Smells Like Teen Spirit – English Lyrics

• By: Nirvana
• Album: Nevermind (30th Anniversary Edition)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"! This iconic grunge anthem not only redefined rock music but also serves as a vibrant window into the slang, sentiments, and counter-culture expressions of the 90s. Its impactful lyrics and dynamic shifts offer a unique opportunity to explore English colloquialisms and the emotional vocabulary used to convey disillusionment and rebellion, making it an engaging song for language learners.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are fired by explosive force
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - be deprived of or cease to have (something)
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ B1	verb - behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not
bored /bɔːrd/ A2	adjective - feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity
assured /əˈʃʊərd/ B2	adjective - self-confident and relaxed
dirty /ˈdɜːrti/ A2	adjective - soiled or impure
word /wɜːrd/ A1	noun - a unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
dangerous /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ B1	adjective - able or likely to cause harm or injury
entertain /ˌentərˈteɪn/ B1	verb - provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment
stupid /ˈstuːpɪd/ B1	adjective - having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense
contagious /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ B2	adjective - spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact
libido /lɪˈbiːdəʊ/ C1	noun - sexual drive
gift /ɡɪft/ A2	noun - something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
blessed /blest/ B2	adjective - made holy; consecrated.
taste /teɪst/ A2	verb - perceive or experience the flavor of
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - form one's features into a smile
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
denial /dɪˈnaɪəl/ C1	noun - the action of denying something

Key Grammar Structures

• LOAD UP ON GUNS, BRING YOUR FRIENDS

  ➔ Imperative mood (command/instruction)

  ➔ The verbs "load" and "bring" are used in their base form, directly addressing the listener and instructing them to perform an action. There is no explicit subject because it is implied to be "you".

• IT'S FUN TO LOSE AND TO PRETEND

  ➔ It + be + adjective + to infinitive (Dummy subject)

  ➔ "It's fun" is a common construction where "it" is a dummy subject, and the real subject is the infinitive phrase "to lose and to pretend".

• SHE'S OVER-BORED AND SELF-ASSURED

  ➔ Adjective formation with prefixes (over-, self-)

  ➔ "Over-bored" and "self-assured" are adjectives created using prefixes to modify the base words. "Over-" indicates excess, and "self-" indicates something done by oneself or relating to oneself.

• WITH THE LIGHTS OUT, IT'S LESS DANGEROUS

  ➔ Comparative adjective (less + adjective)

  ➔ "Less dangerous" uses "less" to indicate a smaller degree of danger, forming a comparative.

• HERE WE ARE NOW, ENTERTAIN US

  ➔ Imperative mood (command/request)

  ➔ "Entertain" is in the imperative form, directly commanding or requesting the listener to provide entertainment. The subject "you" is implied.

• I'M WORSE AT WHAT I DO BEST

  ➔ Superlative of adjectives with irregular forms (worse)

  ➔ "Worse" is the comparative form of "bad". The line plays on the paradox that the speaker is at their *worst* at what they do *best*, implying a high level of self-deprecation.

• AND FOR THIS GIFT I FEEL BLESSED

  ➔ Passive voice (feel blessed)

  ➔ "I feel blessed" uses the passive participle "blessed" to indicate that the speaker is the recipient of the blessing. They are not actively blessing something, but are being blessed.

• OH WELL, WHATEVER, NEVER MIND

  ➔ Interjections and Ellipsis (omission of words)

  ➔ The phrase consists of interjections expressing indifference or resignation. Ellipsis is present because complete sentences are not used; words are implied.