Negative Creep by Nirvana

Album: Bleach (1989)

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Songfacts®:

This is about an individual who always looks down on things. Said Kurt Cobain: "I just always saw myself as a negative person."
Velvet Revolver covered this on the B-side to their first single, "Slither." They also frequently play the song live. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Matt - Millbrae, CA, for above 2
Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme told Rolling Stone magazine: "The first time I heard Bleach, I remember turning to my friends and saying, 'We gotta start writing better songs.' Listening to 'Negative Creep' and 'School' and 'Love Buzz,' I thought there were three different singers in the band. It was a total perspective-changer – it definitely ripped a sheet of paper off of my mental notepad. A couple of years later, I got an advance copy of Nevermind. I was raised on Black Flag and the Cramps; I had always thought, 'This is the best s--t ever, and no one's going to listen to it.' Nevermind proved that I was completely wrong about that. I was so stoked." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Steve Fisk, a producer on Nirvana's Blew EP, has a different theory about the tune's origin that involves Cobain's then-girlfriend Tracy Marander. He told Everett True, author of Nirvana: The Biography: "I got told it was about the guy who lived across the street from the duplex and would come over when Kurt was gone to try to smoke Tracy out."
Dee Dee Ramone covered this for the 2001 multi-artist album Smells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute to Nirvana.

Comments: 18

Kurdt9999 from U.kWhat does the drone part mean?
Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganYou guys are reading way too much into it. It's just a song about Kurt being a real negative dude. Like Austin from Smallville said, most of the lyrics for Bleach were written right before they recorded and don't really mean all that much.
Diana from Colorado I feel this song has me thinking it’s about how a young girl grows into an adult and becomes more aware of her body and sexuality and gets down and dirty on camera and the people seeing it are a “negative creep” for sexually objectifying women. I just always thought Kurt was talking about pornography and how women are mistreated in the adult industry. The lyrics “Daddy’s little girl ain’t a girl no more” talking about women who were once little girls, pure and innocent turned into pornstars.
Laure from GrasseThere’s nothing to much to read into here it’s about a girl that’s being sexually abused and he’s not a creep but he’s stoned almost all his songs are on the same topic about a young girl /teenager who’s being sold, drugged and gang raped but he’s not like them he can pretend
Jc from Seattle I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion about the “Daddy’s little girl isn’t a girl no more” line. I feel Kurt was abused as a child by (a) male relative(s) not to mention “Rape Me”. There are many references in Kurts lyrics to sexual abuse. Feel sad that he was so tortured while he was here. Glad to have so much video available of his time here. Also happy and privileged to have seen Nirvanas first show in Seattle. Seeing that raw talent one knew they would rise to the top.
Zero from The Abyss, NjThis song was criticized at the time for having lyrics too similar to Mudhoney's "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More". (the chorus)
Zero from Nowhere, NjActually, the vocals seem kind of Lemmy-ish.
Sky from Blue Springs, MoThis song is about the girl he almost had sex with in high school that was said to be mentally retarted. in the chorus he refers to the word "stoned" simply because he was high at the time. thus implying the verse "this is out of my reach (x3) gone". if you listen to it from this perspective you will know. the verse "daddy's little girl aint a girl no more" also confirms this. the repetition of "negative creep" throughout the song further confirms this.
Santiago from Cordoba, ArgentinaI personally think this song is about kurt and his confused sexuality, remember that in high school kurt was called gay and related to a femenine boy....daddy little girl aint a girl no more

R.I.P KURT where ever you are
Layton from Paris, TxSounds nothing like Motorhead.
Mac from San Jose, CaDon't this song seem a tad bit[very much] Motorheady to anyone else?

I remember the 1st time hearing it and wondering if Kurt was trying to channel Lemmy.
Chris from Ontario, Canadakiller freaking killer whale of a song lol
Austin from Smallsville,new England, --This song has no meaning what so ever. Kurt said that most of the lyrics for bleach were written right before the recording.
Nezmeat from Nashville, TnYes, Kurt wasn't married to Courtney yet when bleach was released. It wasn't until after they were married that they had a daughter.
Anonymousjust to clear it up he didn't have a daughter at the time they released the song.

The "daddy's little girl..." part is definitely just one of those filler lines he had lying around and decided to throw it in there, he does that very often(a lot of songwriters do actually). i don't see how there can be a real significance to this line.
Nikhil from Rome, Italyawsome song, one of my favourites
No_id_please from Hippy Town, Coit really shows how someone can feel distanced from there daughter, maby kurt felt this way. "daddys little girl aint a girl no more" he probly knows how hard it is to undertand kids.....
Nick from Kingston, AustraliaThis is an awsome song then played live go to youtube and watch it live its sweet

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