Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Top 100 Songs
​Song #37

Nirvana
"Something in the Way"

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. It was founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting and best-known being Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990. Though the band dissolved in 1994 after the death of Cobain, their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock and roll culture.
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"Something in the Way" was originally believed to be based on a period when Cobain was supposedly homeless and slept underneath a bridge in his native town, Aberdeen, Washington. This myth, started by Cobain, was refuted in 2001 with the publication of the biography Heavier Than Heaven by Charles Cross, who pointed out that if Cobain really had spent nights underneath the bridge mentioned in the song, he would have been in danger of being swept away by the high tide waters of the Wishkah River. According to Heavier Than Heaven, Cobain was indeed homeless at times as a teenager, but spent this time sleeping at the houses of his friends, where he also left his possessions in cardboard boxes. He also allegedly slept in waiting rooms of hospitals in the town. However, Cobain did spend time under the bridge. In Heavier Than Heaven, both Novoselic and Kurt's sister Kim Cobain confirmed that while it was unlikely that Kurt slept there, it was a popular recreation area for local teenagers, probably including Kurt.

Nirvana received various awards, including an American Music Award, Grammy Award and seven MTV Video Music Awards. They have sold over 25 million records in the United States and over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling acts of all time. Nirvana has also been ranked as one of the greatest music artists of all time, with Rolling Stone placing them at number 27 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004, and at number 30 on their updated list in 2011. Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2014.

Underneath the bridge
The tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
But it's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings

Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm

Underneath the bridge
The tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
But it's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings

Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm

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