Paper Cuts

Album: Bleach

When I'm feeling tired
She pushed food through the door
And I crawl towards the crack of light
Sometimes I can't find my way
Newspapers spread around
Soaking all that they can 
A cleaning is due again
--a good hosing down

The lady whom I feel maternal love for
Cannot look me in the eyes
But I see hers and they are blue
And they cock and twist and masturbate

I said so
Nirvana

Black windows of paint
I scratched with my nails
I see others just like me
Why do they not try to escape?
They bring out the older ones
They point in my way
They come with a flash of light
And take my family away

And very later I have learned to
Accept some friends of ridicule
My whole existence is for your amusement
And that is why I'm here with you!
To take you with me
You're right
Nirvana


Pennyroyal Tea

Album: In Utero, Unplugged

I'm on my time with everyone
I have very bad posture

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
Sit and drink Pennyroyal tea
I'm anemic royalty

Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm a liar and a thief

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty
I'm on warm milk and laxatives
Cherry-flavored antacids


Plateau

Album: Unplugged

Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau
Some belong to strangers and some to folks you know
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
To beautify the foothills and shake the many hands

The nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don't be scared
Who needs action when you got words

When you've finished with the mop then you can stop
And look at what you've done
The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work it took was fun

Well the many hands began to scan around for the next plateau
Some said it was in Greenland and some in Mexico
Some decided it was nowhere except for where they stood
But they were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could


Polly

Album: Nevermind, Incesticide [as "(New Wave) Polly"], Unplugged, 
Wishkah

Polly wants a cracker
Think I should get off of her first
I think she wants some water
To put out the blow torch

It isn't me 
We have some seed
Let me clip
Your dirty wings
Let me take a ride
Don't hurt yourself
I want some help
To help myself
I've got some rope
You have been told
I promise you
I have been true
Let me take a ride
Don't hurt yourself
I want some help
To help myself

Polly wants a cracker
Maybe she would like more food
She asks me to untie her
A chase would be nice for a few

Polly says her back hurts
And she's just as bored as me
She caught me off my guard
It amazes me, the will of instinct


Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

Album: In Utero

Use just once and destroy
Invasion of our piracy
Afterbirth of a nation
Starve without your skeleton key

I love you for what I am not
I do not want what I have got
A blanket acne'ed with ciggarette burns
Speak at once while taking turns
Second-rate third degree burns
What is wrong with me
What is what I need
What do I think I think

This had nothing to do with what you think
If you ever think at all
Bi-polar opposites attract
All of a sudden my water broke

Hate, hate your enemies
Save, save your friends
Find, find your place
Speak, speak the truth


Rape Me

Album: In Utero

Rape me, my friend
Rape me again

I'm not the only one 

Hate me
Do it and do it again.

Waste me
Taste me, my friend.

My favorite inside source
I'll kiss your open sores
Appreciate your concern
You'll always stink and burn


Scentless Apprentice

Album: In Utero, Wishkah

Like most babies smell like butter
his smell smelled like no other
he was born scentless and senseless
he was born a scentless apprentice

Go away - get away, get away, get a-way
every wet nurse refused to feed him
electrolytes smell like semen

I promise not to sell your perfumed secrets
there are countless formulas for pressing flowers

I lie in the soll and fertilize mushrooms
Leaking out gas fumes are made into perfume

You can't fire me because I quit
Throw me in the fire and I won't throw a fit


School

Album: Bleach, Wishkah

Won't you believe it
It's just my luck

No recess

You're in high school again


Scoff

Album: Bleach

In my eyes
I'm not lazy
In my face
It's not over
In your room
I'm not older
In your eyes
I'm not worth it
Gimme back my alcohol

Give me all your... 


Serve the Servants

Album: In Utero

Teenage angst has paid off well
Now I'm bored and old
Self-Appointed judges judge
More than they have sold

If she floats than she is not
A witch like we had thought
A down payment on another
One at salem's lot

Serve the servants - Oh no
That legendary divorce is such a bore

As my bones grew they did hurt
They hurt really bad
I tried hard to have a father
But instead I had a dad

I just want you to know that I
Don't hate you anymore
there is nothing I could say
that I haven't thought before

Serve the servants - oh no
That legendary divorce is such a bore


Sifting

Album: Bleach

Afraid to grade
Wouldn't it be fun?
Cross, self loss	
Wouldn't it be fun?
Wet your bed
Wouldn't it be fun?
Some fear none	      [Sun felt numb]	
Wouldn't it be fun?

Your eyes... Teacher said,
Your eyes... Preacher said,
"Don't have nothing for you"

Spell the smell
Wouldn't it be fun?
Search for church
Wouldn't it be fun?
Wet your bed
Wouldn't it be fun?
Cold in gold		[Cold in coals]
Wouldn't it be fun?


Sliver

Album: Incesticide, Wishkah

Mom and dad went to a show
they dropped me off at Grandpa Joe's
I kicked and screamed, said please, don't go

	Grandma take me home
	I wanna be alone

Had to eat my dinner there
Mashed potatos and stuff like that
I couldn't chew my meats too good

She said, well, don't you start your crying
Go outside and ride your bike
thats what I did, I killed my toe

after dinner, I had ice cream
fell asleep, and watched TV
woke up in my mother's arms

	Grandma take me home
	I wanna be alone


Smells Like Teen Spirit

Album: Nevermind, Wishkah

Load up on guns and bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

hello, hello, hello, how low?

With the lights out it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My Libido
Yay, a denial


Something In The Way

Album: Nevermind, Unplugged

Underneath the bridge
The tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
But it's ok to eat fish
'Cause they haven't any feelings

Something in the way


Son of A Gun

Album: Incesticide, Hormoaning EP

Up up up and down
Turn turn turnaround
Round round roundabout
And over again
Gun gun son of a gun
You are the only one
Makes any difference what I say
The sun shines in the bedroom
When we play
The raining always starts
When you go away


Spank Thru

Album: Sub-Pop-200 Compilation, Wishkah

This song is for lovers out there
And the little lights in the trees
And all the flowers have gingivitis [and the flowers sing in D minor]
And the birds fly happily
We're together once again my love

I need you back, oh baby baby
I can't explain just why we lost it from the start
Living without you girl, you'll only break my heart...

I can feel it I can hold it I can rub it I can shape it 
I can mold it I can cut it I can taste it I can spank it
Beat it Masterbate it

I been looking for days now
Always hearing the same ol'
City boy won't you spank thru?
I can make it do things you won't think it ever could


Stain

Album: Incesticide

Well he never bleeds and he never fucks
And he never leaves 'cause he's got bad luck.
Well he never reads and he never draws
And he never sleeps 'cause he's got bad blood yeah
I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain


Stay Away

Album: Nevermind

Monkey see, monkey do
I don't know why I'd rather be dead than cool
Every line ends in rhyme
Less is more, love is blind
Stay away
Give an inch, take a smile
Fashion shits, fashion style
Throw it out and keep it in
Have to have poison skin
Stay away

God is gay


Swap Meet

Album: Bleach

They lead a lifetime that is comfortable
They travel far to keep their stomachs full
They make their living off of arts and crafts
They kind with seashells driftwood and burlap
They make a deal when they come to town
The Sunday swap meet is a battle ground
She loves him more than he will ever know
He loves her more than he will ever show
--Keeps his cigarettes close to his heart
--Keeps her photographs close to her heart
--Keeps the bitterness close to the heart