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Scentless Apprentice

Status
Nirvana Song


Song Author
Kurt Cobain
Dave Grohl
Krist Novoselic


Writing Period
1993


Recording Session(s)
October 26, 1992 - Word of Mouth Studios, with Jack Endino

March 1993 - Pachyderm Studios recorded by Steve Albini


Notes
Based on the 1985 novel Das Parfum (Perfume) by German writer Patrick Süskind.

""Scentless Apprentice" is about a book called Perfume, by Patrick Süskind. In it, a baby is born named Jean-Baptiste Grenuille in Paris in the late 1700's. The child possess an extraordinary sense of smell, but has no human scent of his own (the book describes babies as smelling of caramel, butter, and cakes dipped in milk... a bit reminescent of Like most babies smell like butter/His smell smelled like no other).
The wet nurse assigned to feed him quits because he is too greedy and drinks all the milk ( Every wet nurse refused to feed him ). At some point, he notices how men smell of sweat and semen ( Electrolytes smell like semen).
Eventually, he becomes a perfumer's apprentice, and creates upwards of six hundred formulas for a perfumer named Baldini (There are countless formulas for pressing flowers)."
DN member samueldreamer



 
Availability


Alternate/Working Titles
None Documented


Common Mislabels
Out Of Face


Mislabels in the Bootography
Away
Track 19
Untitled Demo
Untitled Demo (2)


Lyrics
In Utero version

Like most babies smell like butter
His smell smelled like no other
He was born scentless and senseless
He was born a scentless apprentice

Heyyyy, away, go away, go away

Every wet nurse refused to feed him
Electrolytes smell like semen
I promise not to sell your perfumed secrets
There are countless formulas for pressing flowers

Heyyyy, away, go away, go away

I lie in the soil and I fertilize mushrooms
Leaking out gas fumes are made into perfume
You can't fire me because I quit
Throw me in the fire and I won't throw a fit

Heyyyy, go away, go away, go away, go away, go away, go away, go away




1993.01.22 Rio Sessions interpretations:

Note: The lyrics for this version of the song are more or less improvised by Kurt as he sings the song. There is no official lyric sheet available for this particular version and many words are hard to make out. Listed below is an interpretation made by a DN member to give an idea of what the lyrics might be:


1993.01.22 Rio Sessions, Interpretation (by DN member Darwin)

I don't know why I don't know want my wife
I don't know why I don't know want my safe
I don't know why I don't want my friend
Blow the world up by myself

Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh

I don't know why, why I lie
I don't know why I don’t want my lie
I don't know why ???
I don't know why I don't want my guy

Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh

I don't know why I don't want my friends
I don't know why I don't why I don’t wet my bed
I don't know why I don't want my shit
I don't know why I don’t want my life

Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhh
Uh

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