Load up on guns, bring your friends" speak to the nihilistic tendencies of youth and the desire to rebel. The following line "It's fun to lose and to pretend" is a nod to the idea that feeling out of control can be exhilarating.

As the song continues, the chorus "Hello, hello, hello, how low" is a sarcastic greeting, indicating that the singer is feeling low or down. The lines "With the lights out, it's less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us" suggest that the singer is seeking distraction, which is a common coping mechanism for many people.

The lyrics "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido" are a reference to Kurt Cobain's interest in social issues and the idea that everyone is connected despite superficial differences. The final lines "A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial / A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial" are a nod to the fact that many people deny their true feelings and thoughts in order to fit in or conform.

Overall, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song that captures the feelings of disillusionment and disaffection that are common among teenagers. Its catchy chorus and powerful sound made it a huge hit, and it has since become an iconic song of the 90s.

Line by Line Meaning

Load up on guns, bring your friends
Bring people with you and be ready for anything

It's fun to lose and to pretend
Sometimes it's easier to pretend and not care

She's over-bored and self-assured
She's bored with her life and thinks she's better than others

Oh no, I know a dirty word
I know something bad and inappropriate

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Greeting and asking how the person is feeling

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
It's less risky when it's dark and harder to see

Here we are now, entertain us
We're here, so do something interesting

I feel stupid and contagious
I feel dumb and like someone else's negative emotions are infecting me

A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Naming different things without a clear meaning

I'm worse at what I do best
Even though I'm doing something I'm good at, I'm not doing very well right now

And for this gift I feel blessed
Despite my failures, I feel grateful for the opportunities I have

Our little group has always been
Our close-knit group of friends has been together for a long time

And always will until the end
We'll be together forever

And I forget just why I taste
I can't remember why I was doing something

Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
But it doesn't really matter because it makes me happy

I found it hard, it's hard to find
I'm having trouble looking for something and it's frustrating

Oh well, whatever, never mind
I give up, it doesn't matter anymore

A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Repeating the word to imply denial and disbelief

A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
Repeating the word to imply denial and disbelief

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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