Status

Nirvana Song

Song Author

Kurt Cobain

Writing Period

1989

Recording Session(s)

September, 1989 Music Source Studios, Seattle, WA

January 1, 1991 Music Source Studios, Seattle, WA

Notes

One of the most mysterious songs by Nirvana. Around '96 "Junkyard" and "Token Eastern Song" were thought to be two different songs. "Junkyard" was known trough live performances, but "Token Eastern Song" was unheard and was thought to be an all-instrumental studio song. According to Jack Endino and Chad Channing the two songs are alike, but the lyrics for "Token Eastern Song" were rough and unreleasable since the song was never finished. This was confirmed a few years later as a tape of 1991.01.01 - Seattle Music Source Studios surfaced. The correct title for the song should indeed be "Token Eastern Song".

Also note that the generally accepted chorus for this song is "Hold it in your gut", NOT "Born in a junkyard".

Kurt changed lyrics many times during live performances. "Born In A Junkyard" was a bootleg title likely based on a poor recording as there is no proof that he actually sang that phrase. Even to this day, many people know exactly which song is being described when this title is used because it was widely accepted/used until Chad Channing commented on the "hold it in your gut" lyric.

Availability

Releases in the Bootography

Alternate/Working Titles

None Documented

Common Mislabels

Born In A Junkyard

Happy Hour

Happy Tour

Mislabels in the Bootography

Junk Yard

Junkyard

Token Middle Eastern Song

Unknown

Lyrics

Most live versions

I'm long gone from vertical
Somewhere South is stopping me
I'm long gone from the American Dream
You may decide it's not for me
I'm long gone but I'll let you through
You may decide it's not for you
I'm long gone, but I'll let you through
You may decide there's nothing theree

Hold it in your gut (x8)
Gone

I'm long gone but I'll let you through
You may decide that it's not that good
I'm long gone but I'll let you leave
You may decide on stopping me

I'm long gone but I'll let you through
You may decide that it's not that good
I'm long gone but I'll let you leave
You may decide on stopping me

Gone (x16)




1989.10.25 - Leeds, UK

I'm not gonna let you through
You may decide it's not that good
I'm not gonna let you free
You may decide on stopping me
I'm not gonna let you through
You may decide it's nothing new
I'm not gonna let you through
You may decide there's nothing there

Hold it in your gut

I'm not gonna let you through
You may decide it's nothing new
I'm not gonna let you leave
You may decide it's not for me
I'm not gonna let you through
You may decide it's nothing new
I'm not gonna let you leave
You may decide on stopping me

Hold it in your gut