“Something in the Way” is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, from their second studio album, “Nevermind,” released in 1991. The song was written by Kurt Cobain, the band’s frontman in 1990, and it carries a haunting and introspective tone. It is believed that the song reflects Cobain’s feelings of isolation, alienation, and despair, which were recurring themes in his songwriting.
The Deeper Meaning of ‘Something In The Way’ Lyrics
In the first verse, Cobain vividly paints a picture of desolation and detachment. The bridge becomes a metaphorical refuge, symbolizing isolation from the world, while the leaking tarp signifies vulnerability and the permeation of adversity into one’s sheltered existence. The mention of trapped animals turned pets hints at a desperate attempt to find companionship even in the bleakest circumstances, suggesting the yearning for connection despite feeling trapped and withdrawn.
The lyrics depict a sense of helplessness and homelessness, with lines like “Underneath the bridge, the tarp has sprung a leak / And the animals I’ve trapped, all become my pets.” These lines suggest a life lived on the fringes of society, perhaps symbolizing the struggle and hardships faced by those living on the streets or struggling with mental health issues.
The second verse delves deeper into the narrator’s desperate survival in this desolate space. Living off grass and ceiling drippings hints at the scarcity of resources and the resignation to make do with whatever is available. The line “It’s okay to eat fish cause they don’t have any feelings” can be interpreted as a reflection of emotional numbing – a coping mechanism developed to withstand the harsh realities of life. It conveys a sense of disconnection from empathy, perhaps a way of dealing with pain and hardship.
The chorus is hauntingly repetitive, echoing the essence of the song’s title. It conveys a sense of something unexplainable, an indefinable burden or emotion that pervades the narrator’s existence. The use of humming sounds, in contrast to explicit lyrics, adds to the song’s mysterious allure, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in their own interpretations of this unnamed emotion. “It’s okay to eat fish ’cause they don’t have any feelings,” has been interpreted as a commentary on the numbness and detachment Cobain might have felt during his difficult times, as well as a reflection on the notion of being desensitized to pain and suffering.
Story behind ‘Something In The Way’
the earliest known version of the song was a solo electric demo that appeared in a medley alongside two other abandoned compositions, “You Can’t Change Me” and “Burn My Britches.” This medley was first released on the Cobain compilation album, “Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings,” in November 2015, which accompanied the Brett Morgen documentary “Montage of Heck.”
According to director Brett Morgen, the medley in which “Something in the Way” emerged was almost like a rock opera, providing insight into Cobain’s creative process and the evolution of the song. Morgen revealed that the track might have undergone an edit, but it was close to a continuous take.
The first live performance of “Something in the Way” occurred on November 25, 1990, at The Off Ramp Café in Seattle.
The studio recording of “Something in the Way” for the album “Nevermind” took place in May 1991 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. Initially, Cobain intended to record the song’s instruments with the full band. However, this approach didn’t yield the desired results. Instead, Cobain played the song on an acoustic guitar for producer Butch Vig in the control room of Studio A to demonstrate how he wanted it to sound.
Impressed with Cobain’s solo rendition, Butch Vig decided to record the song this way. He turned off the air-conditioning and unplugged the telephone in the control room to eliminate background noise. The recording started with Cobain’s guitar and vocals, capturing the core of the song. The first vocal take was used for the verses. Cobain then added vocal harmonies, and Dave Grohl (drums) and Krist Novoselic (bass) contributed their parts.
However, recording with the full band presented some challenges. Both Grohl and Novoselic found it difficult to play in time with Cobain’s gentle and understated performance. Novoselic, in particular, had trouble tuning his bass to Cobain’s unique 12-string Stella acoustic guitar, which had five nylon guitar strings that Cobain had never tuned conventionally. To maintain the song’s gentle mood, Grohl had to adjust and play more quietly than he was used to.
In the final stages of recording “Something in the Way,” Kirk Canning, a friend of the band who they had met through L7, added cello to the recording. Even this additional instrumentation faced difficulties in tuning to Cobain’s unconventional guitar.
Watch: Nirvana – ‘Something In The Way’
Listen now: Nirvana – ‘Something In The Way’
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