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Very Ape

Status
Nirvana Song


Song Author
Kurt Cobain


Writing Period
1993


Recording Session(s)
March 1993 - Pachyderm Studios recorded by Steve Albini


Notes
Possibly an attack on the stereotypical macho man.

Seems to be inspired by the Neil Young song "My My Hey Hey" (a.k.a. "Hey Hey My My"). This song contains the lyrics 'Out of the blue, and into the black' - which is awfully close to the "Very Ape" lyrics 'Out of the sky, into the dirt'.

A reference to the same song can be found in the last part of Kurt's suicide letter, as the phrase 'It's better to burn out than to fade away' is taken directly from the Neil Young song.


 
Availability


Alternate/Working Titles
Punky New Wave Number


Common Mislabels
Into The Fire - Into The Dirt


Mislabels in the Bootography
Into The Dirt


Lyrics
"In Utero" version

I am buried up to my neck in,
contradictionary flies
I take pride as the king of illiterature,
I'm very ape and very nice

If you ever need anything please don't,
hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive,
I've seen it all, I was here first

Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt

If you ever need anything please don't
hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all I was here first

Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground

Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt




1993.01.22 Rio Sessions interpretations:

Note: The lyrics for this version of the song are more or less improvised by Kurt as he sings the song. There is no official lyric sheet available for this particular version and many words are hard to make out. Listed below are interpretations made by DN members to give an idea of what the lyrics might be:


1993.01.22 Rio Sessions, Interpretation 1 (by DN member Rocky)

What's the matter with your t-shirt,
What's the matter with your life?
It's a lie, that's what I tell my friend,
I don't blame, I don't mind

I'm so tired of being new wave,
it's the only thing I know
I can look for all their bootlegs
I never fight, I never know

(break)



1993.01.22 Rio Sessions, Interpretation 2 (by DN member Rocky)

What's the matter with your (bootleg)
What's better to die or lie?
She probably has no/a new boyfriend
I don't blame, I don't try

It's a ___ ___ I tell my friend,
(He would never) have listened good
It's a lie that I tell my friend
I never blame, I never (mind)


Refrain/Outro

I don't fight, I don't try
I don't fight, I don't know why . .

I don't lie, I don't mind
I don't lie, I don't know why . .



1993.01.22 Rio Sessions, Interpretation 3 (by DN member Kage)

What's the matter with your Jesus?
What's the matter with your life?
Its the light of my dumb ??????
Out of my?????

I pretend that Im being new wave
Its the only thing I know
I give up on all their defects
Out of ????? Out of control

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