Swap Meet

Album: Bleach (1989)
Play Video
  • They lead a lifestyle that is comfortable
    They travel far to keep their stomachs full
    They make their living off of arts and crafts
    They kind with seashells driftwood and burlap
    They make a deal when they come to town
    The Sunday swap meet is a battle ground
    She loves him more than he will ever know
    He loves her more than he will ever show

    Keeps his cigarettes close to his heart
    Keeps her photographs close to her heart
    Keeps the bitterness close to the heart

    They lead a lifestyle that is comfortable
    They travel far to keep their stomachs full
    They make their living off of arts and crafts
    The kind with seashells, driftwood and burlap
    They make a deal when they come to town
    The Sunday swap meet is a battle ground
    She loves him more than he would ever know
    He loves her more than he would ever show

    Keeps his cigarettes close to his heart
    Keeps her photographs close to her heart
    Keep the bitterness close to the heart

    They lead a lifestyle that is comfortable
    They travel far to keep their stomachs full
    They make their living off of arts and crafts
    The kind with seashells, driftwood and burlap
    They make a deal when they come to town
    The Sunday swap meet is a battle ground
    She loves her more than he would ever know
    He loves her more than he would ever show

    Keeps his cigarettes close to his heart
    Keeps her photographs close to her heart
    Keep the bitterness close to the heart Writer/s: Kurt Cobain
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Ceedubya from NcThe line "keeps his cigarettes close to his heart" makes me think about a man who carries his smokes in a pocket on the front of his shirt, or close to his heart. I think the song is probably about a couple that Kurt saw at a swap meet who stuck out to him for some reason, or maybe just about the type of people he saw there in general. He would write about anything. He cared more about writing a well crafted song than he did about deep lyrics. Yet a lot of his lyrics are really good
  • Jedi Master Baiter from DisneylandI think this song suffers from the name change. Had it been retained as "Swap Meat" it's interpretation would've changed entirely.
  • Rad Elane from NyFun fact: The lyrics in this song are in iambic pentameter.
  • Bronte from Sydney, Australiai thought it was about a couple in trouble.
    eg. "keeps the ciggereettes close to the heart.
    keeps the photograph close to her heart, keep the bitterness close to the heartt"
    LOVE this song.
    reminds me of my parents though.
  • Andreu from Homer, NyThis song is actually about what the title says a "swap meet" aka flea market, and the couple that sell their cratfs to make a comfortable living. As well as the wifes love for her husband and business/ crafts, and though he loves his wife he loves his smokes more.
  • Justme from Nyc, Nygreat song. one of my favs from bleach
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.