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

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.