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If You Must

Status
Nirvana Song


Song Author
Kurt Cobain


Writing Period
1988


Recording Session(s)
January 23, 1988 - Reciprocal Studios {prod by Jack Endino}


Notes
Kurt really hated this song, which is probably why it wasn't released. It seems that there have been some confusion between this song and Token Eastern Song.

In a letter to Dale Crover, published in Kurt Cobain's Journals, Kurt elaborates on why he hates 'If You Must':

"The first song on the demo is no longer played it is sickening and dumb. Destroy it it is evil. In the likes of Whitesnake and bon jovi."

Journals, page 2



 
Availability


Alternate/Working Titles
None Documented


Common Mislabels
The Extreme
I Can't Live
Token Middle Eastern Song
Token Eastern Song


Mislabels in the Bootography
Happy Hour
Happy Hour (2)
Happy Tour
I Can Live
Pen Cop Chew (Take2)
The Extreme
Unknown


Lyrics
Transcribed from official lyric sheets available at emplive.com by Chris Lawrence, and sequenced to best reflect the vocals on the 1/23/88 demo. In instances where the sung lyrics clearly do not match the written lyrics, an approximation has been made and these unofficial lyrics are detailed in capital letters.

IF YOU MUST

I can read, I can write
I can breed, proven plight
Nurse my greed, crease infold
Is it me, or my ego?

Write some words, make them rhyme
Thesis or storyline
Set the mood, something new
Is it me, or my attitude?

If you want to put off an image
The extremes, the extremes
Act it out, practicing, perfecting
Pressuring on to me, on to me, on to me ooohh

I will wait in a phyllum
To explain your asylum
I am tired analyzing
We've compared all our sizings you must

I speak to hear my voice

I can read, I can write
I can breed, proven plight
Nurse my greed, crease infold
Is it me, or my ego?

Write some words, make them rhyme
Thesis or storyline
Set the mood, something new
Is it me, or my attitude?

If you want to put off an image
The extremes, the extremes
Act it out, practicing, perfecting
Pressuring on to me, on to me, on to me
On to me, on to me, on to me, on to me oooh



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