Songs about Kurt
- Kurt Cobain's suicide left us with a gaping hole that can never be
shut up. But now "Details" is proud to honor his memory with a special
collector's CD..."And I Swear That I Don't Have A Gun: Songs Inspired by the
Suicide of Kurt Cobain."For some musicians, Cobain's suicide was a chance to
write about somebody else's depression for a change.
- Julian Cope,
"Queen/Mother" from the CD "20 Mothers."The former Courtney Love consort
turned New Age dungeon master places himself in Cobain's heroin-dusted shoes
for this tunelessand sarcastic romp. "For all the orphan punkies I just feel
alone,"Cope sqwaks, "Wasting my time up here on the throne."
- Message:
Fame is a prison.
- How we know it's about Kurt: Cope says so in the album's
sleeve notes.
- R.E.M. , "Let Me In," from "Monster."A typically oblique
open letter to K.C. musing on the ecarnivorous nature of celebrity. "Yeah,
all those stars drip down like butter/...we eat them up." Stipe notes.
-
Message: This tragedy could've been averted.
- How we know it's about Kurt:
Stipe said so in interviews.
- For Squirells, "Mighty K.C.," from
"Example."Promising R.E.M.-esque janglers drag something optimistic from the
misery.: "And if we gather/If we fall/Over the great unknown/Things are gonna
change in our favor." Sadly, for Squirells' singer and bass player both died
themselves when the band's tour bus crashed.
- Message: Kurt's death may
have acheived something positive.
- How we know it's about Kurt: "K.C."
could refer to the late King Charles I of England, but that's unlikely.
- Neil Young, "Sleeps With Angels," from "Sleeps With Angels."A minor-key
unsentimental "Ballad of Kurt & Courtney" crammed with feedback--Young was
hit hard when Cobain's suicide note quoted him (It's better to burn out than
to fade away).
- Message: He was too good for this world.
- How we know
it's about Kurt: Neil said so.
- Catherine Wheel, "Hole," from "Happy Days.
"Scolding the fans, the overzealous media, and possibly Courtney Love, the
generically alternative band wails " What does it take?/When will you listen?"
- Message: Suicide is bad.
- How we Know it's about Kurt: What do you
think it's about--golf?
- SONGS OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR BEING ABOUT COBAIN"S SUICIDE:
- Oasis, "Cast No Shadow," from "What's the story Morning Glory?"
- Silverchair, "Suicidal Dream," from "Frogstomp."
- Filter, "Hey Man Nice Shot," from "Short Bus."
- SONGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE SUICIDE OF COBAIN:
- Sinead O'Connor, "All Apologies," from "Universal Mother".
The scourge of popery wrings all the slinkiness out of the riff,and
leaves you wondering if everyone IS gay.
- Pearl Jam, "Immortality", from "Vitalogy". The line "Scrawl disolved,
cigar box on the floor..." refers to the cigar box that Kurt had his heroin
in, found on the floor next to his body. If you have this album, read the
lyrics. Many of the songs are about Kurts suicide.
- Tori Amos, "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Nirvana used to come onstage
to this piano version of the Nirvana hit.