About the song
Released in 1989 as the opening track of Nirvana’s debut album Bleach, “Blew” is an early showcase of Kurt Cobain’s raw songwriting, brooding lyricism, and grunge-driven intensity. While not a mainstream hit, the song remains a fan favorite and a defining piece of the band’s early sound, setting the stage for the explosive success Nirvana would achieve in the years that followed.
Origins and Release
“Bleach” was recorded at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, produced by Jack Endino, and funded with a mere $606.17—a humble beginning for a band that would later change the face of rock music. The album, including “Blew,” was released on June 15, 1989, under the independent label Sub Pop. While Nirvana was still finding its footing, Bleach captured the raw energy of Seattle’s underground scene and laid the foundation for the grunge movement.
Musical Style and Structure
“Blew” is a dark, sludgy, and heavy track, driven by Krist Novoselic’s deep, grinding bassline and Kurt Cobain’s anguished, almost claustrophobic vocals. The song is built around powerful, bending guitar riffs that feel both hypnotic and suffocating, mirroring the song’s themes of entrapment and frustration. Chad Channing’s steady, pounding drums give the song an unrelenting force, making it one of the heaviest tracks on Bleach.
Lyrical Meaning and Themes
Lyrically, “Blew” is abstract yet deeply personal, embodying feelings of confinement, inevitability, and existential dread—all recurring themes in Cobain’s songwriting. The lines “If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to breathe” and “I think I’m dumb” suggest a struggle with control and a sense of being trapped in one’s own reality. While the exact inspiration for the song remains uncertain, many interpret it as an expression of Cobain’s discontent with his surroundings, personal demons, and an uncertain future.
Impact and Legacy
Though never released as a single, “Blew” has endured as one of the standout tracks from Bleach, often included in Nirvana’s live performances. It was a staple of the band’s early concerts, even appearing in the legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged setlist, albeit in an altered form. The song’s intensity, moody atmosphere, and Cobain’s signature blend of melody and aggression foreshadowed the revolutionary impact Nirvana would soon have on music.
As one of the earliest glimpses into Cobain’s songwriting genius, “Blew” stands as a powerful precursor to Nirvana’s later, more refined grunge anthems, capturing the band at a time when they were still raw, unfiltered, and on the verge of something groundbreaking.
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Lyrics
Now if you wouldn’t mind, I would like it blewAnd if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to loseAnd if you wouldn’t care, I would like to leaveAnd if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to breatheIs there another reason for your stain?Could you believe who we knew stress or strain?Here is another word that rhymes with shameAnd if you wouldn’t mind, I would like it blewAnd if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to loseAnd if you wouldn’t care, I would like to leaveAnd if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to breatheIs there another reason for your stain?Could you believe who we knew stress or strain?Here is another word that rhymes with shame, yeahIs there another reason for your stain?Could you believe who we knew stress or strain?Here is another word that rhymes with shame, ahYou could do anything, you could do anythingYou could do anything, you could do anythingYou could do anything, you could do anythingYou could do anything, you could do anything