Paper Cuts

Album: Bleach (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This distortion-heavy song is based partly on a family who kept their kids locked up in the attic of their house in the band's hometown of Aberdeen, Washington. Kurt Cobain wrote it after reading the story in the news.

    In a 1989 interview, he explained that he actually knew one of the siblings: "His brother and sister were locked in a house and abused by their parents for years. They were treated as dogs for the first five or six years of their lives."
  • This is the only Nirvana song that mentions the word "nirvana" in the lyric - Kurt Cobain utters it a few times after the first verse and again at the end. In a 1989 UK radio interview, Cobain said the tune was written before the band actually called themselves Nirvana, and the lyric most likely inspired the name. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Millbrae, CA, for above 2
  • "Paper Cuts" is part of Nirvana's 1989 debut album, Bleach. Dave Grohl wasn't in the band yet; Chad Channing was their drummer. It got little attention when it was released, but after Nirvana broke through with their next album, Nevermind, it sold well over a million copies.
  • Musically, a likely influence on this song is the Swiss metal band Celtic Frost. Chad Channing was a big fan and played the Celtic Frost EP Morbid Tales on their tour bus. "Morbid Tales is one of the greatest metal records of all time," he told Songfacts. "I freaking love that record."

Comments: 4

  • Noodle from MinnesotaWhat’s the actually story like the name?
  • Layton from Paris, TxBleach is definitly my favorite Nirvana record, Negative Creep is my favorite off the album...but Paper Cuts is my second favorite. It's a great song, tons of creativity on the entire album.
  • Axl from Kilgore, TxThis is my favorite song and I think that Bleach is there best "grunge" album. After Bleach they got a better studio with geffen and it really cleaned up their sound but I like the de-tuned heavy sound of the songs.
  • Jac from Boulder, Coman....this is one of my favorit nirvana songs!!!! bleach was there best album!!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.