The composition Lounge Act from the album Nevermind by the American grunge band Nirvana remained in the shadow of more successful tracks from this disc. It was not released as a single and is traditionally not included in the ratings of the best works of Nirvana. But who would dare to say that the song is unworthy to take a place on such a wonderful disc of the legendary band.
The story of the creation & meaning of the song Lounge Act by Nirvana
Let’s start disassembling the song with a strange name that has nothing to do with the text. It comes from the bass riff played by Krist Novoselic in the beginning. The musicians thought that the break sounded like a lounge-style intro to the song (which is certainly a very controversial statement), so they decided to call it that.
Rolling Stone magazine suggested that Lounge Act was about a guy who is torn between a girl and a band. Allegedly, Kurt personally encountered a similar problem when he met with Tracy Marander. But it seems that the composition is dedicated to the wrong one of his former lover. And the choice between rehearsals and dates is also clearly out of the question.
Cobain’s biography Heavier Than Heaven (by Charles R. Cross) cites an unsent letter from the band’s frontman to Toby Weil of Bikini Kill. It says:
Not all the songs on the record are about you. No, I’m not your boyfriend. No, I don’t write songs about you, except for Lounge Act, which I don’t play unless my wife is around.
Krist Novoselic also confirmed that the song refers to Toby. He also explained that the shield mentioned in the song refers to the tattoo with the K Records logo (a shield with the letter K) depicted on Cobain’s arm.
Release and achievements
The song became the ninth track on the Nevermind album. It didn’t chart, and the music video for Lounge Act was not filmed.
Interesting Facts
- Many believe that the phrase “I still smell her on you” refers listeners to the song Smells Like Teen Spirit.
- Krist Novoselic has admitted that he was influenced by Shocking Blue, and his Lounge Act break is suspiciously reminiscent of the bass guitar part from Send Me a Postcard.
- The members of Nirvana took a long time deciding how to end the song, and decided to just slow down the tempo.
Lounge Act Lyrics by Nirvana
Truth covered in security
I can’t let you mother me
I’d like to but it wouldn’t work
Trading off and taking turns
I don’t regret a thing
And I’ve got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I’ll arrest myself, I’ll wear a shield
I’ll go out of my way to prove I still
Smell her on you
Don’t tell me what I wanna hear
Afraid of never knowing fear
Experience anything you need
I’ll keep fighting jealousy
Until it’s f***ing gone
And I’ve got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I’ll arrest myself, I’ll wear a shield
I’ll go out of my way to prove I still
Smell her on you
Truth covered in security
I can’t let you mother me
I’d like to but it couldn’t work
Trading off and taking turns
I don’t regret a thing
And I’ve got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I’ll arrest myself, I’ll wear a shield
I’ll go out of my way to make you a deal
We’ve made a pact to learn from who
Ever we want without new rules
And we’ll share what’s lost and what we grew
They’ll go out of their way
to prove they still
Smell her on you
they still
Smell her on you
Smell her on you
Lyrics of Lounge Act by Nirvana Alternate
Truth hidden for safety
I can’t let you choke me
I don’t mind but nothing will come of it
Trade the past and switch places
I don’t regret anything
I, as you know, have a girlfriend,
that makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I will delay myself, I will carry a shield
I will try my best to prove that I am still
I can smell her from you
Don’t tell me what I want to hear
Afraid to never know fear
Experience everything you need
I will continue to fight jealousy
Until she f***ing disappears
I, as you know, have a girlfriend,
that makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I will delay myself, I will carry a shield
I will try my best to prove that I am still
I can smell her from you
Truth hidden for safety
I can’t let you choke me
I don’t mind but nothing will come of it
Trade the past and switch places
I don’t regret anything
You know I have a girlfriend
that makes me feel and I
Wanted more than I could steal
I will delay myself, I will carry a shield
I will try my best to negotiate with you
We made an agreement that we would learn
Who we want, without new rules
And we’ll share what’s lost and what’s gained
They will try their best
To prove that still
Smell her from you
He is still
Smell her from you
Smell her from you
