All Apologies

Status

Nirvana Song

Song Author

Kurt Cobain

Writing Period

Late 1990

Recording Session(s)

January 1, 1991 - Music Source Sessions, Seattle Washington {rec by Craig Montgomery}

March 1993 - Pachyderm Studios recorded by Steve Albini

(Television) November 18, 1993 - Sony Studios NYC "MTV Unplugged"

Notes

"Prior to entering the studio, Kurt had a list of eighteen songs he was considering; twelve from the list would ultimately end up on the finished album, but with their titles shifted considerably. The song that eventually was called 'Radio Friendly Unit Shifter' started life as 'Nine Month Media Blackout,' Kurt's not-so-veiled response to the Vanity Fair piece. 'All Apologies' was originally titled 'La, La, La...La' while 'Moist Vagina,' a B-side, began with a far longer and more descriptive name: 'Moist vagina, and then she blew him like he's never been blown, brains stuck all over the wall.'"

Charles R. Cross
Heavier Than Heaven, p269 (U.S. hardcover)

Kurt dedicated "All Apologies" to Courtney and the newly-born Frances during the 1992 Reading Festival. Some people have confused that as meaning the song was about his wife and child. (See "Courtney Love Eulogy" for more info.)

Kurt wrote "La La La: Alternateen anthem" as the title for this song in his diaries, which have been released in a book called Journals (page 218, US hardcover).

The MTV Unplugged version of this song features Lori Goldston on cello.

(Thanks to DN members BleachedBlack, Wishkah, Tiny Cheese, and Zippykitty for their input.)

Availability

Releases in the Bootography

Alternate/Working Titles

La, La, La...La

La La La: Alternateen anthem

Common Mislabels

All Progressive

Mislabels in the Bootography

All Aploogies

Mary

Scentless Apprentice

What Else Could I Be

Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Lyrics

In Utero version

What else should I be,
all apologies
What else could I say,
everyone is gay
What else could I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
all apologies

In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
I'm married
buried

I wish I was like you
easily amused
Find my nest of salt
everything is my fault
I'll take all the blame
aqua seafoam shame
Sunburn with freezerburn
choking on the ashes of her enemy

In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
I'm married
Buried
married
Buried
Yeah, yeah, yeah

All in all is all we are (x21)

1991.12.02 - Newcastle, UK
What I'll never see, all apologies
What else can I do, I'm in love with you
What else can I say, all my words are gray
What else can I be, all apologies

In the sun, in the sun I feel as one
In the sun, in the sun
Married, buried

What else can I say, all my words are gray
What else can I write, I don't wanna fight
What else can I do, I'm in love with you
What else can I be, all apologies

What else can I say, all my words are gray
What else can I do, I stand accused
What else can I say, all apologies
I don't have the right, I don't wanna fight

All and one is one and all
All is one and one is all

From Kurt Cobain's Journals (page 212, transcribed by DN member BleachedBlack)

Boys write songs for girls
boys write songs for girls - what a simple world
how the do I know whats on the inside
what else should I say? All my words are grey
What else could I write? Im sorry I am white
Such an easy thing - such a shiny ring
let me grow some breasts - i cheated on my test
i dont have the right - to say whats on your mind
your not allowed to sing - all apologies

in the sun in the sun i feel as one in the sun in the sun
im married and buried
you have every right - to want to start a fight
what else can i do? i'm in love with you