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Heart-Shaped Box

Status
Nirvana Song


Song Author
Kurt Cobain


Writing Period


Recording Session(s)
October 26, 1992 - Word of Mouth Studios, with Jack Endino

March 1993 - Pachyderm Studios recorded by Steve Albini

(Television) September 25, 1993 - NBC Studios NYC "Saturday Night Live Rehearsals"


Notes
The lyrics manage to convey complex themes of love and entrapment, and deal with aspects of Kurt Cobain's relationship with Courtney Love and his addiction to her and heroin.

According to Cobain's uncle by marriage, Larry Smith, the line: "Forever in debt to your priceless advice" was used by Cobain to piss off an aunt (Smith's sister) during arguments.


 
Availability


Alternate/Working Titles
None Documented


Common Mislabels
Heart-Shaped Coffin
Haight


Mislabels in the Bootography
Lithium
Shape Heart Box
Track 20
Wait


Lyrics
In Utero version (as they appear on the CD lyrics)

She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for a week
I was drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black

Hey
Wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hate
Haight
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey
Wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Cut myself on angel's hair and baby's breath
Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black
Throw down your umbillical noose so I can climb right back


1993.01.23 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (transcribed)

She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been buried in a heart-shaped box for two weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when I've been bad

Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice (x3)

I'm acting like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been buried in a heart-shaped coffin for weeks
We've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
Throw me down your umbilical noose so I can climb back

Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice (x3)

I'm acting like a Pisces when I am weak
I'm buried in your heart-shaped coffin for two weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
If you wanted many thing more than the fire

Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey - wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice (x3)



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

She eyes me like a piceas when I am weak
I've been buried in a Heart-Shaped box for weeks
You (?) in my magnetic tar pit trap
I wish I could catch your cancer when I am sick


Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice
Your advice...
Advice


And he eyes me like a piceas when i'm in weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped Box for weeks
(?) in your magnetic tar pit film (?) your trap
I wish I could catch your cancer when I am black

solo

Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice
Your advice...

She eyes me like a piceas when I am weak
I've been locked in Heart-Shaped coffins for too many weeks
You've drawn me into your magnetic tar pit trap
I wish I could kill your cancer when I am black

Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Hey, Wait, I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice
Your advice
Your advice...



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

she eyes me like a pisces when im weak
ive been in a heart shaped box for weeks
you drowned in my magnet tar pit trap
i wish i could get your cancer when i am sick

hey wait i got a new complaint
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
3x
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
your advice
your advice
your advice

she eyes me like a pisces when im weak
ive been in a heart shaped box for weeks
*kurt fucks this next line up*
i wish i could kiss your cancer when i am black/blind

hey wait i got a new complaint
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
3x
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
your advice
your advice
your advice

solo

She eyes me like a piceas when I am weak
ive been locked in heart shaped coffins for too many weeks
you draw me into your magnet tar pit trap
i wish i could kill your cancer when i am blind/black

hey wait i got a new complaint
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
3x
forever in debt to yr priceless advice
your advice
your advice
your advice


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