About the song
“Breed” is a raw, powerful track by Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana, released as part of their iconic 1991 album Nevermind. The song embodies the essence of Cobain’s grunge aesthetic, combining distorted guitar riffs, fast-paced drumming, and his signature anguished vocals. It’s one of those tracks that captures the urgency and frustration of the early ’90s youth culture, making it a defining piece of the era.
Released during a time when alternative rock was beginning to take over mainstream music, Nevermind was a pivotal moment in both Cobain’s career and the larger landscape of popular music. “Breed” was one of the many tracks on the album that helped cement Nirvana’s place in music history. While songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come as You Are” received massive attention, “Breed” stands out for its relentless energy and raw, unpolished feel. Unlike some of the more introspective tracks on Nevermind, “Breed” is more anthemic, brimming with anger, disillusionment, and youthful rebellion.
Lyrically, “Breed” is often interpreted as a critique of societal expectations and the pressure to conform. The song’s chorus, “We can plant a house, we can build a tree,” is famously cryptic but hints at the idea of a false idealism — the sort of suburban dream that Cobain rejected in his personal life. The lyrics also explore themes of alienation and rebellion, which resonated deeply with the generation that grew up feeling disconnected from mainstream culture. It’s as much an expression of frustration with personal and social constraints as it is a declaration of defiance.
The song’s impact, however, extended far beyond just the music world. “Breed” became part of the soundtrack to the cultural revolution that was the grunge movement, which not only influenced fashion but also provided a voice for a generation that felt misunderstood. With Nirvana leading the charge, grunge became a symbol of resistance against the polished, overproduced pop culture of the ’80s, offering instead something that felt raw and real.
In terms of societal impact, the grunge movement, with songs like “Breed”, contributed to the rise of alternative culture during the early ’90s, which was marked by a rejection of traditional values and a desire for authenticity. The song was an anthem for those who rejected the norms of materialism, conventional beauty, and societal expectations. It spoke to the growing sense of disillusionment among young people who were looking for something real in a world that often seemed superficial and disconnected.
In short, “Breed” is not just a song — it’s a snapshot of an era. It captures the energy of a generation pushing back against the status quo, and it remains one of Kurt Cobain‘s most enduring statements on rebellion, identity, and the human desire to break free from societal constraints.
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Lyrics
I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t careI don’t care, I don’t care, care if it’s oldI don’t mind, I don’t mind, I don’t mindI don’t mind, mind, don’t have a mindGet away, get away, get awayGet away, away, away from your homeI’m afraid, I’m afraid, I’m afraidI’m afraid, afraid, ghostEven if you have, even if you needI don’t mean to stare, we don’t have to breedWe could plant a house, we could build a treeI don’t even care, we could have all threeShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidI don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t careI don’t care, care, care if it’s oldI don’t mind, I don’t mind, I don’t mindI don’t mind, mind, don’t have a mindGet away, get away, get awayGet away, away, away from your homeI’m afraid, I’m afraid, I’m afraidI’m afraid, afraid, ghostEven if you have, even if you needI don’t mean to stare, we don’t have to breedWe can plant a house, we can build a treeI don’t even care, we could have all threeShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidEven if you have, even if you needI don’t mean to stare, we don’t have to breedWe can plant a house, we can build a treeI don’t even care, we could have all threeShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe said, she saidShe saidSaid, good