Been A Son by Nirvana

Album: Blew (1989)

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Songfacts®:

"Been A Son" is a semi-autobiographical account of a father who wanted a son instead of his daughter. Kurt Cobain claimed his dad never wanted to have Kurt's sister, or at least wanted her to be a boy.
The song was first released on Nirvana's 1989 EP Blew (Chad Channing was their drummer at the time). In 1992, after the band blew up, it was included on their compilation Incesticide, and in 1996 was part of the From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah live album. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Matt - Millbrae, CA, for above 2
There was a bass solo in an earlier mix of this song, but Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic was disappointed with the sound and it was cut before being replaced with a guitar solo. The bass solo is just the same note for note as the main bass riff of the song, but played with distortion. >>>
Suggestion credit:
JT - Tullahoma, TN

Comments: 15

Sully from Pittsburgh, PaWhat an awesome song
Alex From Nsk from RussiaThis song about Jesus Christ
Nick from Fresh Meadows, Nyyeah those songs dont really mean anything bad. just look at it this way, that album was very different from his others, because those songs, been a son, mollys lips, son of a gun... where very different from his usual grundge sounding music with the guitar whaling and screatching voice, but all those songs came out very good, so that goes to show he was versatile, in fact there are some sogs on some albums where he changes his voice so much you cant even tell its him.
Layton from Paris, TxIn Christopher Sandfords biography of Kurt Cobain it said Kurt Cobain wrote this as a protest to all women in the world and how everyone wants a son instead of a daughter. Kurt was a huge feminist and put it into his songwriting. Rape Me is another protest for women.
Johnny from Pittsburgh, Pathis song is about kurt's sister who is actually a lesbian and wasa bit of a tomboy. and it is true kurt's father never wanted a daughter.
Defri from Samarinda, Indonesiasimple lyrics but it has complicated perception...
Mike from Albany, NyAleah, I think you are probably confusing this tune with "Son of a Gun" - that song, along with "Molly's Lips", are the two Vaselines covers that Nirvana included on the Incesticide compilation. "Been a Son" is credited to Cobain and Novoselic, and the lyrics are Cobain at his best.
Aleah from New Kensington, ScOk, from my knowledge 'Been a Son' was accually written by a Scottish band called The Vasilines, Nirvana just did a cover of it. That does not make it any less of a song, Nirvana was probaly equal too, if not better. That song has so much meaning, I can relate to the scenerio of parents wanting me to be a son. It is a deeper song than most think.
Kaycee from Houston, Txkurt looked like his dad
Kelsey from Evansville, InThis is one of my favorite Nirvana songs. Its catchy and its lyrics are good. To me you have to disect each word of all of Kurts lyrics to find the true meaning behind the song.
Stacey from Dundalk, MdI love this song it describes just how I felt as a young girl. Unwanted.
James from Edwardsville, Ilyeah, it's a good'n
Flo from Toulouse, FranceThat song is one of my Nirvana's favourites. Great rhythm !!!
Liz from The Town That Never Sleeps, NvIt wasnt that it was obscure. i think no one posted because they really didnt get it. You have to be a fan to understand kinda thing.
Jordan from Shokan, Nyi guess this song is a wee bit obscure. nobody posted. check it out people.

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