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

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.