Courtney Love shares Kurt Cobain’s alternate lyrics for “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Courtney Love joined The Ringer’s Rob Harvilla for the latest episode of his 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s podcast to discuss Nirvana’s 1991 mega-hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” On Tuesday’s two-hour, 40-minute episode, she said she became a fan of the show after hearing Rob’s episode on her own 1991 Hole hit “Doll Parts” and couldn’t resist coming on to discuss her late husband's Kurt Cobain’s most classic cut.

Among other revelations, Love disclosed some of the early lines that didn’t make the song’s final cut. “Some of these were in these journals, and some of them are unpublished,” she explained, before detailing two alternate parts of the song. See the lyrics below, via Line of Best Fit, and keep scrolling for the full “Smells Like Teen Spirit” episode of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s.

VERSE
Come out and play
Make up the rules
I know I hope to buy the truth
Who will be the king and queen of all the outcasted teens?

CHORUS
We’re so lazy and so stupid
Blame our parents and the cupids
A deposit for a bottle
Stick it inside, no role model

VERSE
We merge ahead, this special day
This day giving amnesty to sacrilege

CHORUS
A denial, and from strangers
A revival, and from favors
Here we are now, we’re so famous
Here we are now, entertain us