Aberdeen

Album: Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This spoken-word story is from the deluxe edition of Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, the soundtrack to the film Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. The monologue finds Cobain telling a tale of his discovery of marijuana as a young teen and his failed attempt to lose his virginity to a special-needs girl from school. The shame of this dirty deed then leads him to lie down on a railroad track in a failed suicide attempt.
  • The movie, which reveals unexplored areas of Kurt Cobain's life was directed by American documentary film director, producer and social commentator, Brett Morgen. He responded to the criticism of Buzz Osborne – a member of Washington band the Melvins and a close friend to the Nirvana frontman – that the inclusion of "Aberdeen" is as an example of how the film was "total bulls--t."

    "I was surprised, because the genius of that story is that it's a piece of art - it's a very clearly performed and constructed narrative," he told NME. "Did Kurt have sex with that particular woman? I doubt it - it's a story, like 'Floyd The Barber' is a story."

    "But it reflects Kurt's experiences of life," Morgen continued. "I've never publicly said this, but I'm fairly confident that it's an origin story Kurt was metaphorically disguising, because one of his earliest sexual experiences was clearly incredibly humiliating and shameful to him, and that's what it reflects. I'm also pretty confident that Buzz does not know what the real origin story is. When you start to get into Kurt's art and try to deconstruct it for fact, you miss the point of it."
  • Aberdeen is located in Grays Harbor County, Washington. It is the birthplace and hometown of Kurt Cobain.

Comments: 1

  • Nikaz from AberdeenWow you’re totally off. How did you get sex outta a town in Washington State?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?