Few songs have created as big of a change in music scene as Nirvana’s Teen Spirit. Why? Watching the video you realize one difference between music before and music of Nirvana and grunge is that they did not have to dress up or be anyone other than who they were. Cobain’s hair wasn’t too long, he wore a simple shirt that all other kids wore at the time. All of a sudden a musician was a person instead of a god created by the corporations. This allowed the teenagers of the 90’s to feel that they no longer had to fit in to the narrow stereotypes created for them by music and TV that they simply did not fit and could feel all the feelings they feel that were not seen on TV or the radio.
Having said this, I wanted to look into the lyrics of the song.
Having said this, I wanted to look into the lyrics of the song.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit Lyrics
Load up on guns; bring your friends
Even before Columbine, school shootings were a regular affair in the schools.
It’s fun to lose and to pretend
She’s over-bored and self-assured
refers to his ex- he lost her and so he pretends that it is really him that is better.
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
trying to talk but feeling miserable.
[Chorus]
With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now; entertain us
The feeling of a musician or a band who is there to not be listened to but to entertained.
I feel stupid and contagious
The teenage angst when everyone makes you like an idiot and doesn’t want to hang out with you as if you’re contagious.
Here we are now; entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
His girlfriend a brunette and he is a blonde (albino) a mosquito maybe small penis or the size of his libido and therefore inadequacy.
Yeah, hey
I’m worse at what I do best
Always feeling like you are not good enough and ridiculed most for that which you try most at or that which you like the most.
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
The only solace in teenage times are friends. But there is a trapping there in that group.
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello
[Chorus]
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
drugs. The only thing that make him smile.
I found it hard; it’s hard to find
Feeling of joy, completeness.
Oh well, whatever, never mind
The teenage ability to brush off loss as if it wasn’t important even though it is very important and nothing feels as bad as failing. The feeling of finding satisfaction with self, treating depression and hopelessness. He doesn’t actually find it.. it is too hard to find.
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
not-rushin 