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Kurt Cobain Quotes
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158 Quotes to Inspire and Challenge with Profound Words

Discover the profound and thought-provoking words of Kurt Cobain, the iconic musician and songwriter. From his insights on individuality to his reflections on the human condition, these quotes will inspire and challenge you in equal measure.

Kurt Donald Cobain was a highly influential American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Nirvana. With his angsty songwriting style and rebellious image, he expanded the thematic boundaries of mainstream rock. Often regarded as a spokesperson for Generation X, Cobain's impact on alternative rock is widely recognized.

Forming Nirvana in 1987 alongside Krist Novoselic and Aaron Burckhard, Cobain played a significant role in establishing the band as part of the flourishing Seattle music scene, later known as grunge. Their commercial breakthrough came with the release of their critically acclaimed second album, Nevermind, which featured their hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Despite being celebrated as the voice of his generation after this sudden success, Cobain felt misunderstood and resented this label. He penned numerous other popular songs for Nirvana, including "Come as You Are," "Lithium," and "Heart-Shaped Box".

Cobain faced personal struggles throughout his life, battling heroin addiction, chronic health issues like depression, and dealing with pressures arising from fame. His turbulent relationship with fellow musician Courtney Love added to his challenges. Tragically, Cobain passed away in 1994 at the age of 27 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound. Despite his untimely demise, Cobain's impact remains strong. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his bandmates in 2014 and is consistently ranked among the greatest songwriters, guitarists, and singers of all time by publications such as Rolling Stone and MTV.

✵ 20. February 1967 – 5. April 1994
Kurt Cobain photo
Kurt Cobain: 158 quotes736 likes

Kurt Cobain Quotes

“Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend, as a known enemy
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late.”

Kurt Cobain

Come As You Are.
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)

“Same thing happened in the punk movement in the late 70's…a punk band would start, play one gig, and get signed to a major label right away, 'cause it [was] a trend. That just shows there are a lot of old school dinosaurs in the record industry who need to be weeded out.”

Kurt Cobain

Date unknown, but believed to be 1992-06-30 in Sweden http://www.livenirvana.com/official/index.html. <br class="br">Interviews (1989-1994), Video

“She's just as bored as me
she caught me off my guard
it amazes me, the will of instinct”

Kurt Cobain

Polly.
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)

“What are they tuning, a harp? I thought we were a big rich rock band. We should have a whole bunch of extra guitars.”

Kurt Cobain

1993-11-18 at Sony Music Studios, New York City, New York (MTV Unplugged).
Stage banter

“Something in her eyes
Must be the smoke in my lungs.”

Kurt Cobain

Clean Up Before She Comes.
Song lyrics, Posthumously released (post-1994)

“OK, you trained monkeys, everybody jump up and down. Let's bring back the good old pogo!”

Kurt Cobain

1993-12-31 at Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California, in between "About a Girl" and "Lithium".
Stage banter

“Zits are beauty marks.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in Sassy (1992-04).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“Friends are nothing but a known enemy”

Kurt Cobain

Variant: A friend is nothing but a known enemy.

“The finest day i ever had was when tomorrow never came”

Kurt Cobain

“Life isn't nearly as sacred as the appreciation of passion.”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals

“I don't need to be inspired any longer, just supported.”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals

“Oh well, whatever, nevermind.”

Kurt Cobain

“She eyes me like a pisces.”

Kurt Cobain

“If you read, you'll judge.”

Kurt Cobain

“Here we are now, entertain us.”

Kurt Cobain

“The sun is gone
But I have a light”

Kurt Cobain

Dumb.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)

“Believe everything you read”

Kurt Cobain

“I'm on my time with everyone.”

Kurt Cobain

“Married, Married, Married!
Buried!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah”

Kurt Cobain

“I would love to be erased from our association with Pearl Jam or the Nymphs and other first time offenders.”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals

“Art is sacred.
Punk rock is freedom.
Expression and right to express is vital.
Anyone can be artistic.”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals

“Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally.”

Kurt Cobain

Pennyroyal Tea.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)

“Things have never been so swell
and I have never felt this well! I have never failed to feel… Pain!”

Kurt Cobain

You Know You're Right.
Song lyrics, Posthumously released (post-1994)

“Yeah, I was run out of town. They chased me up to the castle of Aberdeen with torches. Just like the Frankenstein monster. And I got away in a hot air balloon. And I came here to Seattle.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in Monk Magazine (1992-10).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“I can't play [guitar] like Pete Townshend. The flip side of that is that Pete Townshend could probably never have played like me.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in Fender Frontline Magazine (Fall 1994).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“I mean it seems like there are only two options for songwriters [sic] personalities either theyre [sic] sad, tragic visionaries like morrissey or michael stipe or robert smith or theres [sic] the goofy, nutty white boy, Hey lets party and forget everything people like Van Halen or all that other Heavy metal crap.”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals (2002), p. 44

“It's really not hard to keep your dignity and sign to a major label…Most people don't have any dignity in the first place.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in Sounds (1990-10).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back.”

Kurt Cobain

Heart-Shaped Box.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)

“Hate your enemies
Save your friends
Find your place
Speak the truth.”

Kurt Cobain

Radio Friendly Unit Shifter.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)

“I love myself better than you
I know it's wrong, but what should I do?”

Kurt Cobain

On A Plain.
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)

“Hate me
Do it and do it again
Waste me
Rape me, my friend.”

Kurt Cobain

Rape Me.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)

“The thrill and embarrassment of becoming international pop stars was too much, so we opened our mouths and put our foot in sometimes.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in Details (1993-11).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“Why in the hell do journalists insist on coming up with a second rate Freudian evaluation on my lyrics when 90% of the time they've transcribed the lyrics incorrectly?”

Kurt Cobain book Journals

Source: Journals (2002), p. 190

“I'd like to live off the band, but if not, I'll just retire to Mexico or Yugoslavia with a few hundred dollars, grow potatoes, and learn the history of rock through back issues of Creem magazine.”

Kurt Cobain

As quoted in The Daily Of The University Of Washington (1989-05-05).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print

“It amazes me, the will of instict.”

Kurt Cobain

“And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard, but I'm not sure.”

Kurt Cobain

“With the lights out, it's less dangerous.”

Kurt Cobain

“I'm so ugly, but that's O.K. 'cause so are you.”

Kurt Cobain

“Cut myself on angel hair and baby's breath.”

Kurt Cobain

Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)