The Record - Kurt Cobain talks about the songs on ‘Nevermind.’

Smells Like Teen Spirit: “My generation’s apathy. I’m disgusted with it. I’m disgusted with my own apathy too, for being spineless and not always standing up against racism, sexism, and all those other isms the counterculture has been whining about for years.”

In Bloom: “Reproduction.”

Come As You Are: “An old-fashioned love song coming down in three-part harmony.”

Breed: “Getting into Middle America. Marrying at age 18, getting pregnant, stuck with a baby - and not wanting it.”

Lithium: “People who are secluded for too long go insane and as a last resort they often use religion to keep alive. In the song, a guy’s lost his girl and his friends and he’s brooding. He’s decided to find God before he kills himself. It’s hard for me to understand the need for a vice like that but I can appreciate it too. People need vices.”

Polly: “Rape.”

Territorial Pissings: “In the animal kingdom, the male will often piss in certain areas to claim his territory, and I see macho men reacting towards sex and power in the same way. I’d like to see these lost souls strung up by their balls with pages of scum manifesto stapled to their bodies.”

Drain You: “Almost all of the songs on the album are about love - or confusion, which usually is the result of love. Outcries of confusion about love and not understanding relationships, not just with your mate but with anybody, with yourself, with animals, etc.”

Lounge Act: “Love, problems.”

Stay Away: “Bitching and complaining.”

On A Plain: “Love again.”

Something In The Way: “Love - plain and simple.”

“Come dowsed in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be. As a trend, as a friend, as an old memory, memory, memory, memory.” - Come As You Are.

“Come As You Are”.

Today in 1992, The video for ‘Come As You Are’ is made. Directed by Kevin Kerslake, who Kurt chose specifically after the unpleasant experience of working with Bayer on the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video. Cobain only had very little ideas for the video, leaving Kerslake to do most of the work. Kurt did insist though that their faces be obscured. It was Kerslake’s idea to use projections of the band members in the background for many of the shots. Most of the footage for this was shot in a park in the Hollywood Hills a few days before the main shoot. Kurt enjoyed swinging on the chandelier, which he did for about an hour, resting on a ladder between takes. The band was very active at the editing stage, deciding to cut a lot of the “goofy” footage shot for the projections, favoring the “more ethereal stuff”.

“Come As You Are.”

The first thing I can remember Kurt buying from the store was an Electro-Harmonix Clone [pedal]. After that he bought every one that came in, and he bought five of them. I thought it was weird that he wanted this lush chorus pedal when none of the music that he had played prior to that had any kind of inflection. I asked Krist Novoselic, “What’s up with Kurt and these pedals?” He just said, “Oh, you’ll see.” Then, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come as You Are,” and songs like that came out… — Rick King

From the “Teen Spirit” & “Come As You Are” music video shoots.

“Come As You Are.”

Come As You Are.

“Come As You Are” lyrics & music video ideas.

Come As You Are.

Kurt had few ideas for the video, leaving Kerslake to conceptualise it. Kurt did insist though that their faces be obscured. It was Kerslake’s idea to use projections of the band members in the background of many shots. Most of the footage for this was shot in a park in the Hollywood Hills a few days before the main shoot. It is Kurt swinging on the chandalier, which he did for about an hour, resting on a ladder between takes. The band were very active at the editing stage, deciding to cut a lot of the “goofy” footage shot for the projections, favouring the “more ethereal stuff”.