Kurt Cobain Started This Nirvana Track as a Love Song, but It Was a Breakup Anthem by the Time He Was Done

The song “About a Girl” from Nirvana’s first studio album, Bleach, released in 1989, was about a specific girl: Tracy Marander. Kurt Cobain wrote the song after Marander had asked if he might not have anything to say regarding her or their relationship in a song. The song may have been a love song at first; however, by the time Cobain began crafting the song “About a Girl,” the couple started breaking apart.

Tracy Marander Is the Girl in “About a Girl”

Cobain met Marander through Buzz Osbourne, a member of the Melvins. In late 1986, Cobain began spending much of his time in Olympia, Washington. In Olympia, students of Evergreen College often supported smaller, underground bands. Which meant it was a good place for bands such as the Melvins and Fecal Matter, Cobain’s first band, which Osbourne was also a part of.

The Rise and Fall of Cobain and Marander’s Relationship

Marander was an acquaintance of the Melvins, leading to her and Cobain colliding. By September 1987, Cobain had moved out of his apartment to live with Marander in her apartment at 114 North Pear Street. The couple fell deeply in love with one another; however, after both sharing a roof, it was not long before the relationship began to crumble.

Marander always supported Cobain’s artistic choices and his path as a musician; however, she did not enjoy his inability to pay the rent or help with other domestic responsibilities. When Marander would suggest that he find other employment to help with rent, Cobain would often respond by saying he could move out and live in his car.

The lyrics in “About a Girl”, “But I can’t see you every night / Free (I do)” are referring to how Marander wanted Cobain to help with rent. Cobain clearly painted the situation, saying he could not see her for free, which is what he preferred.

After the release of Bleach in 1989, Cobain and Marander had an on-and-off-again dynamic. It was a very unhealthy relationship, which led Marander to move out of the 114 North Pear Street apartment. Cobain stayed and took in Dave Grohl as a roommate.

Despite the messy relationship, Marander holds a strong tie to the band and the album Bleach. Not only is “About a Girl” about her, but she also took the photo that ultimately became the album cover.

Marander did not know she was the girl in the song until she read the book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana by Michael Azerrad, published in 1993.